They stopped using maps claiming the whole of China (plus Tibet, Mongolia, and sizeable portions currently belonging to Pakistan, India and Burma) back in 2004.Originally Posted by Pannonian
As to the entire political status of Taiwan thing: the Kuomintang and the so-called "Pan-Blue Alliance," a front of political parties affiliated with the once-single party, are leaning towards reunification (the One China, Two Systems idea of Beijing's; the KMT party leadership even visited the mainland a while back), while the current ruling party and its affiliates, the so-called "Pan-Green Alliance," lean towards Taiwan independence.
The People's Republic of China is strongly opposed to this last idea, because it would essentially allow the island to be recognized internationally, join the UN, and all of that without the PRC being able to do one bloody thing about it without invading (unlike now, where it uses its economical attractivity to force, say, Western nations to not recognize the ROC if they want any trade relations with the PRC) -- which would likely solicit an immediate response from the U.S. and allies in a now-legitimized counterattack.
Why the KMT won't support it? That's simple: it'll lose the last vestiges of its lost power and heritage on the mainland (the flag, complete with party symbol; the name, Republic of China; etc.). Plus, it's a mainlander Chinese versus Taiwan Chinese thing, too. The island majority is obviously scared of a PRC military (both conventional as well as unconventional, that would be nuclear) response; the crucible would likely be a diplomatic game in assuring Western support before declaring the ROC to be the Republic of Taiwan.
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