In practice yes, but even your link distinguishes between "has a formal embassy" and "has unofficial representative missions" - with basically every country in the second bucket. Doesn't this contradict your point? Quote: "As most countries have changed their recognition to the latter over time, only 13 of Taiwan's diplomatic missions have official status".
Also from your link, "Due to the One-China policy held by the People's Republic of China on the Chinese mainland, other states are only allowed to maintain relations with one of the two countries"
>At the end of the day, Taiwan's sovereignty is a manufactured regional dispute
I have to admit I don't know as much as you about that particular conflict, but that statement feels kind of callous to the people of Taiwan (I care a lot about another conflict where people far away express a similar sentiment and it feels equally heartless).
> even your link distinguishes between "has a formal embassy" and "has unofficial representative missions" - with basically every country in the second bucket. Doesn't this contradict your point?
No. That's what de facto means. Taiwan and America can do everything two countries do, with Taiwan being afforded the same rights and privileges--in America--as China, in some cases more, and America afforded the same in Taiwan.
If someone will trade you a name on a map for boots on the ground, you take boots on the ground.
> Also from your link, "Due to the One-China policy held by the People's Republic of China on the Chinese mainland, other states are only allowed to maintain relations with one of the two countries"
Okay. Now look at the real world. America and Europe buy and sell weapons with Taiwan. They host Taiwanese embassies.
Flip it around. Taiwan is officially recognised and we have unofficial embassies in China that are bigger than the "official" one we have in Taiwan, do business and military dealings with China at the level of a state, and send dignitaries to meet with Beijing's leaders (but not Taipei's). Would anyone take seriously the official designation we gave Taiwan as a consolation prize?
> that statement feels kind of callous to the people of Taiwan
I'd love to meet the Taiwanese who think this isn't jingoistic nonsense being whipped up by Beijing, this century's Falklands.
The 2000s should have been China's century. In an alternate timeline, Xi respects the system of transfer of power the CCP rose to power under. Hong Kong isn't brutally suppressed, but gently brought into China's circle until--uncontroversially--becoming an indisputed part of China per treaty. Taiwan votes to reunify with the mainland. China isn't ringed by countries freaking out about what stupid conflict Beijing will pick next in its backyard, but guilding ties with the emerging superpower.
Instead, America got dealt the hand of a lifetime with Xi driving the Pacific towards D.C. while Putin does the same in Europe. Both countries have pulled back their strategic depth to their borders and given America breathing room to eventually, someday, get its act together again.
> No. That's what de facto means. Taiwan and America can do everything two countries do, with Taiwan being afforded the same rights and privileges--in America--as China, in some cases more, and America afforded the same in Taiwan.
Why aren’t there any U.S. military bases in Taiwan, considering it is one of the most strategic U.S. ally due to reliance on TSMC chips? You said they can do everything, so why not this? Is it because they actually can’t do everything?
Why won’t the U.S. recognize Taiwan? Why not support Taiwan's independence? We all know the answers to these questions.
And if not for TSMC, Taiwan would share the fate of Hong Kong, and no one in the West would do anything.
In practice yes, but even your link distinguishes between "has a formal embassy" and "has unofficial representative missions" - with basically every country in the second bucket. Doesn't this contradict your point? Quote: "As most countries have changed their recognition to the latter over time, only 13 of Taiwan's diplomatic missions have official status".
Also from your link, "Due to the One-China policy held by the People's Republic of China on the Chinese mainland, other states are only allowed to maintain relations with one of the two countries"
>At the end of the day, Taiwan's sovereignty is a manufactured regional dispute
I have to admit I don't know as much as you about that particular conflict, but that statement feels kind of callous to the people of Taiwan (I care a lot about another conflict where people far away express a similar sentiment and it feels equally heartless).