David+and+Grant+-+CP+-+FA11

Taiwan has been under the control of multiple different countries since the mid to late 1600’s. The Dutch controlled Taiwan in the early 1660’s after driving out the Spanish who had a settlement in the northwest. Cheng Ch’eng-Kung, a member of the Ming Dynasty finally drove out the European countries in the mid 1660’s. The Qing Dynasty separated the island into two parts and eventually established it as a separate province of China. In 1895, China relinquished power over Taiwan to Japan. Taiwan remained under Japanese control until the end of World War II, which Japan lost. The Nationalists in China controlled Taiwan until 1949 after the Chinese Civil War. They became independent in 1950, and in the 80’s and 90’s they moved towards democracy. China still believes that it should remain a part of the mainland because Taiwan is just off the Southeastern coast of China. The Chinese government classifies Taiwan as renegade province. Fishing rights are still an ongoing issue between both China and Taiwan.
 * History of Taiwan **

In Taiwan, there aren’t many restrictions on what people say about the government or about China. There has actually been steps taken to eliminate all military, government, and political party influence over media outlets. As a result of years of oppression from China’s government, the Taiwan officials have tried to make sure that citizens can express themselves about topics close to their hearts. In China, citizens aren’t even allowed to use Google, Youtube, or Wikipedia. Censorship by China’s government runs rampid, and people cannot express themselves. Freedom of Speech is the most dangerous human right that lets people express their thoughts without the fear of being prosecuted for it. Censorship is a way that China can control citizens and hinder their quality of life. In this, Taiwan wants to further ourselves from limiting our people's civil liberties. China relies on the United States as a major consumer of their products. Taiwan, though, has been trading with the United States for weapons. In fact, Taiwan is the world’s largest consumer of weapons. China feels that no country should have relations with them and the Taiwanese. Chinese officials think the United States should choose between Taiwan and China. Unfortunately for China, it doesn’t look like the United States will change their trading partners for them. In a bit of brighter news, we have been able to come to agreements involving trade with China. When Taiwanese president, Ma Ying-jeou, came to power in 2008, the two sides were able to come together. In June of 2010, a trade pact was agreed upon by both China and Taiwan. The pact has cut tariffs on products going to China from Taiwan and vice versa. China’s rapid growth comes at a price not only are the people of china suffering, but in there rush to compete with the rest of the world they have all but destroyed their environment. To be honest there isn’t one aspect of the environment that they haven’t harmed in one way or another. The water is polluted by big industries that don’t take emission standards seriously and that in turn causes fish deaths (due to excessive algae growth). Another form of China’s water pollution is Red tide which affects a lot of the coastal regions killing people, contaminating water supplies, and destroying ocean habitats (including fish). Air pollution is another one of China’s problems, their rapid industrial growth has also means more green house gases being produced. Their efficiency is not very good, the World Bank says that cement manufacturers need 45% more power and ethylene producers need 70% more power than producers elsewhere.. China is the second largest consumer of oil and uses the most coal their coal usage is the equivalent of the EU, U.S. and Japan combined. China has killed off the Yangtzee river dolphin, this is the after effects of the Three Gorges Dam along the Yangtzee river which also is weakening the banks and causing landslides. China historically did not like outsiders. During the Ming Dynasty they were almost completely isolated by their emperor. Their isolation is well warranted because of the oppression and imperialism forced upon them by westerners. They are trying to compete in the world market today and have a long way to come. Some envy. Domestically they don’t like opposition to their government people have been known to be imprisoned, tortured, even executed for speaking out or being pro-democracy. Take Tiananmen square for example. They did not hesitate to fire on their own people just to suppress the riots. In Asia they have improved relations between most of Asia including in the Korean peninsula and with India. The Falon Gong is a group that is oppressed by the Chinese government. Ma Ying-jeou is apart of the Nationalist party in Taiwan, and has played an active role in efforts to make relations with China better. Slowly, but surely, Ma has been able to make small strides toward cooperation. He was able to establish direct flights between Taiwan and China, and in 2009, Ma pushed for mainland China to invest in Taiwan. As addressed before, Ma had also been instrumental in the trade pact of 2010. Before Ma, the democratic party in Taiwan had refused to open talks with China. China has constantly been trying to thwart their progress and dreams of becoming a prosperous country ever since they ceceded in the 1950's. They view Taiwan as a rebel province that needs to be reunited with China. Now Taiwan is beginning to see the positive results that can come out of a good relationship with China. This hasn’t changed their feelings about formal independence though. This may anger the Chinese, but they want to be a independent nation as well. Despite our increased willingness to work with China, they continue to build weapon stockpiles that could destroy major cities in Taiwan. A good relationship with China could mean more trade for Taiwan and access to the fastest growing economy in the world. When the Democratic party ruled Taiwan, there were very limitted relations between Taiwan and China, but since the Nationalist party gained control talks have resumed. Trade is being resumed with less tariffs between the two, and will increase the $110 billion bilateral trade that already exists. An estimated 260,000 jobs will be created, something the Taiwanese is happy about. The Taiwanese think trade agreements will lay the foundations for a positive future between the growing nations. China wants to incorporate Taiwan into their “empire” if you will and go back to One China. Taiwan of course wants to remain independent. China believes that the west should choose between trading with China or Taiwan not both but no one has actually taken this demand seriously. There is little to no trade between the two because of the disputes, but a new agreement has been recently met that opens up trade and cuts tariffs on certain goods coming in to China from Taiwan. Not all trade is included in this agreement but it does improve relations and trade for both countries. Fishing disputes is one thing that stands between Taiwan and China. Taiwan being just off the coast of China they share the same waters China will level off economically but continue to offer low pricing on cheap labor and cause continual outsourcing of jobs. They will also become more “westernized” in their urban settings but the agricultural, traditional, and overall poverty stricken areas will continue to hold them back. A country is only as good as its weakest point and in order to grow they have to spread the wealth (like their government said they would) and help the rest of the less fortunate areas. Seeing as all of the Middle East is up in arms over pro-democracy movements, there might be a similar movement in China. If their current government gets the boot it may have big consequences good and bad. It is even possible that China may be the cause of a large war between them and the US. A war involving the largest super powers in the world is bound to suck in surrounding countries and cause huge economic problems on both sides. Conflict on this scale could spell disaster for whoever is on the losing side.
 * **Human Rights - Freedom of Speech **
 * **Global Interdependence - Specific Focus on economic relationships **
 * **Environment - Air and Water pollution **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tolerance of Diversity - Acceptance and treatment of other groups (some who oppose the government) **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What efforts have you taken to interact with China? **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What success you have had on promoting a positive relationship with China? **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Discuss the intent your group has in promoting (or working against) the progress of China. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What impact will China have on the next 50 years of world history? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Questions: **
 * United States of America, why is it that you insist on trading with China when you know that they think so negatively of us and believe that no country should have relations with both of us?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"BBC News - Historic Taiwan-China Trade Deal Takes Effect." BBC - Homepage. BBC News, 12 Sept. 2010. Web. 07 Nov. 2011. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11275274>. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"BBC News - Taiwan Country Profile." BBC News - Home. BBC News, 27 Oct. 2011. Web. 07 Nov. 2011. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1285915.stm>. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Freedom of Speech." Equipo Nizkor. Derechos Human Rights. Web. 07 Nov. 2011. <http://www.derechos.org/human-rights/speech/>. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"List of Websites Blocked in the People's Republic of China." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, 1 Nov. 2011. Web. 07 Nov. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_websites_blocked_in_the_People's_Republic_of_China>. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Wilson, Ellen. "10 Environmental Issues in China You Didn’t Know about." Matador Network. Matador Change, 9 July 2008. Web. 07 Nov. 2011. <http://matadornetwork.com/change/10-environmental-atrocities-in-china-that-you-didnt-know-about/>.
 * Japan, you of all people should be able to relate to us in that you are so close to China and its influences, but you remain outside of any conflict with them. How do you do this?
 * Works Cited **