Yup we were kicked out of UN and Taiwan is not recognized internationally as a country… although we do technically function as a country;
Taiwan? what Taiwan? Thailand?
etc etc..
and then there is the issue of whether we should conform and “go back to the loving arms of motherland china” ??

I am not sure whether you have sensed this during your stay on the island.. but the “uniting with China” is a v. complicated/painful issue :S

In the beginning Taiwanese ppl believed they were “the true china” and that they “own” mainland china. Decades later ppl on the island believe that they are not anymore Chinese than Singaporean/HKers etc and they are just Taiwanese. But China (PRC) thinks otherwise…

…Really confusing situation, it’s an unfinished business and Taiwan (and PRC) has not gotten-over this yet…
…which is probably why the map is not updated (deliberately lying/comforting?) and may appear amusing to you.

I am now looking at the map of China on the wall. Taiwan is naturally a part of China and labeled as Taiwan Province “台湾省” on it. All the Spratly Islands are indicated as Chinese territory. I can accept them because the map was published for Chinese, not Tiwanese.

But frankly speaking, I can not help laughing at the map in my office. Where is the Chinese governer of Taiwan Province? I only know that Taiwan has its own president elected directly by its own people. Is there a nominal Taiwan governer somewhere in Beijing or Fuzhou?

I can see the same logic behind both the maps mentioned in today’s post and the ones in China. That is just like asking for the moon. I guess that the Chinese government may be pleased with the maps in the classrooms saying, “You are right! Taiwan is surely part of China.”