Thousands of protesters marched here on Saturday, demanding the island’s official name be changed from the ’Republic of China’ to ’Taiwan’. The marchers converged on the wide boulevard in front of the Presidential Office building for hours of speeches and music.
seems like a good PR move - realizing they’ll never dominate the mainland, and asking for the same recognition
The organisers estimated the crowd at more than 100,000 people.
other estimates said 10’s of thousands
| I think that's wire service dialect for "a whole lot." |
Taiwan and China split at the end of a civil war in 1949, but Taiwan’s government kept the name ’Republic of China’, while the communist government in Beijing adopted the name ’People’s Republic of China.’
| Last time I was there, Taiwan referred to itself as "a province of the Republic of China," the assumption being somebody else was sitting on the other provinces... |
Beijing still claims Taiwan as part of its territory, and threatens to use force if the island declares formal independence. China would see any name change as such a declaration.
They’ll bluster and threaten, no matter what, so go ahead and make an innocuous name change
Former President Lee Teng-hui, 80, expressed his support for the name change. "The Republic of China is not a normal country," Lee said told the crowd. "I hope that one day, I will be able to say out loud, Taiwan is the name of my country." After his speech, crowds shouted his nickname, chanting in English "Uncle Ah-hui, I love you."
| There are multiple English-speaking countries, even multiple French-speaking countries. Why not multiple Chinese-speaking (actually writing, with Mandarin as the official dialect) countries? |
Current President Chen Shui-bian stayed away from the event. He has favoured independence, but has toned down his views in recent years to appeal to Taiwan’s large pool of moderate voters, who oppose moves that could raise tensions with China. But addressing a meeting of bank employees earlier in the morning, Mr Chen said he would have marched if he wasn’t president. Top officials and lawmakers of his Democratic Progressive Party did appear at the event, however, wearing green, the party colour. But marchers didn’t mind Chen’s absence. Protesters said the island must change its official name to gain a higher international profile.
| As one of the more vibrant economies in the area, why not? |
The marchers also demanded that the government use the name ’Taiwan’ when it applies to join the United Nations later this month. It will be the island’s 11th attempt to seek admission to the UN. China opposes the move and has used its political clout to block Taiwan’s previous applications. |