Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian angered the Chinese Government by suggesting that a referendum on the province's independence could be called and that, in reality, Taiwan and China were already separate countries.

Military officials moved to diffuse the situation, with one saying planned military exercises had been postponed to avoid what he described as future misunderstandings.

Though Mr Chen and his officials have stressed that nothing has changed in Taiwan's policy, tension remains high between China and Taiwan - which Beijing regards as a renegade province.

Do you think the Taiwanese should decide their own future?

Taiwan will never be able to separate itself from China. Think about this. Taiwan's military is not a Taiwanese military. It is a Chinese Nationalists' party's military. The so-called nationalist military has always been a strong advocate of the reunification of China. If Chen was to declare independence, I doubt its military would even defend the island.
Xing Wei, Canada

Is it unreasonable the majority of Taiwanese don't want to be ruled by the Communist dictators on the mainland? Who wants to trade freedom and prosperity for slavery under Communist masters? Democratic Taiwan is the example for the future of China, not the mainland. The Communist mainland knows this and is threatening "peace through force" to squash opposition they fear, as happened in Tiananmen Square.
Andrew Hoover, Walnut Creek, California, USA

Yes, of course Taiwan should reunite with China. I look forward to the day, ten years or so from now, when the Communist government of China collapses, just as the Soviet Union did thirteen years ago, and the Taiwanese government assists the mainland in setting up a democratic society with a market economy, basic human rights for its people, and the rule of law. Anything else - especially the continuation of the status quo - leaves 1.3 billion people living at the whim of a tiny group of petty, self-serving people.
Michael Justice, USA

Is it written in stone somewhere that people of the same ethnic background must be part of the same country?

Jerry Tseng, USA

Both the Chinese government and the majority of Chinese people continue to insist that Taiwan must be part of China simply because it shares a similar culture and language with China. Is it written in stone somewhere that people of the same ethnic background must be part of the same country?
Jerry Tseng, USA

Taiwan should only agree to be a part of China after the latter becomes a democracy. I am surprised at the lack of activity on the pro-democracy front in Chinese society. Are people too busy in making money to be interested in freedom and democracy?
SM, India

One may argue strongly for Taiwan's independence, yet I am strongly against it. Do not suppose I am a fervent supporter of the Communist regime. Both sides of the Strait should consider reunification through the means of economic and cultural ties.
Charley, Australia

After living in Taiwan for a year and working for a national newspaper, it is clear to see that the vast majority in Taiwan do not want to be ruled by China.
Daff, UK/Taiwan

It seems strange for China to say that it knows what's best for Taiwan, and that failure to reunify will lead to disaster for the island, when Taiwan has developed one of the strongest economies in Asia, and China has spent most of the last fifty years in chaos. Also, as for this patronising idea that "foreigners cannot understand what Taiwan means to the Chinese" I expect it means more to the Taiwanese.
Ben Lyons, UK

Taiwan is part of China. That is a fact! The official name for Taiwan is Republic of China, not Republic of Taiwan. People there are the same Han Chinese as those on the mainland side. The separation from the mainland is a result of a civil war 50 years ago. In fact the state of war still technically exists between the two sides. If anyone dares to declare independence, war is the only means to settle the matter once for all. It is going to be a bloody battle, brothers killing brothers. However, for the sake of unity of the whole China, this may be the price one has to pay. The same thing happened more than 200 years ago in USA.
H, England

Taiwan, don't go the way of Hong Kong

Huang Jiancheng, Denmark

It is time for us to explicitly acknowledge that "race" and "nation-state" are not synonymous. Nation-states are political constructs although people use race to justify the existence of certain nation-states. It is ridiculous to suggest that China is one society; it is through the totalitarian and social engineering policies that China is being homogenised. While some Chinese now claim that they speak "Chinese", it is like Europeans claiming that they speak European. China is destroying its own linguistic and cultural heritage. And Taiwan, together with some other overseas Chinese communities, in their small limited ways, are preserving some of that diversity. Big government, big country always means suppressing more minority groups. Taiwan, don't go the way of Hong Kong.
Huang Jiancheng, Denmark

My opinion on this issue is that Taiwan is a rogue state who have no right to be independent from China because Taiwan stole millions of dollars worth of gold in 1949 and because China and Taiwan have basically the same culture. The Taiwanese should stop counting on America to protect them because America is only trying to inch even more dominance on the world's nations.
Garry Smith, UK

Garry Smith couldn't have got it more right. People are forgetting history here. Taiwan is and always will be part of mainland China. Try telling my Chinese girlfriend any different. And I believe she shares the majority opinion. You have to understand how the Chinese Government feel- this land was illegally taken from them in 1949, and they have every right to want it back. Why should a rogue, made-up state suddenly be in a position to be independent?
Nick, UK/China

Nick (UK/China) voices the most commonly used argument for China's claim to Taiwan, the "historical claim" argument. However, this argument is tenuous, and breaks down when you consider the geopolitical history of both "countries". During the 20th century Taiwan was governed by China for a paltry 3 years. However, Japan governed Taiwan with relative civility for nearly 100 years before the Versailles Treaty awarded it to China in 1947. Don't the Japanese also have a historical claim over the island, through the spoils of war? Let's take this historical claim argument a step further. In the Han Dynasty, China controlled Korea and parts of Vietnam. Why should China stop with Taiwan and not also bully these countries back into the empire? China will not be taken seriously as a modern civilized nation as long as its childish schoolyard bullying continues.
Kevin C., USA

Taiwan people have the right to decide their own future but they must respect the facts of history, geography and the sentiments of the whole Chinese society. There is no ultimate truth in a political system. Everything is changing. But the most important thing for Chinese is their culture, society, motherland.
Kyaw Zwa, Myanmar

We all share the same culture

Jia Zhuang, London, UK

Independence? Independence from what? We all share the same culture, same history, same blood. In order to claim independence some sort of difference must be present to separate the one from the other.
Jia Zhuang, London, UK

Jia Zhuang, London, UK wrote "We all share the same culture, same history, same blood" This is ridiculous! As of same history, just look at the past 50 years as an example of how the Communist China regime killed lots of innocent civilans with their bloody totalitarian control. Taiwan was once under totaliatrian control under the ruling of the Chiang family. As of same culture,if you go to Taiwan, 90% of people speak Taiwanese. Even Taiwanese food is so different from the China food! The Taiwanese living in Taiwan have their own unique distinct culture that mainland Chinese people cannot relate to. Please do not use the blood argument when the political structure of the state(Taiwan) has changed over the past 50 years!
Jeannie Chen, USA

The Taiwanese people have every right to decide their own future. But they must respect the facts of history, geography and the sentiments of the whole Chinese nation.
Mingway, China

Taiwan has never been part of the People's Republic of China. Chinese leaders are using this issue to distract from their mismanagement, corruption, and oppression.
Rick, USA

China has a long way to go before she can tell other countries what to do and what not to do

Sean Hogan, UK

As I'm about to marry a Taiwanese national my views on this are pretty set. Taiwan is in every respect, except saying as much, independent. China has a long way to go before she can tell other countries what to do and what not to do. Beijing will, I feel, do little before the 2008 Olympics. Right now there is too much to lose for both sides. My fianc�e has always seen herself as Taiwanese first, then Hakanese, followed by Chinese culturally.
Sean Hogan, UK

Under the Constitution of Taiwan, we OF COURSE decide our own future. China has never taken care of Taiwanese people, why should Taiwan be part of China? We are just a nation who advocates the peace and the humanity. We feel extremely ashamed of war & barbarity.
Meihui LIU, Taiwan

I was in China at the time of the student occupation of Tiananmen and moved to Taiwan when the tanks crushed them. I've been here ever since so I think I have a pretty good idea of what the majority of Taiwanese want. They don't want the communist party of China to rule them and they don't want a war either. They want to preserve the status quo and continue to get rich together. They do have the right to decide for themselves.
Steve, Taiwan

The Taiwanese people are open to its future - either independence or reunification - but only if this transition of the political system guarantees beneficial economic gains for the Taiwanese people. Therefore, Taiwan's future is not about similar cultural inheritance and same ethnic groups of the Chinese and Taiwanese people, but about the economic interests of Taiwanese people. In this respect, reunification with China seems to be very implausible based on the fact that wealth per capita of the Chinese economy is poorer than that of Taiwan.
Pierre Chen, Taiwan

Abandon self-effacing political bravado that does little to serve long-term Asian stability and progress

Stanley Chan, New York, NY USA

Without U.S. military support, Taiwan would not be able to demonstrate such political bluster. Chen's statement is solely a politician making a political statement; not a politician looking out for his people. Taiwan would gain nothing noteworthy in independence, only to upset mainland China and potentially spark a regional war. Taiwan should concentrate on using its influence to assist mainland China with the huge tasks associated with the reforms necessary for stability and progress in China and abandon self-effacing political bravado that does little to serve long-term Asian stability and progress.
Stanley Chan, New York, NY USA

The People's Republic of China would kill the goose that laid the golden egg if it attacked Taiwan. The PRC needs to bow to the wishes of its citizens and let go of the corrupt totalitarian state. History shows that societies that value the rights of individuals are more progressive and productive, and provide greater benefits for all than socialist states.
Greg Burton, USA

Countries that adhere "One China" policy are "hypocrites" in general and US in particular. If the US see Taiwan as a part of China, why do then sell arms and ammunition to Taiwan without the central authorities in China? As far as Taiwan is concern it has been an independent state in every aspect ever since it broke away from the Mainland. Declaring independence is only ceremonial for the name sake. Whether one agrees or not Taiwan acts as an independent nation. The UN should accept Taiwan as a member state.
Saifudeen, Madras-India

I'm a Taiwanese and Chinese too. I was born in Mainland China, grew up in Taiwan, married a husband who was an extremist of pro-independence. My son is working in Shang-hai with his wife. Please tell me what I should do? I'm proud of being a Chinese, but I don't like the communist government. As to President Chen, he is always an opportunist, so how much we can trust him is still in some doubt. Actually, I don't think now is the time for us to discuss independence or separation.
Grace Chang, Taiwan

First Gibraltarians are laughed at for even thinking they should decide their future in a referendum, and now the Taiwanese are scorned for just thinking that they should do the same. I can't believe that those of us who live in democracies are not outraged by this. The people of a country, province, or island should be able to decide their own future free from any sort of harm. To have this denied to them goes against everything the western world fought to defend 57 years ago and is defending right at this moment. It is sad how quickly we forget our own past and repeat the same mistakes!
Anthony Imbrogno, Canada

Why is all the rest of the world allowing China to dictate their respective diplomatic relationship? There are obvious economic and political reasons for which countries such as the United States remains ambiguous in this debate. But are we as the freedom loving people of the world so jaded such that we are willing to let China dictate our dealing with another foreign government? Instead hiding behind the veil of "we are doing this for the good of the Taiwanese security," we should have the courage and the moral fibre to back up another democracy. No country should have to live under the threat of a war simply because its people express their opinions freely.
James, USA

The reunification between China and Taiwan could be taken peacefully and naturally by economy where the mass of Taiwanese businessmen shift their factories to China. It just a matter of time before the reunification occurs. Since the US planned a definite attack on Iraq, the President of Taiwan attempted to use this moment to make Taiwan independent. And if by any chance he sparked a war, he thought the US would back them up for certain. In a war, whoever dies in the battle is still a Chinese.
Nicholas, New Zealand

Yes, and the question is not a good one. Independence of Taiwan is a fact. How do you feel if you are asked "should you be allowed to be recognized as a person?" China wants "reunification" with Taiwan. Well, it's ok, but China should have a referendum first and then people in Taiwan have ours.
Arthurphere, Taiwan

Regardless of independence or reunification, Taiwan and China will become increasingly interdependent on one another, culturally and economically. The people of Taiwan should for the time being set aside the reunification/independence debate, and focus on using their influence to incite political change in China. In this fashion, democracy will dictate the outcome, and not war.
Chris, USA

Taiwan has operated as a free and independent state for fifty years. Its declaring so is just forcing everyone including the PRC to acknowledge what we all know to be true. Taiwan is a separate, democratic state and not a puppet of the Chinese Communist government.
Ron in Az, USA

In their minds, they are a democracy; only China hinders their tenets of freedom

Alastair Robinson, UK

Other than to bolster its own economic interests, there is little to indicate that China has any interest in the well being of the Taiwanese people. The latter group live as an independent, democratic nation, and must remain entitled to do so for as long as they wish. In their minds, they are a democracy; only China hinders their tenets of freedom.
Alastair Robinson, Cambridge, UK

Yes, of course they should. Taiwan is a modern, democratic country and its people can choose for themselves. Not that the People's Republic will like this, though, the world saw their attitude to democracy thirteen years ago at Tiananmen Square.
John Haywood, UK

Of course they should be able to decide their own future. The right to self-determination is recognised internationally. As a democracy we should all support its wishes against those of China.
Graham, UK

Independence is a great idea, but it needs to be understood just how vulnerable Taiwan is. I only hope President Chen waits until I'm out of here, as I, like most Taiwanese, feel very exposed. The best way to independence is to wait until China has too much to lose. At this time it doesn't.
Neil Hardwick, Taiwan

There is no international reason why Taiwan should not be an Independent country.

Miklos Nomad, Hungary

Taiwan has been an independent country for half a century by now. The status should be formally confirmed. There is no international reason why Taiwan should not be an Independent country. Nor why Tibet should not be an independent country. If China continues to sabre rattle about Taiwan issue the international community should put an end to it.
Miklos Nomad, Hungary

Taiwan has been its own country for over 50 years. China sees Taiwan's democracy and international business success as a slap in the face. The world should take notice of this very serious situation. A conflict between these two nations will make Iraq look like child's play.
James , USA

A rush to independence is certain to spark a war

Neil Greene, USA

Taiwan is central to one of China's greatest fears - encirclement. China fears that an independent Taiwan would complete a formidable Japan - Okinawa - Taiwan - Philippines wall of key strategic points, all friendly to its potential adversary, the U.S. This, far more than its weak historical and cultural claims to the island, is why Beijing insists on the goal of eventual reunification, and why it will go to war to prevent Taiwanese independence. While Taiwan has every right to declare itself independent should it wish to do so, its interests may be better served by the unsatisfactory status quo. A rush to independence is certain to spark a war that would devastate its people and economy.
Neil Greene, USA

Certainly, Taiwan shall decide its own future, this is a fundamental of the democratic system struggled for by the people of Taiwan.
Charles Hsu, Taiwan

Taiwan is a province of China. Full Stop. There is no discussion in this matter. If they want independence, they should move to another country. The Land and not People of Taiwan belongs to China.
Roger, Taiwan

Yes, mainland China is not democratic and has a lot of social problems, but if the people of Taiwan want independance, okay, we should vote all together, not only the Taiwan people. We don't want a war.
Han Tang Xiong Feng, China

Taiwan is NOT part of China

Nicholas Yang, Taiwan

I am very glad that so many people supported President Chen's speech. Of course, we, the Taiwanese have the right to decide our future by ourselves. Though Taiwan is much smaller than mainland China, yet we are brave enough to bear their pressure. Taiwan is NOT part of China but an independent state with freedom and democracy, so we surely have the right to decide our own fate.
Nicholas Yang, The Repubic of China, Taiwan

There will be only one end for Taiwan

Shen Yunfeng, China

People from other contries cannot understand what Taiwan means for all Chinese. This is not just the future for Taiwan, but for the whole of China. There will be only one end for Taiwan, that is they admit that Taiwan and main land are together called China. If not, we have no choice but war!
Shen Yunfeng, China

Taiwan, Gibraltar, East Timor, the colonies in America, when will this self determination nonsense stop? What happened to the good old days when we had the divine right of kings, Britainia ruled the waves, the heads of state could make all of the world's important decisions and just let the rest of the people know what had been decided for them? Even the Papacy isn't sacred any more.
Mark, USA

No I dont think that Taiwan should become independent. I strongly believe that it is an integral part of China, as Gibraltar is of Spain, in both cases self determination is not an option, as the UK Government and the Spanish Government have already pointed out.
David Jones, Gibraltar

The Chinese communists should give up their imperial mindset

Ming-Yuan Tseng, UK

Yes, Taiwanese people should, like all people living in a democracy, choose their own future. As the President Chen said that the referendum is a basic human right, we should support and respect Taiwanese people to go on their own way. The Chinese communists should give up their imperial mindset on dominating other nations. Because if their system is good enough, everyone will join.
Ming-Yuan Tseng, UK

Taiwan should be independent, if the people of Taiwan want it thus. The same applies to Quebec, to half a dozen islands in Indonesia, to Kashmir, to Northern Somaliland (Somalia), to Assam (India), to Gibraltar, to the Caprivi Strip (Namibia) and to quite a few other pseudocountries. What I don't understand is why the USA supports one, but not the others.
Tony, USA

The Taiwanese and Chinese share the same cultural background, with the same language and festivals.

Raymond Chan, Hong Kong, China

I believe Taiwan should be a part of China and reunification should be done. It is just a matter of time. Taiwanese and Chinese share the same cultural background, with the same language and festivals. Reunification is the dream of all Chinese people. Though there is a large difference in the political systems, I believe one day China will also race towards Democracy, which the Chinese people have fought for.
Raymond Chan, Hong Kong, China

In response to Raymond Chan, I took a quick poll of my colleagues on their "dreams of reunification". Most looked at me as if I had lost my mind, a few misunderstood the question, and none agreed that this was a common Chinese attitude, let alone "dream". But then, the people of Hong Kong have never experienced democracy - to get ahead both here and in China proper, means toeing the party line, much like Raymond does. People make up nations, not land. Nature doesn't care what name a geographical area has. And if the people of Taiwan want to govern themselves, as they have done quite successfully for the last half-century, then that's their right. Even if bully-boy nations like China don't like it.
Ian, Hong Kong

Raymond states that reunification should take place because so many Taiwanese are settling in China and doing buiseness there? It's creating jobs, wealth, technologies, high quality work forces, markets and a higher living standard. What's this to do with anything? They're doing this because they're currenly allowed the freedom to do so. Think about it.
Jim Perkins, USA

Fortunately, not everybody in HK is like Ian. It is very strange that I live in London and oppose Taiwan's independence whilst Ian's in HK thinks otherwise. Have I missed anything there? If yes, I think Shanghai does not need 10 years to overtake HK. I see reunification with China as new opportunities, jobs, wealth, technologies, high quality work forces, markets and higher living standard and spaces. This is precisely the reasons why Taiwanese are investing and settling in China in an ever increasing rate which is up to now gone unnoticed by independence advocators.
Raymond, London Uk

As Taiwan was part of China, its future should be decided not only by the people from the island, but also by the people from mainland. A foreigner could never understand how much Taiwan means to the Chinese. It will obviously lead to disaster if Chen Shui-bian keeps doing stupid things.
Steven Liang, UK