Tensions between Taiwan and China have been high since essentially the beginning of modern-day Taiwan as we know it (circa 1949). But if you've been following the headlines of late, you'd have seen that things reached a boiling point in early August when Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi paid a visit to Taiwan and became the highest ranking US official to do so, seemingly challenging the One China policy.

In this episode, we start with a TLDR of the history of China-Taiwan tensions, followed by a discussion around the One China policy and the ambiguous nature with which the various world powers adhere to it, our reaction to Pelosi's visit, and our predictions as to whether or not this visit and the ongoing war in Ukraine may encourage China to finally push for reunification with Taiwan.

As Taiwanese-Americans whose families have a longstanding history tied to the island nation, we certainly have a vested interest in whether or not Taiwan can stay independent.

Let us know what you think about all of this in our social media comments! Follow us on Tik Tok: @butwhereareyoureallyfrom and on Instagram: @whereareyoufrompod

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Notes & Corrections:

1. We never claim to be experts. Information is based off of reading multiple articles online and discussing with our families about their experiences. The rest is our personal opinion. Kind corrections are always welcome.
2. Chinese people first started visiting and settling in Taiwan as early as the 13th century, but the majority of the migration happened during the Chinese Civil War.
3. KMT no longer claims that it is the “true” China, nor does it support reunification. However, it does support pro-China relations and doesn’t formally support Taiwanese independence. Rather, the party supports maintaining the status quo.
4. Nancy Pelosi is 82 years old