Understanding China and the Special Regions

By: Frank Yunker

Date: 2018-04-19

Do you understand the difference between China and Special Administrative regions like Hong Kong and Macau or the Republic of China known as Taiwan?

Hong Kong was a British colony until 1997. Macau was a Portuguese colony.

In 1912 China overthrew the Emperor and began a Republic. A corrupt republic, but a republic nonetheless. After World War 2, the Communists overthrew the Republic. The thing about communism is that it doesn't really work. To get the cooperation that it necessary in idealized communism, the government has to implement totalitarian policies. So, that's why communist governments more closely resemble totalitarian regimes.

All through this time, Hong Kong was a British Crown Colony. It was a beacon of freedom and capitalism surrounded by the totalitarian regime of mainland China. Meanwhile, the old Republic government that the communists overthrew after WW2 fled to Taiwan, an island off the coast of the mainland.

Taiwan claimed to be the legitimate, duly elected government of all of China. The USA agreed with that until about 1972. Then, realistically, we recognized that China was communist. China claims that Taiwan is a part of it, but they function independently. The British "gave" Hong Kong to China but only under the guarantee of self-governance for Hong Kong.

The reality is that Hong Kong and Taiwan are functioning as independent countries, even if they have not formally called themselves that. China maintains they are part of China. Everyone in China believes they are part of China. Everyone in the rest of the world treats them as independent nations.

When I have Chinese students in class, those that say they are from China just say "China." Hong Kong residents say "Hong Kong" and not "China." The Taiwanese say "Taiwan" and not "China."

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Google are banned in China. They are freely available in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Does that clear it up?

Well let me add this. Chinese people think Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau are a part of China. Yet, if you go to an airport in China, you will find that to go from China to Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan, you will have to go to the International Departures. And, if you are from Mainland China, you will need to bring a Visa.