of state meeting since the 1949 Communist Revolution. Their complicated split has caused

的元首會面。這複雜難解的分裂狀態造成了

an endless series of problems, the most serious of which is the threat of China annexing Taiwan

永無止境的一系列問題，其中最嚴重的問題就是中國對臺灣所造成的統一

as its own. So we wanted to know, what would happen if China and Taiwan went to war?

問題。 所以我們想要知道，如果中國和臺灣發動戰爭會發生什麼事？

Well, it’s important to understand why China is set on reunifying with Taiwan. The 1949

那首先要了解的是為什麼中國一直處心積慮的想要統一臺灣。 西元1949年

Revolution forced the standing Chinese government to retreat onto the island of Taiwan, while

的革命迫使當時執政的中國政府撤退到臺灣這個島嶼上，同時

communist forces took over mainland China, establishing the present day People’s Republic

共產黨勢力接管了中國大陸，建立了今日的中華人民

of China. Meanwhile, the retreated government in Taiwan maintained that THEY were still

共和國。 同時，撤退來臺的政府依然主張它們是

the legitimate government of China.

中國的合法政府

Today, the primary question surrounding Taiwan's future is whether it will establish itself

現在，台灣未來的首要問題便是是否能夠建立屬於自己

as an independent cultural and political identity from China, or if mainland China will forcefully

與中國不同的獨立文化、政治主體，或是中國大陸是否會以武力

reunify Taiwan into the People’s Republic. This emphasis on reunification is even in

統一臺灣成為中華人民共和國。 統一的重要性甚至被

China’s constitution. It states that Taiwan is part of China, and that all Chinese people

列在中國憲法裡面。 它說臺灣是中國的一部分，所有中國人民

have a duty to reunify the two. On the other hand, Taiwan’s constitution prohibits changing

有責任要統一兩岸。 另一方面，臺灣憲法禁止

the country’s borders without legislative support and a public referendum. Tensions

在沒有立法院支持和公民投票之下變更國土疆界。最近一次的

were flared most recently in 2005, when China passed an “anti-secession law” promising

緊繃狀態是在西元2005年有所波動，當中國通過「反國家分裂法」並諾言

to use “non-peaceful means” to ensure that Taiwan not seek independence.

不惜使用「非和平手段」確保臺灣不會宣布獨立

So what would happen if China decided to use those “non-peaceful means” to force occupy

那會發生什麼事情呢？如果中國決定要用「非和平手段」來強奪攻佔

Taiwan and, in their eyes, “reclaim it”? Well, in terms of pure military alone, to

臺灣，或是它們口中的「收復臺灣」？嗯，從純軍事角度來看，

say it is no contest would be an understatement. Taiwan’s military ranks about 15th worldwide,

台灣無庸置疑地毫無競爭力可言。臺灣的軍事武力大約是世界第15名

on par with Canada. But China has the third most powerful military in the world, with

跟加拿大一樣。 但是中國擁有世界第三名的強大軍事武力，大約有

nearly 5 million active troops compared to Taiwan’s roughly 3 million. Moreover, China

五百萬現役部隊，而臺灣只有大約三百萬。再者，中國

blows Taiwan away in their total number of military equipment like ships, planes and

軍艦、戰機、坦克車等軍事裝備的數量

tanks. Perhaps China’s biggest advantage is financial, as they spend about 15 times

將讓台灣無法招架。或許中國最強的是它的經濟優勢，因為它們在國防上花了

as much as Taiwan on defense, roughly 145 billion dollars a year.

大概和臺灣的15倍之多一樣，大概是一年1450億

But despite China’s military superiority, Taiwan may have a secret weapon: the United

但是儘管中國有軍事上的優勢，臺灣或許有一個秘密武器：美國

States. Now, it is important to note that technically, the US does not support Taiwanese

現在，是時候來談談這個，基本上，美國不支持臺灣

independence. But they also oppose further Chinese aggression in the region. When the

獨立。　但是它們也反對中國在區域的進一步侵略。　當

United States switched allegiances in 1979, from recognizing Taiwan as the legitimate

美國在西元1979年時候轉變擁戴的立場，從承認臺灣為合法

China to recognizing mainland China, they formed a diplomatic agreement with Taiwan.

中國到承認中國大陸，它們和臺灣有一個外交上的協議

In the Taiwan Relations Act, the US effectively promises to provide military equipment to

在臺灣關係法裡面，美國確實承諾提供軍事裝備以

protect Taiwan, and to date, the US is Taiwan’s largest arms supplier. During Barack Obama’s

保護臺灣，而且至今，美國是臺灣的最大軍事武器供應國。 在歐巴馬

term, the US sold Taiwan nearly 20 billion dollars worth of weapons. While there is no

任期中，美國賣給臺灣將近價值200億元的武器。儘管沒有與臺灣

DIRECT mutual defense treaty with Taiwan, it would not be uncharacteristic for the US

直接的共同防禦條約，這是美國非典型方式

to help Taiwan in the face of unwarranted aggression.

來幫助臺灣面對無法保證的攻擊侵略

Luckily, as evidenced by the recent head of state meeting, relations between Taiwan and

幸運地，最近的元首會面證明了臺灣和

China have been improving. Cooperation in transportation, communication, and commerce

中國的關係已越來越好。 運輸、通訊和商業上的合作

have brought them closer together, making it considerably less likely that China launches

讓它們關係更加緊密，而中國亦大大降低了侵略台灣的可能性

an invasion. With the uncertainty of American involvement, it would be a risky move.

隨著美國有可能的涉入，侵略臺灣也將伴隨著高風險

If you want a more in-depth look at the full history behind why Taiwan and China hate each

若想要深入了解台灣與中國長期為敵的完整歷史

other, check out our video. Thanks for checking out TestTube News! If you haven’t subscribed

看看我們的影片。 感謝觀賞TestTube News！如果你還沒訂閱

to our channel yet, make sure to do so below so you don’t miss out on our new videos.

我們的頻道，記得要訂閱，這樣才不會錯過我們的新影片唷