<p>i'm of half chinese descent (1 grandpa), but I grew up in Taiwan and i'm a permanent resident in America. </p>
<p>I feel strongly against putting down Chinese, as i don't identify at all as being Chinese, yet i'm part of the mandarin-speaking community. I'm not quite sure what Asian-American entails: does that mean you grew up in America? I've been thinking of checking the Other Asian box because i identify as being Taiwanese.</p>
<p>Is there a way to leave it out?</p>
<p>My best guess would be Asian-American, but if you grew up in Taiwan, that would be fine, too.</p>
<p>This is why I object to a "race box" thing on things like this.</p>
<p>You can put other and elaborate.</p>
<p>The term asian american doesn't necessarily imply that the person described grew in America. It just means a person who lives in America with asian ancestry.</p>
<p>i think i'll check off the Other Asian box, because i really do feel identify with being Taiwanese. </p>
<p>Thanks :)</p>
<p>i left the ethnicity one blank</p>
<p>Just check Asian-American. You are Asian and live in America. In case you haven't noticed, you are Chinese. Taiwan's official name is like the People's Republic of China or something like that. Therefore, you are Chinese. No offense, but there is no difference between Taiwanese and Chinese. They are one. You may choose to disassociate yourself from the latter for political reasons, but that still doesn't change what you are.</p>
<p>sprtn117 beat me to the punch...Yeah, I really don't get why a lot of Taiwanese people are so anal about being called Chinese, but that's just me. :/</p>
<p>
[quote]
sprtn117 beat me to the punch...Yeah, I really don't get why a lot of Taiwanese people are so anal about being called Chinese, but that's just me. :/
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Because they do not consider themselves a part of China. The United States does not consider Taiwan part of China either, so s/he actually has extremely valid reasoning for being hesitant to put their nation of origion as Chinese.</p>
<p>Yeah apparently, the Republic of China is not China. :/</p>
<p>
[quote]
Yeah apparently, the Republic of China is not China. :/
[/quote]
OK, Taiwan did not become communist like the rest of China. Mao Zedong never took over Taiwan, and that's where the opposition forces retreated to. Taiwan has NEVER considered itself part of the "People's Republic of China" (a ******** name in itself), so it would be very offensive to them to consider them part of that country.</p>
<p>China can claim whatever they want as part of China, but that doesn't mean it is.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Because they do not consider themselves a part of China. The United States does not consider Taiwan part of China either, so s/he actually has extremely valid reasoning for being hesitant to put their nation of origion as Chinese.
[/quote]
Their Olympic team goes by Chinese Taipei, the country's name is the Republic of China, and their ethnic composition is as Han Chinese as anywhere in China. So no.. they shouldn't hesitate to call themselves Chinese.</p>
<p>Yeah well, I never said People's Republic of China. They themselves call themselves the Republic of China. Go do some research.</p>
<p>classic3020, Taiwan has been part of China and always be part of China (physically or by claim). There will be a day when the mainland will annex the Republic of China.</p>
<p>Annex or by force lols</p>
<p>
[quote]
Yeah well, I never said People's Republic of China. They themselves call themselves the Republic of China. Go do some research.
[/quote]
No, I did. And I know what the difference between the two is. The ROC is completely different than the PRC. The ROC is Taiwan, the PRC is China. Granted, it isn't that simple since both sides claim dominion over the other.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Their Olympic team goes by Chinese Taipei and their ethnic composition is as Han Chinese as anywhere in China. So no.. they shouldn't hesitate to call themselves Chinese.
[/quote]
We're talking about nationality, not race.</p>
<p>
[quote]
classic3020, Taiwan has been part of China and always be part of China (physically or by claim).
[/quote]
That isn't true at all. They were not a part of China until the Qing Dynasty in 1683.</p>
<p>
[quote]
There will be a day when the mainland will annex the Republic of China.
[/quote]
No, there won't. A unified China is the exception, not the norm. China (as the PRC wants it to look) will never be unified to that extent.</p>
<p>More reasons why Taiwanese is a different nationality than Chinese:
-Taiwan has its own democratically elected congressional body
-The United States recognizes Taiwan as its own nation
-Taiwan is petitioning to gain admittance into the UN (if it's granted, this will basically solidify Taiwan's status as an independent state)</p>
<p>
[quote]
We're talking about nationality, not race.
[/quote]
Ahem... the name of the thread is "What do i put down as my race??"
[quote]
More reasons why Taiwanese is a different nationality than Chinese:
-Taiwan has its own democratically elected congressional body
-The United States recognizes Taiwan as its own nation
-Taiwan is petitioning to gain admittance into the UN (if it's granted, this will basically solidify Taiwan's status as an independent state)
[/quote]
No one argued that Taiwan isn't its own country.
[quote]
No, there won't. A unified China is the exception, not the norm. China (as the PRC wants it to look) will never be unified to that extent.
[/quote]
The notion that a region's historical political division would somehow guarantee future division is absurd. A unified Germany is the exception, not the norm. A unified Japan is the exception, not the norm....etc. I don't see countries like those breaking up though.</p>
<p>Check any "Asian" sounding box, we're at a disadvantage anyway...</p>
<p>Lol classic must be an anal Taiwanese guy I was talking about.</p>
<p>Ugh. this is what i was afraid of when i posted. another taiwan/china debate.
I posted the question because I was wondering if it would be acceptable to distinguish myself from Chinese immigrants as a) i've never set foot in China my entire life b) I consider myself Taiwanese. Sure, i speak mandarin, read mandarin, but that does not mean we're the same. Come to think of it, we even read different types of mandarin as Mao Zedong madated the use of simplified chinese characters. </p>
<p>If you go to Taiwan, there's actually huge tensions between Hakka Taiwanese and those perceived as "Chinese". I'm only 1/4th Han Chinese as my grandpa came over after the cultural revolution. My grandma is Hakka and my other grandparents consider themelves Taiwanese. Asking me to put down Chinese would be kind of like asking someone who was born and bred in America but has parents who immigrated to the States from England if they were British. My friend, who this example is based on, doesn't consider himself British at all because of the difference in culture. He considers himself American.</p>