Taiwan is often referred to as a potential flashpoint for World War III.
China has made no secret of its desire to take Taiwan, by force if necessary, and has increased its military intimidation of Taiwan.
There’s global concern about the threat of invasion, with the United States likely to assist Taiwan if the need arose.
So what do the Taiwanese think of all this?
Ar Ji is a rapper from the southern Taiwanese city of Tainan.
He raps in the Taiwanese Hokkien language, not in Mandarin, and his songs celebrate Taiwanese pride through verses about Taiwanese and Chinese history.
“Taiwan can’t talk, its status is too low," he raps.
"Only VIPs get attention. Taiwan has no status and no money. They’d sell out Taiwan for profit in an instant.
"No one dared speak up, speaking Hokkien was banned. We were under the white terror of autocratic threats from China.”
Even with his Chinese heritage, Ar Ji proudly identifies as Taiwanese, not Chinese. Source: SBS Dateline
This unique combination of language and subject matter comes from Ar Ji’s background and upbringing.
His ancestors came from China to Taiwan a couple of hundred years ago, and Ar Ji is the fourth generation to be born in Taiwan.
Even with his Chinese heritage, Ar Ji proudly identifies as Taiwanese, not Chinese.
This is common among younger generations in Taiwan, who tend to identify as Taiwanese, while older generations identify more with their Chinese heritage.
Meanwhile, Ar Ji’s civic-mindedness comes from his dad.
“We grew up attending rallies and campaigns with him,” says Ar Ji, pointing to some of the stickers and posters in the restaurant that they’ve collected.
“Some of the themes, like the Sunflower Student Movement, Liberate Hong Kong, the Revolution of Our Times, and No to Nuclear Energy...they’re all there.”
In Chinese president Xi Jinping’s China Dream, taking control of Taiwan is high on the to-do list. Source: Xinhua
It’s no surprise that Ar Ji supports the idea of an independent Taiwan, one that remains separate from China.
“We were brought up with that idea as the norm. It’s our duty,” he says.
It’s an idea that’s of utmost concern to Chinese president Xi Jinping, who says: “We have a resolute determination, strong confidence, and sufficient power to defeat any form of Taiwanese independence.”
Despite the fact that the Chinese Communist Party has never actually ruled over Taiwan, in Xi Jinping’s China Dream, taking control of Taiwan is high on the to-do list.
The ‘sufficient power’ that Xi Jinping refers to can be seen in the record number of incursions - 28 Chinese aircraft - into Taiwanese airspace in June this year.
For locals in Taiwan like Ar Ji and his friends, there’s an air of defiance when they discuss China’s provocations.
“Actually, I just ignore them. They don’t worry me,” says Ar Ji’s friend Lao Q.
Ar Ji laughs. “He’s a typical Taiwanese.”
“We Taiwanese people carry on with our lives,” adds Lao Q.
“They can say what they want. It has nothing to do with us.”
For the two friends eating snacks and chatting into the night, there’s no question: Taiwan and China are independent.
