On Taiwan's National Day, let us examine 5 common myths about the island — and debunk them all.

The News Lens
Date: 2019/10/10
By: Jennifer Gunther

In the wake of the machismo display of military might on China’s national day last week, Taiwan’s national day celebrations today might feel slightly overshadowed.

While it is unlikely that Taiwan will be rolling out any intercontinental ballistic missiles for the world to gawp at, firework displays and modest wavings of the national Republic of China (ROC) flag are scheduled to take place in major cities. The celebrations will be accompanied by President Tsai Ing-wen’s morning speech, which might feature a moderate, but firm criticism of China.

For the rest of the world following the unrest in Hong Kong online, it may come as a shock that Taiwan’s president would dare to risk expressing anti-China sentiment in public, or to even acknowledge Taiwan’s National Day at all.

This highlights some of the world’s most common misconceptions about Taiwan and its people. These mistakes are not only insulting to many Taiwanese, but they can also become dangerous when consistently reiterated on the global stage.    [FULL  STORY]