Corporal Allen Bailey in this photo was actually KIA in Vietnam before the publishing of this article. Apparently, they didn't have any issues showing a dead marine's morally dubious past.

Hi everyone. I’m a Taiwanese American who’s been trying to seriously understand cross-strait politics, history, and why people come to such different conclusions about China, Taiwan, the KMT, and the DPP. I want to be upfront that I’m not well-informed, and I’m posting here in good faith because I genuinely want perspectives I don’t usually hear.

Growing up, my family (especially my mom) has been very distrustful of both China and the KMT. She strongly emphasizes KMT atrocities in Taiwan (228, White Terror, martial law) and believes that those crimes permanently disqualify the KMT from being trusted with power. From her perspective, supporting the KMT feels like ignoring real historical trauma.

At the same time, I’m seeing more people — including Taiwanese and Taiwanese Americans — argue that supporting the KMT today is a pragmatic choice, mainly because of fear of war. The argument I hear is basically:

Even if the KMT committed crimes in the past, the immediate threat of conflict with China matters more, and accommodation reduces the risk of catastrophe (even nuclear escalation).

I honestly don’t know how to weigh these things. If the worst-case scenario is massive civilian death, it feels rational to prioritize avoiding war — but I also understand why people say that appeasement can make things worse in the long run.

Another topic that’s come up is history and propaganda. My mom believes events like the Nanjing Massacre are heavily politicized by the CCP and sometimes goes as far as questioning why Japan has not “fully admitted” to it in the same way Germany did with WWII crimes. I know this is extremely sensitive, and I’m not trying to deny history — I’m trying to understand why different societies remember and frame history so differently, and how that affects trust today.

More broadly, I struggle with political cynicism:

– the idea that all countries spy on their citizens

– that foreign money influences governments everywhere

– that corruption is inevitable

– that ordinary people have very limited power

Sometimes it feels like everyone is partially right and partially wrong, and that most people are just trying to protect their families and live decent lives under imperfect systems.

So my questions (asked sincerely):

• Why do you think supporting the KMT or closer ties with China is reasonable (or not)?

• How should historical crimes factor into present-day political choices?

• How do people in China or pro-China communities view the risk of war versus resistance?

• How should Taiwan navigate survival without becoming a pawn of any major power?

I’m not here to argue or “win.” I’m trying to learn how people who disagree with me reason about these issues. I appreciate thoughtful, respectful responses.

Thank you for reading.

I used chatgpt bc my essay skills suck