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Reckoning's avatar

Enjoyable read. I visited Taiwan for a week around 20 years ago and had a very pleasant time. I mentioned to a Taiwanese acquaintance that I was coming and received far more hospitality than I had any right to. The people were relaxed and easy going, a nice contrast having travelled there from Korea. The food was excellent, particularly the seafood and the fruit. I remember a pyramid shaped apple type fruit that was delicious. Not a vast number of things to see but Taroko Gorge is pretty spectacular.

I also question whether the Taiwanese are serious about fighting. I was at a nightclub with some people and the police turned up the lights, apparently looking for AWOL soldiers or draft dodgers. One of my acquaintances seemed nervous and I was told he had some issue, but the police examined his documents and he had no problem.

I also recall seeing a rather small and dilapidated looking base and not too many soldiers in the streets. Again, quite a contrast to Korea where the military is taken extremely seriously.

Ultimately it is not the West’s job to go around fighting for people who can’t be bothered to fight for themselves or even reproduce. We have enough problems already.

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