Taiwan has been trying to advance onto the world stage for many years, however it has been experiencing resistance. One of my articles that I found talks about the movement of US naval ships through the Taiwan Strait. Apparently this is the third time this year that the United States have sent ships through the strait which increases tension with China. I feel bad for Taiwan because all they want is independence and sovereignty, but the inability for other states to recognize Taiwan as a country forces them to be used as a pawn between China and the United States. I also believe that the United States is causing unnecessary drama between China through their actions. The US believes in a open Indo-Pacific, but it is also perceived as arrogant when the article states, “The US Navy will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows.” It is unlucky that Taiwan has to be pulled into the conflict and competition between two of the world’s most powerful countries.
Taiwan is also hoping to make more advancements within their nation through the legalization of same sex marriages. My article talks about the current struggle on the issue by describing the efforts taken by both sides of the conflict. I know the topic of religion is one of the biggest obstacles when it comes to homosexual marriages and one of the main opponents to its legalization in Taiwan is the Christian population. As a Catholic, I am supposed to frown upon homosexuals and believe that marriage is between a man and a woman, however I also believe that God makes everyone the way they are for a reason. Everyone is allowed to choose who to love and marry and those decisions should be permitted by any government and respected by all. With the set back from the negative outcome of the referendum, the LGBTQ community in Taiwan is even more motivated to fight for their cause. I hope that the government of Taiwan will come to an understanding decision in order for the growth of their nation as a whole.