As a self-identified Taiwanese, from time to time, I get to explain Taiwanese history and so on to anyone who might have been told/taught differently. A few days ago, someone who clearly had never left America insisted on his false knowledge about Taiwan, and I got to apply a phrase I learned in the US, "I would punch you in the face for that". To help more people dodge that punch in the face because of incorrect/incomplete information, I decided to point out a few common myths and facts about Taiwan. (I believe most of Taiwanese are peaceful people. Otherwise, Taiwan couldn't have been ruled by so many foreign powers until now.)
由於自我定位為台灣人, 當我碰到對台灣史理解不同的人時, 免不了一番解釋。前幾天碰到了一個大概這輩子沒離開過美國卻硬是堅持自以為了解台灣的錯誤知識，我很難得首度使用一句在美國學到的用語＂我有衝動給你臉補一拳＂。為幫助人們閃躲因為錯誤知識引發之台灣人正拳，我決定在此釐清一些迷思。（相信大部分的台灣人民都以和為貴，要不然就不會乖乖被這麼多外來政權統治這麼久）
1. Myth: You're from Taiwan? You must speak Chinese!
Fact: Nonsensical for various reasons.
迷思1. 你來自台灣？那你一定會說中文！
事實：多面向分析後的無理之談
a. Chinese doesn't mean the pronunciation.
Even dating sites know that! Clearly, some people have never acquired dating sites. Good for them, I suppose! There are a ton of regional dialects(pronunciations) in Chinese language. The most popular one used as the official pronunciation/language in several countries in Asia is called Mandarin. Mandarin started as a dialect like many others. When Ming and Ching(or Qing) dynasties took control of China, the rulers started to promote (or force) the majority of people using their dialect, and it became the broadly spoken "official language" for many after all.
a. 中文不代表發音方式
連交友網路都知道的事實！看來有些人從來沒用過交友網路，大概值得慶幸吧！中國語言涵蓋許多方言，目前在亞洲最流行的官方口音是曼德林（普通話，北京話）。曼德林始於方言，當明清當道時為治國方便而加強推行。
b. There are a lot of people in Taiwan who speak languages/dialects other than Mandarin.
b. 台灣還有許多其他方言與語言使用者
b1. Aboriginal languages/dialects
There are more than 10 different tribes in Taiwan and some of their dialects are not even close to each other. Their languages or dialects are nothing like Mandarin/Chinese at all.
b1. 原住民語言/方言
台灣目前至少有十多族正名，使用語言／方言不一定類似。而這些語言與曼德林（中文語系）大不同。
b2. Japanese
After the invasion by Japan during Ching/Qing dynasty, Taiwan was given to Japan since the late 1800. In order to rule, Japanese became the official language until after the end of WWII. My grandma(mom's mom) spoke Japanese, Minnan(sometimes referred to Hokkien, Holo, a dialect widely spoken in Taiwan), and very little Mandarin. Well, my mom's families came from five generations of farmers. They didn't have to deal with the government too much, and they got to keep their first dialects/languages.(Only what they used at home and school)
b2. 日語
在日本侵清時，台灣在1800年晚期被割給日本。為了方便管理，日文變成官方語言一直到第二次世界大戰之後。我外祖母在世時只會說日語與閩南語（又稱福佬話或福建話，方言），而幾乎不會曼德林。五代以上農家不太需要跟治國者打交道，於是不用精通後來的官方語言。（僅擅長家裡與學校使用的語言與方言）
b3. Taiwanese shouldn't mean a certain pronunciation.
Lots of Minnan/Hokkien/Holo speakers use the term Taiwanese to refer their dialect. Yes, as Mandarin, it's widely spoken in Taiwan, but it's still ignorance to ignore all other dialects in Taiwan like Hakka, Cantonese, etc.
b3. 任何方言或是發音方式不該被定義為台灣話或台語
許多使用閩南語（福佬話、福建話）的人們由於自己使用的方言是多數，於是自認為台灣話或台語就是閩南語（福佬話、福建話）。這其實是很不尊重其他方言與文化的表現！在台灣，客家話也是主流方言之一，而台灣也有使用廣東話...等其他方言的人群。
b4. New Taiwanese whose first language is not related to Chinese at all
There are more and more people trying to immigrate to Taiwan. Some of them are English teachers from all over the world. Some of them go to Taiwan for business or work. A lot of immigrants are from Philippine, Thailand, Vietnam, and more.
b4. 新台灣人的第一語言與中文語系完全無關
越來越多人移民台灣，有些是來自世界各地去台灣教英文之後決定移民定居的人們、有些人為了生意或工作定居台灣、許多移民來自菲律賓、泰國、...越南。
2. Myth: Taiwan is/was part of China
Fact: Not exactly!
迷思2. 台灣（曾）是中國的一部份
事實：不完全是！
A very huge portion of people who came to Taiwan because they had no where else to go. Taiwan was first recognized as part of China since Ming dynasty (the one before Qing) around 1661. The very last authorities of Ming dynasty, Cheng Families, kicked out the Dutch who had taken some controls of Taiwan for 38 years, and the Chengs claimed Taiwan as the territory of Ming. (BTW, Dutchmen kicked Spanish people out from Taiwan around 1642.) Anyways, Ching/Qing dynasty can't tolerate the existence of any left over Ming's. They sent a few armies over and took out Ming dynasty from Taiwan. But how much does Ching/Qing dynasty care about Taiwan? Apparently, not very much, because when Ching/Qing was invaded by Japan, Taiwan and its surrounding islands were given to Japan right away. KMT annihilated Ching/Qing dynasty when Taiwan was ruled by Japan. In the beginning of the territory of the Republic of China, Taiwan wasn't even in there.
台灣的多數人口原本的確來自中國移民，但飄洋過海的原因通常是因為在本地待不下去又無他處可去。台灣一直到明清時期才被劃為版圖之內（1661年左右），當年鄭成功抗清不了只好用餘力擊退佔據台灣的荷蘭人（荷蘭人於1642年趕走西班牙人，佔據台灣約38年），在台灣為明朝留下一絲機會，清廷為剷除餘族派兵來台除明成功，於是台灣成為清朝版圖。至於清廷實際上有多在意台灣，從馬關條約割台給日本就知道了。當國民黨推翻清政府時，台灣並不在版圖之內。
So, the million $ question a lot of us have here is, "As places given away to different countries by Ching/Qing dynasty, who the heck decided to give Taiwan back to the Republic of China(ROC, lead by the party, KMT) when Hong Kong was given back to the People's Republic of China(PRC, lead by the Communist Party)?"
那麼，這時得幫許多有相同疑問的人發問：＂一樣都被清廷割據，到底是哪些王八蛋決定香港要回歸中國共產黨而台灣要交給中國國民黨？＂
3. Myth: Taipei is the capitol of Taiwan
Fact: Yes and no depending on whom you are asking
迷思3. 台灣的首都是台北
事實：要看查詢資料是哪個單位提供的
On Wikipedia and most highly educated countries, it's clear that Taipei plays the role as the capitol of Taiwan. However, if you read the textbooks published by KMT(or its allies), the books may tell you that Nanjing is the capitol. How is that possible when we all know that Nanjing is in China? Well, let's just say that some of the hardcore ROC believers are still delusional about taking over China one day...
微基百科跟世界各地許多有常識的知識分子都會說台北很顯然是台灣的首都。但是，如果參考資料來自國民黨（或相關單位）出版之教科書，你可能會發現台灣（中華民國）的首都在南京。怎麼可能？南京不是在中國大陸嗎？嗯，我只能說有些中華民國狂熱者還在幻想有一天能三民主義統一中國...
4. Myth: Taiwan will be taken over by China because of the current economic drives
Fact: The entire world could be taken over by China following this logic
迷思4. 由於經濟考量，台灣一定會被中國併吞
事實：參考同樣經濟考量因素，全世界都可能會被中國併吞
As what Trump proudly mentioned, "...I just sold an apartment for 15 million dollars (to some Chinese)...", I think it's more fun and useful to buy the US than Taiwan.
引述川普之前驕傲地說詞：「...我剛以一千五百萬美元賣了一棟公寓(給某中國人)...」要買的話，買美國比台灣更有用也更有趣。
These are the principles to keep in mind before opening the mouth to anyone who openly expresses himself/herself as Taiwanese. Hope all the readers stay un-punched! Or, if you like a good fight, you know what to say!
當有人表示自己是台灣人的時候，請在開口前回顧以上原則，希望讀者們的臉都能安然無恙。當然，若目的是為了挑起戰端，那如何點火也是一目瞭然。
