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Now I know that in those areas that were occupied by Japan during the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa periods, there is to this day a great deal of anti-Japanese sentiment. Those areas that have the most anti-Japanese sentiment are China and South Korea. However, Taiwan (also known as Formosa) is one of the few areas that does not have anti-Japanese sentiment. Indeed, I have read scholarly articles that state that ROC rule between the end of WW2 and 1949 (and after, until at least the 1980s) was so harsh that those Taiwanese who grew up under Japanese rule thought that it was better, comparatively and relatively speaking. It could be said (as do some of the scholarly articles I've read) that it was due to the fact that Japanese rule in Taiwan was different from elsewhere, partly because Japan wanted to make Taiwan a "model colony"; it could also be due to the policies of the ROC at that time. All this climaxed with the 228 Incident.

Now, here's the WI. Suppose that the 228 Incident leads to major fighting between the ROC and the Taiwanese. Could the 228 Incident lead to the possibility of a Taiwan independent of the ROC? Could an independent Taiwan (just by existing) help Chairman Mao in defeating the Nationalist forces on Mainland China? In addition, what shape and direction could an independent Taiwan take? Could it be as economically developed as it is in OTL?
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