>>4111099>>4111456>>4112776>until it's officially recognized as a country it's not a country. That's how it works.No actually, no it's not. Hate to break this to you, but there is no single universally recognized definition or criterion for what constitutes a 'country'. There are two primary definitions often used - the Constitutive theory, where statehood is based on international recognition (as you claim); and the Declarative theory, where statehood is based on sovereignty over its territory and people. Both definitions are valid, and both have numerous examples that pass one but fail the other. But when talking about 'countries' in the general, layman sense the Declarative theory tends to have greater prominence (though not exclusively).
Taiwan 100% has complete sovereignty over it's territory and people, and has functioned as an independent sovereign state for decades. Despite what they want to think the PRC has no control or say over anything on the island. It's the most clear-cut example in modern times of a country that fails one definition but passes the other with flying colors. And the only reason it remains 'officially' unrecognized is because the PRC will cut all diplomatic ties with anyone who 'officially' recognizes it. By any measure but the most banal semantics-lawerying nonsense it is 100% an independent country.
>t. PhD in Geography 
