re: Taiwan IS an independent country.
"They have their own government, currency, flag, and military. This charade of them not is a bit silly."
Oh it is silly. But America is dead serious about it.
I guess the hope is China mainland will catch up with China Taiwan. Tiawan has benefit of seeing how China Hong Kong goes. [Hong Kong was a lease imposed on China by Brits.] Tiawan was [as far America was concern at the time] the legitmate seat of power for all of China. Practical realities on the ground required the US to recognize Communist China, but that didn't mean we abandoned the Chinese govt in Tiawan.