Given that Taiwan is officially known as the "Republic of China," has a government that repeatedly refers to itself as a part of a disunited China, has a significant portion of the population who votes for that government and believes that they themselves are Chinese, and understands that it is well within the interests of the United States and Westerners to agitate for an independent Taiwan, it's understandable that the average Chinese person without knowledge of the complicated reality and facing pointed discussion from a foreigner would be confused at best. Propaganda certainly has a role here, but it's not difficult to understand that it's only among the reasons Chinese people hold this view.

Consider the United States. With our free and press how many Americans would agree that they are living on land stolen from Native Americans? Or that the acquisition of Hawaii was a clear act of imperialism?