I mean, this isn't an awful idea...

The real world logistics probably make this more complicated than implied, but I don't mind the intent.

"We are not Nazis, we just vote for the National Socialist German Workers' Party."

As of a few years ago at least, most Taiwanese people were in favour of keeping relations as they are and neither expanding nor severing Chinese relations from status quo. They already operate as their own country, so a push towards further separation is mostly only symbolic anyway and they don't want to provoke China and their current peace for a symbolic gesture. I think that by treating Taiwan as its own country but not identifying it as such, we are acting as most Taiwanese wish.

In Japanese, 面 is indeed men but I haven't seen it used for noodles. It is usually used for face, mask, (rarely) man.

麺 is the kanji for noodles (notice that 面 is a radical). But, noodle is also often just written in kana as either めん or メン.

Note I am not a native speaker, so not totally confident.

I believe 面 is used for noodles in Mandarin...?

TIL that Japanese people are all autistic.

edit: an explainer as I can see how this sounds insensitive without context (note that I am not Japanese, this is only from what I have come to understand as an outsider looking in)

Japanese folklore, as Shinto, puts forth the idea that inanimate objects can have (or develop?) their own (personified) spirits. This has carried over to modern behaviour and beliefs, where personification of objects is quite common.

Even if most Japanese don't identify as being of Shinto faith/spirituality, and probably don't believe that random inanimate object X has a living spirit within it, items are often treated with great care as though they were to have a spirit. (theory time: maybe this plays a part in why you can often find used items in such good condition in Japan...)

Them's the small government folks for ya...

I love me some bullet trains, but there is a certain distance that makes planes way more viable.

There should be a lot more (and higher quality) high speed rail between cities of moderate distance, however.

north americans: Wait, you guys get trains?

"I am not aware of these comments or their context, but if said—yes, I agree they are racist." Not hard.

No. But, if they were to I reckon if I'd have the dentist look at them and decide what to do then...rather than rip 'em all out preemptively.