How do you imagine having a nation when you don't have one

I mean for Taiwanese we never officially have a sovereign state. We have always been colonized, or in states of tribe-like groups living harmoniously on this island. The most nation like status was in the end of the Japanese colonial rule.
Now, many people imagine ourselves to be a state like nation, trying to assimilate a certain taste of glory or togetherness, however, we are constantly frustrated by efforts from China, and world organizations that we are not one.
Corporate medias in Taiwan generally and intentionally create a prevalent cognitive dissonance that we are a nation. People are trapped here. Through awakening, a deep awakening we might be able to achieve a logical nationhood that we need in preparation for this inventive independence movement called TI.