Wrong. It merely depends on whether the local policy maker before computer age prioritize reducing illiteracy and convenience over other considerations.
Macau, HK and Taiwan uses traditional Chinese character.
Mainland China, Singapore, Malaysia use simplified Chinese character.
Japan uses its own version, some simplified, some traditional, and also invented over 100 Japanese-made-Kanji following the same logic how Chinese characters are formed.
As a matter of fact, simplification of Chinese characters started when KMT/Republic of China was in control of the whole China. Politics gets in the way later and RoC stopped this simplification process while PRC kept it going, Macau & HK were not involved since the Portuguese and British colonial government doesn't care. Singapore and Malaysia pick the simplified version out of convenience.
Macau, HK and Taiwan uses traditional Chinese character.
Mainland China, Singapore, Malaysia use simplified Chinese character.
Japan uses its own version, some simplified, some traditional, and also invented over 100 Japanese-made-Kanji following the same logic how Chinese characters are formed.
As a matter of fact, simplification of Chinese characters started when KMT/Republic of China was in control of the whole China. Politics gets in the way later and RoC stopped this simplification process while PRC kept it going, Macau & HK were not involved since the Portuguese and British colonial government doesn't care. Singapore and Malaysia pick the simplified version out of convenience.