“[E]ven China becoming a democracy would [not] entice Taiwan into the Chinese political embrace. One, and only one thing will create ‘peaceful’ union between China and Taiwan: the Taiwanese belief that China is willing to commit murder and mayhem on an island-wide scale, coupled with the calculation that they are unwilling to accept such destruction in exchange for their independence, that will cause them to pack up their tents and set out the white flag.”
I would only add to Michael’s observation that a)the Taiwanese people are not wrong in their belief that China is willing to commit murder and mayhem on an island-wide scale; b)nothing, not even China becoming a democracy will decrease China’s willingess to use extreme force to prevent formal Taiwanese independence.
(Thanks, Globalvoices!)
