[castille]

Um, Hong Kong was handed back lawfully to China in 1997 (Britain's "lease" ran out in 97). No missiles were hurt in the return of Hong Kong.


Also what most people don't realise is that Taiwan actually has a claim on ALL China. Taiwan's KMT party was the original government of China from 1912-1949, and when they fled to Taiwan, they still held their claims to China.

Taiwan is divided between pro-independence seperatists (ie. "We're Taiwanese") and the pro-KMT reunifications ("We're the REAL China"). Nobody really knows what the numbers are, but judging by the huge election reactions its about 50% for each side.

Taiwan wasn't a real democracy until about 1995-1997. Before then it was a KMT dictatorship.


Currently China doesn't benefit from an attack on Taiwan. At the same time, if China recognised Taiwan as an independent non-China nation, there would be rebellion (on both China/Taiwan).

Frankly I would prefer it if China will simply disown Taiwan and let the Republic of Taiwan get formed or whatever. However the problem of course is that 50% of Taiwanese people CLAIM they are the true China (although realistically those Taiwanese are the Chinese who fled to Taiwan in 49).

Militarily, China's capabilities lie in missile strike. Naval invasion is extremely costly; Taiwan has the world's highest concentration of anti-air guns, anti-shipping missiles, and troops.


Of course, I'm only considering the Taiwan equation from a materialistic perspective. In reality, the situation is about saving face - who is the real China, who claims to be Chinese, and what Chinese territory should be. The concept of "saving face" is very important aspects of Asian culture (something I've sadly not inherited, after running naked through the school pub on a dare).

After all, saving face is the very reason why Japan refuses to accept responsibility for WW2. This isn't some samurai honour shit, its simply about culture - something most Americans refuse to understand.