Today, whether Taiwan likes it or not, Taiwan is being slowly "absorbed and enmeshed" with China's economy. The Chinese leaders know that, they will just sit and wait. There is no need to do anything rash. For every passing day, China is getting stronger economically, politically and militarily. No need to worry about Taiwan, there are other more important things to worry about.
Taiwan has no where to go, its future depends on Mainland period. Both economies are integrated with each other and cooperation will only increase. It's being pulled into Mainland's sphere of influence as we speak. Since the last Taiwan Strait crisis no one dared to try that prank again while China's strength has multiplied in the past 2 decades. The fact US shall never share submarine tech with or selling F-35 to our renegade province speaks volume. Mainland doesn't have to use force as long as they keep their sanity intact. They even have to accommodate China by using "Chinese Taipei" in the Olympics and as a joining member of AIIB. Taiwan is Mainland's little gem, lots of tech companies and ranking 5th of the most patent holder, lots of forex and we have plenty of agents infiltrated inside their defence
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I agree with both points. I expect Taiwan to be gradually absorbed and assimilated into the Beijing's rule as China's sphere of influence moves beyond the first island chain. Taiwan won't be a Mongolia because it will be surrounded all around.
But I also believe that if Taiwan's leadership tries a stunt on China, this time, they will be punished (perhaps selectively) severely by China. They will not e able to play trick on China and get away from it unscathed. Maybe a limited operation will decimate Taiwan's defenses and it will be militarily surrounded even if not taken over.
As for the debate between
@Nihonjin1051 and
@YoucanYouup , yes, technically, Taiwan has certain historical elements in its governance model; in that sense, it is unique. But which two systems are exactly the same?
Ideologiacally (and increasingly, culturally), Taiwan has been loosing whatever identity it may have and becoming a sort of bastardized area. I am talking about the Western influence. It is hard to quantify, but, you feel it, people's point of view and outlook is being heavily influenced by Western ideologies. Western offices and missionaries are working 24/7.
In that regard, no, Taiwan does not represent the Chinese culture as perfectly as the Mainland area does. Even architecturally, Taiwan is a midget in terms of historic-preservation. Whatever museum stuff Taiwan may have, they are the ones looted from the Mainland. But that's fine. You can read 2500 years old exam papers in the museum.
Taiwan lacks China's ideological revitalization; this is the thing that makes you equal in the world stage. Taiwan is a pariah state; if not a vassal (because China limits global political influence on Taiwan).
