[John H K]

A bit of a pet peeve but "intensive purposes" actually is "for all intents and purposes."

You're correct about the status of Taiwan. People often get really confused.

CURRENTLY, the government of Tawain (Republic of China) claims to be the legitimate government of ALL of China, including the mainland.

However, some wish Taiwan to stop claiming this, but proclaim itself independent of the rest of China as a separate country.

Somewhat inscrutably from a psychological standpoint, it would bother the PRC more for Taiwan to declare itself independent than it would for Taiwan to keep claiming it's the legitimate government of all of China.

[tallhappy]

CURRENTLY, the government of Tawain (Republic of China) claims to be the legitimate government of ALL of China, including the mainland.

Not accurate. The consistution has been amended since 1991 to modify this and recognize that mainland China is legitimately ruled by another government. There is no more take back the mainland from the communist bandits.

Yet, interestingly, to the extent that the ROC says China is part of their territory (although under a different governmental jurisdiction at this time) what ostensibly will make the communists attack is that taiwan wants to officially say they are not the legitimate government of all China and don't want to be.

It's crazy. A country says they will attack another country if that country stops saying they want to take it over.

usually that means a peace treaty. The communists want war because Taiwan says they don't want war. But if Taiwan said they will take back the mainland from the communist bandits, the communist bandits are happy.

The communist's whole policy and threat is that they will attack taiwan if Taiwan says we don't want to attack you and destroy your regime and take over your land.