[chilepepper]

I think that China could at some point in the future take Taiwan by force, maybe twenty years from now.

On the other hand, optimist me thinks China would be so different in 20 years they would not want to take Taiwan by force.

If China becomes democratic (if a large enough middle class develops it will probably happen!) then Taiwan may ask to rejoin China on their own...

I think what the Maoist fossils in Beijing are hoping for is a hyper jimmuh carter type president who gives up Taiwan to the China like Chamberlain and the weak willed Europeans gave up the Sudetenland to Germany in 1938...

[Cronos]

On the other hand, the Taiwanese may be playing in longer terms. They've built up their ties with China's potential rival to the West -- India, both are preparing for a post American hyperpower world in 20 to 25 years. India's also pushign up ties with russia to a higher level, and both R&I would like to punish China for it's arrogance and to keep it in place, so you never know what may happen in 2025.

[Cronos]

If China becomes democratic (if a large enough middle class develops it will probably happen!) then Taiwan may ask to rejoin China on their own

Don't hold your breath. China already has a large middle class (larger than the population of the US), but they're pretty content to let the commie Emperors rule (the Chinese have NEVER had a democracy or a republic in their history)

[Quix]

If Shrillery gets in and they buy her as well as they bought Billdo, they could be right.