Taiwan IS independent. And I HATE the media for repeating that evil "renegade province" phrase. Taiwan is an independent vibrant democracy, and has been for decades. China is going to attack and kill those people while the left applauds.
Taiwan has de facto independence right now, but is still recognized (by the world and by a large percentage of its citizens) as "part of China."
The ideal situation would be for an eventual reunification of Taiwan and the mainland under conditions that would allow political and economic freedom to continue to grow in both places.
The actions of Chen and the DPP not only destroy chances for that to happen, but also greatly increase the chances of war. It's reckless brinkmanship aimed at forcing the US to get involved.
But I do not believe that the US will defend Taiwan militarily if independence is formally declared, nor would I want us to.
Unfortunately it's not just the left applauding, the Bush Administration is manning the switch for the "APPLAUSE" sign.
Why not?
The Left a/k/a Democrats applauded when the Communists killed milliones in VietNam and Camboda.
They applaud and wet their pants in glee each time an American Serviceman/woman is killed in Iraq or Afganistan.
So long as it is either Communists or outlaw muslims doing the killing and it is American Servicemen/women being killed, the Democrats are beside themselves with glee.
In 2006 ,aided and abetted by idiots and fools, the Demmocrats were able to begin the process of turning Iraq and Afganistan into another VietNam. With the same results.