55...the mere fact that separatist movements exist in Europe, Asia, and elsewhere does not necessarily mean that separatism will be achieved, as you seem to believe...
I did not state that I believed separatism will be achieved. You are putting words in my mouth. I was responding to your statement that the trend is for countries to unify. The trend towards globalization is countered by another force that seeks localization. Look at the strong anti-UN and anti-NAFTA sentiment here in FreeRepublic. The trend towards regional governments will provoke a strong trend towards smaller enclaves where people share a common culture. Europe, Africa, and Asia are all experiencing a reverse diaspora as ethnic communities purify themselves. Not all separatism will succeed. In fact probably only a few will. There will be surprises where large nations will not achieve independence and small ones will.
55...The E. Asian tigers all transitioned to democracy peacefully after first developing their economies rapidly under one-party rule, didn't they?...
I would say no.
South Korea
The government of South Korea was imposed on it by the US military in 1945...Lacking an effective plan that devoid of specifics, General John R. Hodge and his XXIV Corps were sent to Korea and ordered to establish a United States Military Government in Korea. Unprepared and inexperienced in Korean affairs, General Hodge set out to create a military occupational government structure without a central plan issued from above. General Hodge's first course of action in Korea was to refuse to recognize the Korean People's Republic and its various "people's committees" as the legitimate governing body in Korea. Next, Hodge moved to "resurrect" former officials who had served under the Japanese and incorporated them into the USMGIK bureaucracy. The use of former pro-Japanese Koreans as officials in the new military government and the National Police alienated the great majority of Koreans. Hodge would later replace many of his "hand-picked" Japanese collaborators with Koreans who were not part of the former colonial governing structure because of heavy pressure emanating from the populace. link
Taiwan
Taiwan has a government imposed on it by the KMT. A violent riot in 1979 led to Martial Law and then democracy...In 1949, Chiang Kai-shek lost the war on the mainland, and fled to Taiwan, where he established the remainder of his regime. For the next four decades, the people of Taiwan lived under Martial Law, while the KMT attempted to maintain the fantasy that they ruled all of China, and would some day "recover" the mainland. The Chinese mainlanders who came over with Chiang Kai-shek constituted only 15 percent of the population of the island, but were able to maintain themselves in a position of power over the 85 percent native Taiwanese through tight control of the political system, police, military, educational system and media......The Kaohsiung Incident of December 1979 galvanized the Taiwanese on the island and overseas into political action. The tangwai ("outside-the-party") democratic opposition started to question the KMT's anachronistic claim to represent all of China, and began to work towards ending the 40-years' old martial law. In September 1986, this movement culminated in the formation of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which then began its growth into a full-fledged opposition party.....The Martial Law was finally dropped in 1987, but replaced by a less-stringent National Security Law. However, it wasn't until 1991 that the KMT claim to rule all of China was dropped, and that aging Nationalist Chinese legislators -- elected on the mainland in 1947 -- were sent into retirement. Since then the island has made major strides in the direction of a fully democratic political system, but the KMT authorities continue to cling to this day to their outdated claim that "Taiwan is part of China." link
Singapore
Singapore has a government imposed on it by the British after the British almost lost the colony to the Communists. Martial Law gave way to democracy and then independence...When the Communist Party of Malaya tried to take over Malaya and Singapore by force, a state of emergency was declared in June 1948. The emergency lasted for 12 years. Towards the end of 1953, the British government appointed a commission under Sir George Rendel to review Singapore's constitutional position and make recommendations for change. The Rendel proposals were accepted by the government and served as the basis of a new constitution that gave Singapore a greater measure of self-government. link
Hong Kong
Hong Kong was a British Crown colony until 1999 when it was returned to the Chinese. China's "Basic Law" for Hong Kong is not Democracy...never in over 155 of colonial appointed rule has there been a democratic election in Hong Kong. One year ago a carefully staged procedure allowed for just one third of the legislature to be decided by direct vote. The rest of the legislature was decided. as always, by appointments from financial institutions and corporations. The overwhelming majority of the population did not vote.....The rule of this colony has been not only undemocratic, but also thoroughly racist. Although the population of Hong Kong is over 98% Chinese, the governor appointed by the British crown has never been a Chinese person. The Governor has always been a white British aristocrat. The judiciary is also a not elected by the population. It is appointed. In addition, Hong Kong has some of the most draconian laws of press censorship.....The U.S. media always refers to the prosperity of Hong Kong. What the media fails to mention is that this is prosperity for a small elite. Hong Kong has proportionately the largest number of millionaires in the world. It also has the greatest gap between rich and poor in all of Asia. Taxes on the wealthy are the lowest in the world. link
55...The nations surrounding China are becoming economically dependent on China whether they like it or not out of sheer economic necessity...
I agree whole heartedly with you on this. The Chinese are a force to be reckoned with. The powerhouses of Hong Kong and Singapore show what the Chinese are capable of. Those cities are mirrored in Chinese communities around the world. Ties are strong within the communities and economic power is a by-product. Whether China is whole or more than one country, the Chinese will dominate the region. The only break in Chinese dominance was the Age of European Empires starting in the 16th century.