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They also have not acted militarily to take back Taiwan, probably because they didn't have the capacity, but maybe because they are patient enough accomplish it politically like they did with Hong Kong.
Hong Kong is not a very good "political" example. The return of Hong Kong had to do with a lease expiration and nothing to do with political solutions, as is happening now.
Their economy is second largest in the world, roughly half of our economy. Within 15 to 20 years, they will have a larger economy than ours.
Speculation on your part?
And from a "war making" aspect where production is key...Why Is China Growing So Fast?
The most interesting part...China's recent productivity performance is remarkable. By comparison, productivity growth for the Asian tigers hovered around 2 percent, sometimes slightly more, for the 1966-91 period. China's rate of almost 4 percent simply puts it in a class by itself.
I notice you used the "tiger" metaphor yourself earlier in the thread.
When it gets to the point where China does have the military capacity to invade Taiwan, there will be a political solution.
China's Military Keeps on Modernizing
War over Taiwan is not viewed by Beijing as imminent. Given the desire of both the Taiwan government and the United States not to provoke Beijing into military action, the initiative lies with China. Its leaders believe that the sustained rapid growth of the economy is working in their favor.
Almost all the new conventional weapons needed to overcome China's military backwardness have to be imported at high cost. Imported weapons make China dependent on suppliers, primarily Russia, for spare parts and follow-on models. Although a large part of the military budget is earmarked for current expenses, at these levels substantial funds are available for imports. Suppliers stand ready to sell modern weapons and technology - first of all Russia, but also Israel, France, Britain, Germany and South Africa. The equipment of China's armed forces can be expected to improve much more in the coming years than in the recent past.

Yep, history repeating itself. Pump up the economy and in a few years your enemy is powerful enough and wealthy enough to strike out. I wonder...will the "political solution" be Chamberlainian in manner?
Jeff, you might have some more insights.

Excellent Post.

Hong Kong is not a very good "political" example. The return of Hong Kong had to do with a lease expiration and nothing to do with political solutions, as is happening now.

"Political" in the sense that China negotiated the turn over and made assurances that it would not interfer. There is no question that China could have taken Hong Kong militarily. It negotiated to have business remain. There is not lease event with Taiwan, but they want to use the same economic model.

I said:Within 15 to 20 years, they will have a larger economy than ours.

You said: Speculation on your part? <snip>

Obviously speculation. It is an extension of growth rates. If the U.S. grows at the current rate and China grows at the current rate, the math predicts the China's economy becoming larger. That is a big if, of course. The thing is that China has so many people, if they can create an economy where they become productive, there is no question they would have a larger economy. Personal productivity will not even begin to aproach the U.S., but when you have five times the population, you don't have to.

On the other hand, there is no way that China will have as powerful a military as the U.S. We own most of the world's military technology and innovation. Russia is very good with aviation technology and they are making their best stuff (probably) available, but we will still enjoy a huge numerical superiority unless something unforseen happens to the the U.S. economy.

I think something is far mor likely to happen to China, than to the U.S. Politically, they do not have a style of government that can survive. Their are two kinds of power in China, business and government. The business power is a coastal phenominon. Government is a Bejing thing. Private property does not coexist well with communism.

Yep, history repeating itself. Pump up the economy and in a few years your enemy is powerful enough and wealthy enough to strike out. I wonder...will the "political solution" be Chamberlainian in manner?

I don't understand this conclusion. Market forces create states that feel like it is too expensive to go to war. If enough economic activity occurs, it becomes like a civil war, where there is no way to win. The bottom line is that imperilism is impractical in the modern world. The only two execptions are religious fanatics and communists. That's what makes China so interesting.