[Hostage]

You come very close to the core issues.

There is one important factor that seems to be ignored.
Everyone seems to be unaware that Taiwan is an enormous competitor to PRC in the business world. Taiwan's economy and output is still the largest in that part of the world. If the PRC can eliminate or control this competitor, they will dominate those markets.

The PRC is using capitalism to sustain its communist party leadership and to make advances in its military. Hong Kong has become a cash cow to Beijing. Taiwan is a competitor to HK. Therefore the PRC regime wants Taiwan under control or eliminated now.

Any reference to "renegade province" is a political smokescreen.

[BillCompton]

The PRC is using capitalism to sustain its communist party leadership and to make advances in its military. Hong Kong has become a cash cow to Beijing. Taiwan is a competitor to HK. Therefore the PRC regime wants Taiwan under control or eliminated now.

You act like economics is a zero-sum game. The fact is that Honk Kong would be hurt by the "elimination" of Taiwan, as would all other countries. Basic capitalistic fact.