More and more Taiwanese prefer to maintain the political status quo with China while fewer wish to see the two sides reunify, despite vastly improved relations over the past two years.
Various recent surveys attest to this broad trend. The latest, published last week by the mass-circulation United Daily News, shows that for the first time, a majority - 51 per cent - of Taiwanese would prefer that the island neither declare independence nor reunify with China "indefinitely". Only 32 per cent of respondents felt this way when the same survey was conducted in July 2000.
Remember, however, that China considers it a cause for war if Taiwan puts off movement towards reunification (on China's terms) with the mainland. In the end, it counts for little in Peking if the Taiwanese grow less fearful and even fonder of China as trade grows, yet refuse political union.
What Hellish fury does Taiwan risk by scorning China?
