The Chinese charm offensive (complete with Pandas!) tended to lull Taiwanese into thinking defense was not a priority even as China advanced their capabilities to defeat Taiwan (and hold off America and Japan while they did that).
So at best, Taiwan would succumb to the charm and welcome their new mainland overlords.
At worst, China would be in a better position to conquer Taiwan at an acceptable cost in lives within a reasonable time frame to avoid more than a small risk of escalation.
The Taiwanese at least have not gotten used to the idea of being ruled by the Peking communists.
But China, after 5 years, is getting tired of waiting for Taiwan to voluntarily surrender:
China was hoping the worst was over with Taiwan after more than five years of economic goodwill. Now it’s getting mad again and in the worst case may review how much further to take trade and investment links used for five years to charm Taiwan toward political reunification. ...
“An examination of the positions and attitudes of the Taiwanese people towards China policy reveals that their national identity and preferences for independence versus unification have solidified,” the [Taiwanese Democratic Progressive opposition party] review’s summary report states. “Recent polls have also shown that the public rejects defining Taiwan and China as one country.”
Taiwan's people aren't feeling more Chinese than Taiwanese. The ruling Nationalist Party hasn't agreed to unification. And the opposition party has a good chance of winning the 2016 election.
China is making it apparent that behind their sparkly smile that signalled a new moon in cross-strait relations, the fangs were always there, ready to eclipse that hope. The twilight is now upon Taiwan. The Chinese will make it clear that breaking Taiwan is the end of the saga, as far as they are concerned.
The darkness will follow. Team Peking is the only choice being offered.
The Taiwanese should keep their powder dry and be ready to take the heart shot. Reasonably enlightened communists are just a myth, after all.
