china

I highly doubt the PRC (communist china) is going to change their "one country, two systems" stance on Taiwan. It's a system the the PRC (communist china) has run with Hong Kong, and Macau successfully, then those 2 states were under foreign control.

The PRC basically acknowledge Taiwan/Formosa Islands to be a part of "China" -- something that the KMT (the long time ruling party of Taiwan) still acknowledges as well. The KMT sees owning all of mainland china, Tibet, Mongolia, and etc as well. 'China' is more than a state, it's a nation, singluar, yes, where only one country, manifestation can exist at one time. That's why the KMT has done their best to 'sinify' the population. They suppressed the native language, and installed Mandarin. They for the longest time tried to extend the legacy from when the ROC/KMT used to rule the mainland -- that legacy used in international affairs -- such as UN security counsel status.

It's fantasy yes -- how the hell can tiny Taiwan claim all of Mainland China, Tibet, and Mongolia?. This is East Asia remember, where ideas/abstractions don't necessarily be strict dogma, but instead of reality, and if it means believing in a fantasy to achieve peace, then the KMT members will choose that route.

It's only those from Taiwan who want independence and not really true independence, but to stop claims to territories in mainland, tibet, mongolia. They wish to bring back the 'native' language, and establish closer ties to Japan/Korea.

The PRC will have to react to this thread, not from their top down leadership, but from the Mainland people themselves. The mainland people see a taiwanese 'independence' as an attack their nation. China has only survived so long -- it's counterpart is the Roman Empire -- due to the people's allegiance to one state.

This sort of nationalism that all for one -- or none for all, reflects on fears of other states in china seeking greater degree of autonomy within 'china'.

It's long been misthought that since China's leadership is unitary, thus the people face government in a unitary fashion as well. In reality however, citizens are confined of movement due to the hukou system and require a passport to travel within their own country, much like the EU. They share a similar currency yes, and yes there is some funds shipped from the rich costal states to the poorer inland states, not much however. What it comes down to is that city governors like Bo XiLai can pretty much run their city autonomously without federal/Beijing intervention. Same thing happens in Wenzhou, where the government plays little to no role in the people's lives.

Understanding the previous paragraph above helps understand how Beijing allows Taiwan to operate freely, practicing their democratic government, as long as they proclaim to be in ‘Chinese’ land. Ownership of that land is up for dispute, but as long as it’s ‘chinese’, there’s no issue.