China's Quebec

China's own version of Quebec is at it again. Some call it Formosa. Some call it Taiwan. Others call it the Republic of China. It doesn't really matter what you call it. It's a Mandarin speaking Quebec: a province that rattles its saber at the idea of recognized independence, but when push comes to shove is smart enough to know it has greater autonomy and flexibility under the currently ambigous position it is in.

The most recent gambit by the increasingly unpopular president of this paper-tiger independent province-state is recounted in the Post, and with a different thrust on the BBC. Basically, though, it comes down to Chen Shui Bian trying to push hard to his "base" in order to gain the support he needs for an election. Except it's not going to work. While many Taiwanese may support independence in a conceptual or abstract way, they also recognize that there is almost no situation in which they will be able to achieve both independence and buildings still standing in Taipei. Like most people around the world given a few options, they are more likely to follow the money than the bombast. Just like Quebecers decided they'd rather stay part of Canada and reap the rewards offered, rather than fight their way through a world alone.