tooLongInEDA
Moderator
I don't recall the people of Hong Kong being consulted in 1997. It was an agreement between the UK government and China. Period. In fact, a large number of Hong Kong citizens saw the writing on the wall and voted with their feet (the only vote they got). See below.If China takes Taiwan the world loses and so does China. The chances of TSM remaining functional are close to zero and the world will suffer.
When–when–China reunites with Taiwan, it will do so non-violently, with Taiwanese assent comparable to Hong Kong's assent to its reassimilation.
If a show of force is required it will look like this:
Russia's Pacific and Asian Fleets will put to sea, its airforce will aggressively patrol its skies, and three army armored divisions will move to the Western front.
China will announce that Taiwan is now part of the PRC, but for now, the only change will be that all movement of goods and services in and out of Taiwan must pass through China's departments of Customs and Immigration.
To facilitate this, Taiwan's air and ocean limits are now China's and the Taiwan Strait is now domestic water.
The PLAN's 80 missile patrol boats will mark the new marine borders.
The PLAAF's fifth gen fighters, will provide air cover for them.
The PLA's missiles (far more powerful than America's) would ensure compliance.
Business as usual, in other words.
What's not to like?
Oh yes, how's this working for you - "China would guarantee Hong Kong's economic and political systems for 50 years after the transfer." ?
Facts. Such a nuisance aren't they ?
"The colony faced an uncertain future as the end of the New Territories lease approached, and Governor Murray MacLehose raised the question of Hong Kong's status with Deng Xiaoping in 1979.[77] Diplomatic negotiations with China resulted in the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, in which the United Kingdom agreed to transfer the colony in 1997 and China would guarantee Hong Kong's economic and political systems for 50 years after the transfer.[78] The impending transfer triggered a wave of mass emigration as residents feared an erosion of civil rights, the rule of law, and quality of life.[79] Over half a million people left the territory during the peak migration period, from 1987 to 1996.[80] The Legislative Council became a fully elected legislature for the first time in 1995 and extensively expanded its functions and organisations throughout the last years of the colonial rule.[81] Hong Kong was transferred to China on 1 July 1997, after 156 years of British rule."