Direct China-Taiwan Flights Start

Background: Up until now, flight from Taiwan to China would have to stop in Hong Kong because China doesn't want direct trade from Taiwan (this is true for goods too, I think). Now the promises of moving in a straight line (what a novel concept!) exists.

And it's about damn friggin' time! I've always been in the habit of making fun of my Taiwanese friends (in stereotypically mainland ways) because I've been amazed by the ludicrosity of the argument between Taiwan and China. While the conflict is understandable in some aspects (especially if one digs up historical precedent and hold grudges as the Chinese, including Taiwanese, people are wont to do), the way the officials have gone about the arguments are just childish. Taiwanese independence in a political sense is almost a moot point. They are part of China and while establishing its own financial and political powers are to be encouraged and expected, pushing for secession gets nothing done. That the Taiwanese politicians exploit such a stance to help their own political campaigns doesn't help.

China also couldn't be more petulant. With legal documents stating Taiwan "bleongs" to China and a force of 1.4 billion against an small island, why are they pursuing "millitary demonstrations" and empty threats? It is literally squabbling, and it keeps alive a communist/nationalist (and therefore China/Taiwan) segregation that is no longer based upon the ideologies of the two. Each is afraid of a potential action of the other but said potential action would be beneficial to neither so why be afriad of it?

"But they [Taiwanese Officials] have also warned that plans by China to enact an anti-secession law aimed at blocking Taiwanese independence could jeopardise that opportunity and even prove a major setback to future cross-strait ties."

Such statements will only goad the equally moronic and narrow-minded officials in China (who no doubt have made similar statements) to really consider an anti-secession law out of spite if nothing else. And all that will lead to is more puerile bickering which will serve to continually polarize the two peoples/cultures against each other without reason, like a war fought for so long that the justification for the war has long been forgotten. I'm in no position to influence such matters but everytime I read about them, I want to scream at the top of my lungs: "FUCKING GROW UP!!!"