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from the mayor of Taipei and several prominent politicians. However, the change was recently repealed by the legislature.

A very important country in relations between Taiwan and China is the United States. Although the United States maintains a one-China policy, it has very important economic interests in Taiwan. If not for American warnings to President China not to further his independence agenda, some believe that he would have already attempted a formal declaration.

Relations between Taiwan and China are complicated. Some Taiwanese believe that a formal declaration of independence is necessary because reunification is fundamentally wrong. Others believe that reunification is the correct path via an arrangement similar to that between China and Hong Kong. The majority, however, seem to favour the status quo, no formal declaration of independence but no full reunification with the mainland, at least for now. It is clear that the Taiwanese people wish to have the right to elect their president directly.

If Ma Ying-jeou, the KMT candidate, becomes the next president of Taiwan, relations between China and Taiwan will improve considerably. This will result in greater economic co-operation, further negotiation and perhaps an eventual political arrangement for Taiwan similar to that of Hong Kong. Taiwanese is an economic success story, so this could give Taiwan the leverage it needs to preserve its autonomy within a greater China. However, it appears that as long as Taiwan can count on the support of the United States, it may be able to preserve the status quo.

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