OK, perhaps the parent presented a rhetorical question. I do think that this discussion needs to keep the two governments distinct, so I was trying to give some

OK, perhaps the parent presented a rhetorical question. I do think that this discussion needs to keep the two governments distinct, so I was trying to give some background. But it seems I may have just muddied the waters by not mentioning how relations are in practice. "Renegade province" is the official stance, but you're right, it is much more complex. In practice Taiwan is autonomous, and the degree of interaction with the mainland is a big political issue -- there were no direct flights between Taiwan and the PRC until just a few years ago. And yet, as you say, Taiwan is economically interlocked with China. It is interesting to see the discussion here and elsewhere focus on China as a bogeyman. I suppose the news fits into the narrative that has been constructed about Chinese espionage and such.