The Kuomintang and Beijing want to resume talks based on the 1992 Consensus, but this is an unworkable approach as it inherently denies Taiwan's democracy.
A look at the international and domestic situations facing China suggests that the unease and fear reflected in Xi Jinping's recent phrases may be justified.
China's leader surrounded himself with yes men at the CCP congress and former leader Hu Jintao was removed from the debate after an apparent power struggle.