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The article discusses how the Taiwanese are developing a distinct identity. For all its moorings in the culture of mainland China, Taiwan's version is now being perceived as something very distinct. Surveys conducted by Taiwan's National Chengchi University show a remarkable shift in Taiwanese self-perception over the past 12 years. The number of those identifying themselves as Taiwanese has risen, whereas those who see themselves purely as Chinese have dropped. This alarms the government in Beijing. It is true that President Chen Shui-ban is fostering Taiwaneseness, but he is doing it because it is popular. Now talk of "one China", with Taiwan as one of its components, has become dangerous for Taiwanese politicians. Galling though it is for China, Chen's emphasis on Taiwan's identity has helped win him votes. China knows that threats of war do not reinforce Taiwan's identification with the mainland. Some Beijing officials still hope that economic interaction with Taiwan will make people on the island feel more Chinese again, but many now have doubts.

The article discusses why members of China's middle class are not expected to be liberal, highlights the increasing nationalism in China, and cites a 2015 survey that reveals the percentage of Chinese who believe that their life should be protected from foreign influence.

The article discusses the negative sides of Chinese nationalism. Mob ugliness simmered for hours in Beijing during and following the Asian Cup final against Japan on August 7th, which ended in a 3-1 defeat for the home side. After booing and heckling the Japanese team in the stadium, thousands of Chinese fans massed outside, many chanting vile and violent anti-Japanese curses, clashing with police, fighting, and throwing rubbish As the presence of so many riot police indicated, none of this was unexpected, and indeed many feared worse. Nationalism runs high in China, and anti-Japanese sentiment runs even higher. This stems from Japan's brutal wartime occupation of China, and from what the vast majority of Chinese consider Japan's utter failure to face up to its guilty history. Chinese leaders and state-run media have long made a practice of reinforcing a harsh line on Japan, scolding Japan for its past crimes and for its current attitudes, which validates negative sentiment among the people.