Would Taiwan democracy survive union with China?

Alex Lo in his column, “Why the Hong Kong model will work in Taiwan” (January 5), makes no mention of democracy.

The government of Taiwan has, for some years, been democratically elected. I cannot believe that this has escaped Mr Lo’s notice, therefore I can only conclude that he does not see it as significant. He does not appreciate what democracy means to those who have experienced it: the right to take an active part in the process of re-electing or replacing a government.

So what of a “Special Administrative Region of Taiwan”? Would it be allowed to keep its democratically elected government? And for how long? Would the people of Taiwan take that risk? But what of President Xi Jinping’s hint of using force? Would he do so? If he did, would the United States come to Taiwan’s aid?

I am somewhat concerned that the hint of using force against Taiwan has come at a time close to the trade talks between the US and China. Are the Chinese president, who recently had term limits on the presidency removed, and the president of the US, who puts “America first”, going to strike a deal that gives advantages to the US in return for a guarantee that Washington will not intervene in any attempt by China to gain control of Taiwan?