Editing Political status of Taiwan (section)

=== PRC's condition on future military intervention ===
{{Main|PRC threat of military operation against Taiwan}}
Notwithstanding, the PRC government has issued triggers for an immediate war with Taiwan, most notably via its controversial [[Anti-Secession Law of the People's Republic of China|Anti-Secession Law of 2005]]. These conditions are:
* if events occur leading to the ''"separation"'' of Taiwan from China ''in any name'', or
* if a major event occurs which would lead to Taiwan's ''"separation"'' from China, or
* if all possibility of peaceful unification is lost.

It has been interpreted{{By whom|date=August 2024}} that these criteria encompass the scenario of Taiwan developing nuclear weapons (''see main article'' [[Taiwan and weapons of mass destruction]] also [[Timeline of the Republic of China's nuclear program]]).{{cn|date=August 2024}}

The third condition has especially caused a stir in Taiwan as the term "indefinitely" is open to interpretation.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} It has also been viewed by some{{Who|date=April 2025}} as meaning that preserving the ambiguous status quo is not acceptable to the PRC, although the PRC stated on a number of occasions that there is no explicit timetable for unification.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

Concern over a formal declaration of ''de jure'' Taiwan independence is a strong impetus for the military buildup between Taiwan and mainland China. The former US Bush administration publicly declared that given the status quo, it would not aid Taiwan if it were to declare independence unilaterally.<ref>{{cite news| page=1| title=Bush Opposes Taiwan Independence| date=9 December 2002| publisher=[[Fox News]]| url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/bush-opposes-taiwan-independence| access-date=20 July 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808054530/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,105239,00.html| archive-date=8 August 2007| url-status=live}}</ref>

According to the US Department of Defense report "Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2011", the conditions that mainland China has warned that may cause the use of force have varied. They have included "a formal declaration of Taiwan independence; undefined moves "toward independence"; foreign intervention in Taiwan's internal affairs; indefinite delays in the resumption of cross-Strait dialogue on unification; Taiwan's acquisition of [[nuclear weapon]]s; and, internal unrest on Taiwan. Article 8 of the March 2005 "Anti-Secession Law" states Beijing would resort to "non-peaceful means" if "secessionist forces ... cause the fact of Taiwan's secession from China," if "major incidents entailing Taiwan's secession" occur, or if "possibilities for peaceful reunification" are exhausted".<ref name=DOD-china-2011>{{cite report |url=http://www.defense.gov/pubs/pdfs/2011_cmpr_final.pdf |work=Annual Report to Congress |title=Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China, 2011 |author=Office of the Secretary of Defense |date=6 May 2011 |access-date=16 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328201817/http://www.defense.gov/pubs/pdfs/2011_CMPR_Final.pdf |archive-date=28 March 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{check quotation}}