It must begin political reforms. Economic reforms without political reforms cannot continue. I believe all Chinese on both sides of the strait can stand up in the 21st century. Also expressing hope is Lin of the Mainland Affairs Council. All that is needed is time.
China can certainly pressure Taiwan to start talking.
But to force the island into reunification before it is ready would only raise the stakes for conflict. Nor should Beijing dismiss American willingness to help Taiwan in case of war. Washington has been deliberately vague over the matter, and its efforts to curb pro-independence rhetoric from Taiwan have led to the view that the U.S. supports eventual reunification. But a senior State Department official says privately that this is a common misperception. We have no idea what that would be.