Despite a long history of national linkage with mainland China, Taiwan, under the colonization and brutal cultural and economic transformation by Japan invasion in the early 20 century till the end of WWII, have gone through a heart breaking separation from the homeland.
Ms. Tsai, just like her mentor, Mr. Lee Teng-hui are heavily influenced by liberal Democratic political ideology, and refined that with a modern form that is closer to western worlds. Mr. Lee Teng-hui represents a more Japanese heritage. And because of his disillusioned passion for communism, Lee had been a communist, and got bullied by KMT after the retreat.
Ms. Tsai led a whirlwind of political ascension through labeling "本省人” “外省人” political identities. Where she also mastered the online propaganda toolings eg the 1450 army (https://zh.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%B6%B2%E7%B5%A1%E6%89%93%...). Mrs. Tsai's domestic policy heavily rely on trade economic value for political ties like importing US pork with additive that are known to have harm to human https://zh.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%B6%B2%E7%B5%A1%E6%89%93%... And cultivation of national pride to distance the Taiwan island from mainland, and make the island more prestigious and similar to a national body. Like the so-called "advanced vaccine" by Taiwan's own Rd center https://www.dw.com/zh/%E5%8F%B0%E6%B9%BE%E5%BC%80%E6%89%93%E... these vaccines are rushed to public without adequate testing, and caused higher than usual death.
Ms. Tsai obviously has no adherence to the international law that recognize Taiwan as a part of China. And many Taiwan politicians are fearful of joining China for historical reasons. They even rejected Jiang Zeming's offer to retain it's own military and civil government, by just recognizing formally the CCP led central government, literally a federated nation.
Unfortunately, Taiwan's cultural linkage to China is weak. And the mainland is gearing towards a coercive reunification in some form that is appropriate to China's economic and political consideration. I.e., If China continue to grow and surpass US in all major aspects of national strength, Taiwan can keep this state indefinitely, as China does not really care that much when it becomes a more powerful US. But US won't allow that, global hegemony is a zero sum game, the loss of that status will destroy US financial industry, for an example of the consequence. And Taiwan for her self proclaimed high vision of independence, is heading into a dead end. As a weakening China will be more hostile to the island, Taiwan, in its own pursuit of some potlical value, will bring ruin to the island, probably bundled with significant damage to the mainland. Meanwhile, US would righteously declare the victory of democracy, and say nothing about the human suffering in the conflict, and exploit the economic loot afterwards.
In the end, I'll support the growth of China in all aspects of national power. Hopefully a better version of US can born from that. I'll do my best to influence the Western audience about the more complicated aspect of Taiwan issue, to broaden their view about alternatives than just the black and white democracy vs xxxx (authoritarian dictatorship swap any of your favorite words on China).
The US led world order is simply not going to sustain, everyone needs to understand not only US cannot make an example of the right and good, US no longer have the means other than destruction in shaping other nations' fate.