A pragmatic proposal -- the best China could hope for

"Blood is thicker than water," was a saying bandied about to excuse the R.O.C. government-in-exile's seizure and occupation Taiwan which happened to have citizens who could claim in part ancestors who had immigrated from China. Ironically, a new proposal to break the relational impasse between China and Taiwan focuses on this ethnic connection in terms of "brotherhood" -- China to be the big brother and Taiwan the little brother. It is not unification as China would seek. But at the same time, it is also not complete disconnect as many in Taiwan who have suffered under the Chinese dictatorship of Chiang Kai-shek would wish.