Taiwan faces threat of invasion. Many Taiwanese aren't worried

Teens performing a synchronized dance on the rainbow-painted street of Taipei's Ximending shopping district don't exactly reflect the face of a people fearing invasion.

Despite Beijing's near-monthly attack drills against Taiwan — and its oft-repeated claim that the island will be reunited with the mainland, by force, if necessary — many Taiwanese just don't buy it.

"I don't think they're coming," says 16-year-old Yu-ze Wu. "We're pretty used to China's threats."

Taiwan has lived under self-rule for 70 years since supporters of the KMT political party fled to the island after losing in the civil war to the Communists.

Every Chinese leader since has claimed to have a formal military plan to reclaim Taiwan. 

But it hasn't happened, so doubt has set in.

However, China has built up its military power in recent years — now with the world's largest navy — and its leader, Xi Jinping, has made reunification a high priority.

"We will never promise to give up the use of force and reserve the option to take all necessary measures," he said at last year's major party conference.

Although it governs autonomously, Taiwan has never formally declared independence. 

With a presidential election campaign now underway for a vote in January, there are some who believe now is the time to end the status quo.

"If we establish as a new country, we will be allied with other democracies — and fight with the communists," Bi-Xian Huang with the Taiwan Independent Flag Parade told CBC News.

"I don't think China really has the ability to do reunification by force."

That gamble underscores the difference between Taiwan's two main political parties.

The current opposition KMT (the same party that founded modern Taiwan) stands for harmony with the Communist Party across the Taiwan Strait, seeking not to provoke or anger Beijing.