That Bumbler Ma, ex "president", finally uttered the truth the other day: once the war is to break out across the strait, that will be an "only and ultimate" one, and Americans will not come to "rescue" the island.  So he called for that the leader in Taiwan should aim to pursue peace and to avoid war. 

His words soon received inundating vitriol and attacks against him from everywhere: DPP administration, green media, 1450, and so on.  But none of them could give us a powerful, convincible statement to prove Ma was wrong.  (So far I have not see any response to Ma from the US; well, what could Uncle Sam say about it anyway?)  

The arguments that Ma made were still somewhat conservative.  I think once China Mainland issues a quasi-ultimatum or carries out a partial-mobilization against Taiwan, the game is over and there will be no "only and ultimate" encounter, battle, or war, whatever, not at all.  But when that will happen?  Obviously, when anyone treads on the red line or shows overt intention of maintaining status quo sine die.    

PS Today, August 15, is the 75th anniversary of V-J Day.  Historically, the problem between the strait has much to do with this memorable day.