Will China go to war over Taiwan?

If the Hong Kong experience had turned out better, it would be a good argument, but Xi has been very heavy -handed with Hong Kong. A more apt description would be "one country, one system."

If someday China is finally able to demonstrate that it respects personal freedom as much as Taiwan, then there will be less argument from Taiwan to stay independent, but there will also be less argument from the mainland to conquer Taiwan.

Don't underestimate the Taiwanese. Due to that constant and massive threat they have been trained and ready for years and would put up a huge fight. That is another reason why this impasse has lasted so long - the Chinese mainland know the Taiwanese would fight to the death.

The number of people who may be killed has never been a problem for the Chinese--during WW2 untold numbers died on the Nationalist side fighting Mao Tse Tung's forces instead of the Japanese---a source of constant annoyance to the Americans at the time.