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Are "outsiders" to be understood as native dissidents or as resident aliens?

When Americans lecture China on Taiwan, the Chinese love to remind them about how accommodating they have been to parts of America that wished to manifest their right to self-determination by seceding. They love this stuff!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Secession_Law

"Although the PRC's official English translation of the law is the Anti-Secession Law, the Mainland Affairs Council on Taiwan has consistently translated it as Anti-Separation Law as secession implies that Taiwan is a part of the PRC. The Mainland Affairs Council and the ROC government has argued that the relationship across the Taiwan strait is not analogous to the situation during the American Civil War since Taiwan was never part of the PRC. This alternate translation is not commonly found in the international media."

The implication, of course, is that if Taiwan is denying the analogy to the American Civil War, others have been suggesting it. I can't think of any specific articles where the analogy has been mentioned, but I've heard it a lot from pro-Chinese 'talking heads' on international news programs and the like. The Chinese censors don't let me check out any of the results (I'm at work, and lack my censor-avoiding VPN), but a quick google search of: ["American Civil War" Taiwan] turns up quite a few promising hits.

At any rate, it is certainly an interesting argument. And if it is ultimately flawed, it is still useful for understanding just how strong the emotions run in China with regard to keeping Taiwan in China. Beyond the emotional reasoning, there are very strong strategic motivations for reuniting Taiwan with the Mainland. While the importance of naval power has taken a backseat to 'boots on the ground' for the last decade, in the coming (and much more important) contest in the Asia-Pacific region, naval power is going to be key. And it only takes a quick look at the map to see just how strategically hamstrung China will be if Taiwan is allowed to be in effect an 'unsinakble enemy aircraft carrier' just a hundred miles off its primary coastline.

Back to the American secessionist topic... several counties in Colorado recently voted to secede (though they were ultimately outvoted by other counties). There are certainly strong pockets of support for the idea across the South, Midwest, and Southwest...

51st state question answered "no" in 6 of 11 counties contemplating secession
By Monte Whaley
The Denver Post

[... In] five of the 11 counties where the secession question appeared on the ballot, the measure passed by strong margins.
[...]
The ballot question, intended as a straw poll, asked residents whether their county commissioners should takes steps to secede from the Centennial State.

Fort Lupton Mayor Tommy Holton said Tuesday night that secession probably would not succeed. But he said the publicity would shed light on rural Colorado's grievances.

"We not only want to be at the table," he said, "but we want a voice at the table as well."

Proponents say they have become alienated from the more urbanized Front Range and are unhappy with laws passed during this year's legislative session, including stricter gun laws and new renewable-energy standards.

"The heart of the 51st State Initiative is simple: We just want to be left alone to live our lives without heavy-handed restrictions from the state Capitol," said 51st state advocate Jeffrey Hare.

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_24461077/11-counties-weigh-secession-from-colorado-formation-51st