This a small island that has seen robust economic growth with a government not recognized by the United Nations. Contrary to what many rowdy Taiwanese teenagers living in the United States believe, many Taiwanese people do not want to push for independence. In fact during the recent paliamentary elections, the pro-independence Democratic Progressive party was soundly defeated by the pro-Beijing Naitonalist party. With the mainland's economy and power increasing at an astonishing pace (9.6% gdp increase in 2004), it would be in the best interest for Taiwan to concede the People's Republic of China.