Greater Nationalist China?

[Admiral Matt]

I've been wondering: Could the Nationalists have held on to the island of Hainan, as well as Taiwan?

If so, it's something that would certainly increase tensions.

Any thoughts?

[DuQuense]

They Tried The Nationalist had their troops along the north shore, ready to repel any Red Army landing craft or Airplanes.
The Red Infantry tied their rifles to their backs and swan across the channel, crawled up the beach, and took the Nationalist by surprise.

[wkwillis]

If Taiwan had declared independence in 1945, the Nationalists would have had to hold onto Hainan. It would have been their only base. Hainan is much closer to the mainland than Taiwan, and the strait is shallower and farther south. Hainan is therefore much easier to invade than Taiwan. It's the difference between and invasion across the Channel and an invasion against Normandy.

[DuQuense]

Or if the US hadn't given Japanese Formosa to China [who had no legal claim to it] in 1943/45