Only a handful of small states officially recognise Taiwan as an independent country, though in many ways this democratic territory has the trappings of an independent nation.

But Taiwan's giant neighbour, China, argues that the island is a renegade province that will one day reunify with the mainland - and Beijing reserves the right to use force to accomplish that if need be.

In recent years the Chinese have built up their military forces substantially, including many aimed at Taiwan, and the rhetoric from Beijing remains that Taiwan belongs to China. Meanwhile calls within Taiwan for full independence have grown louder.

The United States says it is committed to preserving the ambiguous status quo in the region and to opposing any Chinese coercion of the Taiwanese. Japan, too, has recently become more outspoken about supporting the US military forces in any possible conflict over Taiwan.

So could the dispute over Taiwan trigger a war?

Joining David Aaronovitch in the Briefing Room are:

Margaret Hillenbrand, Associate Professor of modern Chinese culture and literature at the University of Oxford.

Dr. Yu Jie, Senior Research Fellow on China in the Asia-Pacific Programme at Chatham House.

J Michael Cole, Taipei-based Senior Fellow with the Taiwan Studies programme at Nottingham University.

Bonnie Glaser, Director of the Asia Programme at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, Washington DC.

Producers: John Murphy, Ben Carter, Kirsteen Knight, Jim Frank