Neither the PRC nor Taiwan actually recognize the latter's independence, and so far no election in Taiwan has yet returned a clear majority for independence. One young woman from there once told me that her mother used to tell her: "remember, we are not Taiwanese, we are Chinese". So I would say that even within Taiwan itself, there must still be some considerable residual pressure towards not recognizing the separation of the two countries, quite apart from China's great success in avoiding to have the matter of Taiwan considered in any other light by the international community. Independence only exists if it is recognized both inside and outside, and thus far neither Taiwan itself nor any other official body has recognized it. That is why I say "virtual".