The exercise of democracy in Taiwan always gets China in a state. In 1996, when the island held its first direct presidential election, Beijing conducted missile tests off its coast. Four years later, Zhu Rongji, the Chinese premier, lambasted the opposition candidate and reiterated the threat of invasion were independence to be declared. Now, the mainland has warned that disastrous consequences could flow from yesterday's passage through the Legislative Assembly of a bill allowing Taiwan to hold referendums, a step seen by the Communists as moving it closer to independence. Such bullying of a free society has proved counter-productive. In...