If so, this surprising counter to the Chinese reforms, beginning to occur under a Hindu nationalist government not thought hospitable to free markets, would represent a startling addition to the world's economic growth.

FORBES: Commerce calls

On Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu rejected suggestions that the government was stirring up nationalist sentiment among Chinese.

NPR: Olympic Torch Relay Chaotic in San Francisco

As a result of the Korean War, when U.S. troops fought Chinese troops, America had signed a security treaty with the Nationalist government on Taiwan -- which had numerous supporters in the United States, including influential members of Congress.

CNN: Relations across the Taiwan Strait