Some Taiwanese who moved to China to align with Beijing now want to come back, a sign that life on the mainland is going badly for them.

• Taiwanese who bet on courting Beijing are finding the payoff never came and are looking for a way home.
• Academic commentary in Taiwan describes conditions inside China as bleak, both economically and politically.
• The message aimed at Taiwan's public is blunt: unification would mean importing those conditions, not escaping them.
• The story lands as Taiwan heads into local election season, when China policy becomes a campaign fight.

Outlook: Expect more of this framing in Taiwanese politics as candidates use China's troubles to argue against closer ties with Beijing.