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NewsMax

2003: China Almost Went to War Over Taiwan

When Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited the White House last month, President Bush issued a stinging rebuke to Taiwan.

"We oppose any unilateral decision by either China or Taiwan to change the status quo," President Bush said.

"And the comments and actions made by the leader of Taiwan indicate that he may be willing to make decisions unilaterally to change the status quo, which we oppose."

Until that public comment by the president, the administration had been hawkishly pro-Taiwan.

What happened?

NewsMax has learned that earlier in 2003, Chinese officials at the highest levels were telling current and former U.S. diplomats that a war over Taiwan was likely in just a matter of months.

Chinese officials were apparently furious with Donald Rumsfeld and the Pentagon. The Chinese believe that Rumsfeld and the Pentagon have been telling the Taiwanese and their president, Chen Shui-bian, to make no deal with China, prepare for the worst, and move toward independence -- with the full backing of the U.S.

Chinese officials said that under such circumstances they would have no alternative but to take military action against Taiwan.

The White House moved to rein in the Pentagon. Since then, China has moved closer to the U.S. and has helped the U.S. by intervening in the North Korea crisis.

Also, the Chinese Central Bank has been bailing out the U.S. dollar, buying up U.S. securities at low rates of return that the Europeans long ago deserted.