[the invisib1e hand]

President Bush says he opposes any action by Taiwan's leaders to declare their independence from China

can't say I know all the reasons for this, but on the face of it I'm disappointed.

[Jim Cane]

And so Bush performs the Neville Chamberlain shuffle.

[veronica]

Can't say I know all the reasons for this, but on the face of it I'm disappointed.

China provides leverage with No. Korea.

[maui_hawaii]

The actual terminology used was "we reject the unilateral moves by Taiwan or Mainland China to change the status quo of Taiwan".

Its right out of the textbooks.

True, the PRC has a big mouth and are somewhat dysfunctional. Kind of like a husband who tells his wife, come home or I will beat you...

China definately needs to change its tune.

I don't blame Taiwan at all for wanting independence, which they have already IMO. If they go off making things official, its going to provoke those old men in Beijing.

Deluded or not, they can still launch missiles and start a shooting war.

Thats all the US's message means. Don't provoke the other side because it could get real hot real quick if you do.

No one is conceding the PRC's claims to rule Taiwan. Not at all. Just avoiding a fist fight.

[ChinaThreat]

We have made a deal with the Chi Comms to stop our heavy support for Taiwan in exchange for keeping the North Korean's in check. Of course this has not been made public and will not be for years probably. A pretty good deal all together in my opinion since we don't really have much choice and the North Korean's are insane and nuclearly insane at that. I hate selling the the Taiwaneese down the river but its only a matter of time and not worth WWIII. It is truly in America's best interest.