[zarf]

So what do you suggest? A hardline policy that will force possible Chinese military action and the loss of China as an influence over North Korea?

Our prority is to reign in North Korea and we need the Chinese for that.

Any attempt to force the Taiwan issue would be stupid at best.

Does it contradict our stated policy in the short term? Yes. In the long term? Who knows. Attaining goals in international affairs demands give and take....and sometimes, yes, hypocracy.

[tallhappy]

So what do you suggest? A hardline policy that will force possible...

There was no reason to change from standard boilerplate of "3 communiques" "Taiwan Relations Act". Bush went much further and even openly colluded to publicly criticize the President of Taiwan with the Premier of China.

That is the troublesome part. Not that he didn't get in the ChiCom's faces.