Bush has to play the cards dealt to him. He obviously wants the Chinese to help us with the PRNK. Taiwan is stirring up the nationalistic feelings in the PRC, which may be forced to act in order to save face. We need to cool the rhetoric. As long as the US gives the PRC the unambiguous message that we will defend Taiwan against any forcible takeover, it will prevent any attack by the PRC. I think we need to temper our reaction to what Bush said in public with the PRC rep in the US and what he also probably told him in private, namely we will defend Taiwan.
Taiwan is stirring up the nationalistic feelings in the PRC, which may be forced to act in order to save face.
This is like saying, Israel is stirring up the nationalistic feelings in the Arab World, which may be forced to act in order to save face. You wouldn't apply that standard to Israel - telling them not to assert their right to exist, lest it offend the Arabs. So why should Taiwan be dissed and the bullies that threaten her, appeased? Maybe it's because Bush isn't all that consistent, or all that strong.