[johnd01]

...on the bright side, I don't think China has much to gain from mashing Taiwan into the ground. Politically, the rest of the world would see the militant side of communism rise again. A military Chinese action would ruin thier economy, as no other nation would dare trade with them again (except maybe for the "neo-comm" Russians). China would become a great big North Korea economically and politically.

[investigateworld]

"China would become..."
Not really, the $19.95 DVD player crowd would never let that happen. Notice Wal-marts popularity in the 'Bible Belt', even though it is common knowledge that China persecutes Christians.

[Dat Mon]

You said..."..on the bright side, I don't think China has much to gain from mashing Taiwan into the ground."

You would think so logically. However, how do you explain China's increasingly belligerent stance towards Taiwan?

It may be that the popular consensus goal in China is for Taiwan to become part of China. So perhaps there is the nationalistic urge which has to be satisfied by the government in order to retain control.

[El Gato]

A military Chinese action would ruin thier economy, as no other nation would dare trade with them again (except maybe for the "neo-comm" Russians).

You seem to be forgetting all the nations trading with Iraq, in spite of a UN embargo, most notably the French and Germans. With China there would be no embargo, not the least because they have a veto in the UN.