[Paul Ross]

America's strategic position in Asia is now reach­ing a tipping point vis-à-vis China. In February 2006, the Pentagon's Quadrennial Defense Review warned that "of the major and emerging powers, China has the greatest potential to compete militarily with the United States and...over time offset traditional U.S. military advantages absent U.S. counter-strategies." The review then pointedly asserted that "the pace and scope of China's military buildup already puts regional military balances at risk."

....In 1945, President Harry Truman declared "a strong, united and democratic China to be one of the most vital interests of the United States." Two out of three is not good enough. Until China is democratic, the most vital U.S. interest must be to maintain America's strategic posture in the Western Pacific"

Bump!

[Paul Ross]

FYI Good summary of the situation.

[Last Dakotan]

Predatory Chinese government policies are driv­ing the migration of advanced technology away from Taiwan (and from the United States, for that matter).[10] Ultimately, leading-edge research, devel­opment, and design functions are drifting away from the U.S., and the United States will soon con­front the erosion of the basic institutional and human infrastructure necessary to sustain world leadership in nanoelectronics.

The Heritage Foundation gets it.

[RightWhale]

Taiwan is a USA Territory. As such it might be sold if the offer is sufficient.

[maui_hawaii]

Some say that "one China" is the old Republic of China, while others say that "one China" is merely a "historic, cul­tural and geographic term within which are two sovereign, independent, mutually non-subordi­nate states."

Not done reading yet, but "China" is a political term in so many ways.

The word "China" is an english created word, not a Chinese one.

The Chinese version is "Zhong Guo" which means 'middle kingdom'.

I might emphasize the word 'kingdom'. Who's kingdom?

Its geographic only to the extent of where the emperor's courts said the kingdom stopped and of course this was ammended a time or two as one might observe. Of course those ammendments were based on what? Politics.

The author knows this I am sure, but here it goes. It is the realm and boundaries of a literal fifedom, or empire, led by royalty and its court. That is what 'zhong guo' is. If the neighbors are nice then there was two 'zhong guo' s', ie empires. If they were not cordial a fight would ensue for political survival.

The term "one China" really means, "we are all one culture but we cannot have another party or another government challenging the empire".

Its equivalent to Democrats (or Republicans) saying the other doesn't have the right to exist.

Political power in China has long been sought after, and when its been won, its been absolute...except in the case of the communists who have not been able to wipe out the last bastian of people who can politically challenge them.

[maui_hawaii]

I read a little more... so far good stuff.

The problem arises from a key aspect.

In the post cold war era, IE the clintonista era, that the cold war was over, and hence everything is fine.

There was almost a shilling voice screaming, its over its over! and as a result it led the US into a false sense of security.

The military was cut, intel neglected...they "had no real purpose anymore".

The US rested on its butt and in brief miscalculated big time.

9-11 caused a resurgence somewhat, but I would contend that:

1. The US started this chain reaction of miscalculations regarding China as a result of the ending of the cold war. It didn't happen over night, but it did reach its pinnacle during the Clinton times.

2. The US is still unwilling to concede a change in course is needed regarding political forces in China.

Its no different than how after the Cold War the US almost went isolationist in a different aspect of the word.

The US ignored threats and in the case of China continues to ignore it.

[investigateworld]

bttt

[Graymatter]

You would think they'd want a thousand Taiwans to bloom, and would do their best to make that happen.

[rmlew]

I like Taiwan and support it. However, unless the voters are willing to stand up for Taiwanese independence, neither should we. Unless the "blue Coalition" puts anti-Communism ahead of cash and Chinease nationalism or is fractured, Taiwan is doomed. I see no reason to risk nucelar war for a country willing top commit suicide.