A great deal of the hardline stuff has already been disentegrated over the past 20 yrs. The extent of what it will happen over the next 20 is what I am concerned about. I am of the impression that economics alone won't do it. For the last 20 yrs it was basically 'let economics run its course'. For the next 20 that alone won't work.
I think we should abandon the "one China" policy and recognize Taiwan. Why play games with China when they are currently preparing for war? It would be better to arm Taiwan so they are able to defend themselves in case we cannot immediately come to their aid.
One China is a fairy tale. Its a figment of the imagination and creative recreation of revisionist history.
I don't care if Taiwan is independent. Thats cool with me. What I don't want to see is an extended unresolved fight. An America-Canada relationship type thing would work for me.
If the Mainland thinks they are going to take Taiwan and not make any concessions, I don't think so. If they want to hurt 25 million innocent people just out of their own pride and to extend the power of the CCP, that is unacceptable.
The fight is not between "China" and Taiwan. It is between the CCP and people who don't want to submit to them.
I think we should defend Taiwan for sure and be real clear about it, in ways of laws and the like. We need a missile sheild all around Taiwan and across Asia.
"Before, 'engagement' with the Chinese meant drinking tea and talking stories"..."but we want to change that definition."
For the most part I agree with you however before doing so we need to make sure that we have our security alliances in the Asian region in Check because once we officially abandon the "one China" policy there is going to be a giant regional conflict and we will find ourselves right smack dab in the middle of it. Second, there are other undlerlying motives for the US as to the reason why we support Taiwan. Its not because we are the Defenders of Democracy and because our Govt. Truely cares about Taiwan. Its is due to Strategical interests. If Taiwan should fall back under the Mainlands control then China will effectively control the entire China sea and all access to its shipping lanes. This would enable China to restrict all access to that region of world and allow them to effectively cut restrict Japans supply of natural resources. This would no doubt allow China to be come the Regional superpower or hedonist, however you want to put it. As for the Spratly islands, China has just been probing around taking pieces of land little by little to test the world to see who would interfere and come to their aid seeing as how the Philippines are the main group of islands that lay claim to the majority of the Spratlys. China seeks to replace the United States as the balance of power in the Asian region.