[hedgetrimmer]

Not just that. For China to gain regional superiourity, control of Taiwan means control of a major shipping lane.

If they control Taiwain, and the Spratleys, they can pretty much control any goods shipped from the Indian Ocean up to Korea and Japan.

They are just forward thinking for hegemony,thats all.

[Jeff Head]

Exactly right. This has much more to do with their overall forward thinking plans of hegemony than with just contolling Taiwan.

See my post 12.