[TapTheSource]

"What if Taiwan VOTES to go for Hong-Kong type status?"

Secretary Powell has certainly been pushing hard for Taiwan to go the way of Hong-Kong. Indeed, he has been pushing the "One China" policy so hard that it must be the policy of the Bush administration. If this is the case, conservatives need to put pressure on congress to oppose this disastrous policy at all costs. If Taiwan goes, Japan and South Korea will be next.

[Enterprise]

"Secretary Powell has certainly been pushing hard for Taiwan to go the way of Hong-Kong."

It will be highly illuminating to see which way Secretary RICE pushes!

[rodguy911]

I see the Chinese expansion threat as ready to move in

anywhere there is weakness. These are people who respond to

a strength/weakness format. Look tough, sound tough, and

act the part and they will back off unless they are sure

they can take you. I think their game plan is to be strong

enough to take a place without firing a shot, with just

threats. Who knows it might work. Who will stand in their way?

[Kenny Bunk]

....put pressure on congress to oppose this disastrous policy at all costs

What happens if the next generation of Taiwanewse really want it? Militarily, the CHICOM haven't a prayer. Politically, could be another story.

Stupid? Well, yeah. But then again, Kerry got a lot of votes in this country!

[i.l.e.]

Secretary Powell has certainly been pushing hard for Taiwan to go the way of Hong-Kong.

Mr. Powell believes in the middle way.

[BureaucratusMaximus]

If Taiwan goes, Japan and South Korea will be next.

I doubt that...China has painted themselves into a corner re: trade. They can't use their nuclear arsenal on Asia or America to blackmail anyone. Why kill off your best customers? Their economy only survives and prospers because of the U.S., S. Korea, Taiwan and Japan. Lets also remember that they are a country that cannot (independently) feed their own people.

They cannot "take" Taiwan. It would automatically draw the U.S., S. Korea, Taiwan and Japan vs. China in a non-nuclear war, I'd call it WWIV. Its lose-lose for China there too. The export dollars they use to build their military and feed them would dry up quickly. They would lose their customer base and get their ass handed to themselves militarily.

It is interesting that the Chinese are planning and researching "space" weapons to take out satellite's. A good part of our technological/military advantage against them depends on satellite technology. They would create a more level battlefield if they accomplished this. I hope folks in the Pentagon have countermeasures and plans for this.

[Magnum44]

Secretary Powell ... has been pushing the "One China" policy so hard that it must be the policy of the Bush administration.

Uh, excuse me. The 'one China policy' has been the policy since Nixon. This administrations only change is that it has been far less ambiguous about our defending Taiwan if it were invaded.