What! You would jump ship on this issue?

It somewhat disturbs me one a certain idealistic level. But think on this: If it were the US instead of China, we'd get Taiwan back under our flag pronto, no second thoughts. But since it is a "rival" we must make sure they don't get the value-added bonus of Taiwan truly under One China.

Bush's use of the phrase "One China" is mildly deceiving, but was not his invention. It really means that status quo - which is hardly one unified China. One China is our nice way to keep Taiwan separate but not independent.

The reason we need not push for Taiwan independence now is that we do not want the conflict is may bring. While the ideal may say give them their independence, the have more now than other countries in the world. A cry of independence from Taiwanese is hardly a cry for relief from suffering. They are Western and more-or-less free. The time is simply not now.

Delays and tough choices have to be made. But do not fool yourself into thinking "Independence" for Taiwan eqauted with "Independence" for Iraq. We on the Right may be addicted to bringing Independence to the world, but there are many ways to do it. And we already have for Taiwan.

Liken it to gay marriage. The debate is about a word, not the benefits. And one word could ignite a war. So we choose not to expand our defintions right now.

My sympathies are also with the Taiwanese. Nonetheless, I do not think the U.S. should risk fighting a war with China over Taiwan.

The time is not right. We should keep the issue alive, by making sure then China understand we are committed to a democratic taiwan, but at the same time we should let the taiwan leadership know that the benefit of the status quo. Anyway, as i understand it, taiwan claim to represent the one true China, and Commie China clain like wise, so there is technically only one china.

When the time is right we can always used taiwan as a mean to divid china (which ever on it turn out). A unified china of any kind is a threat to America Power, keep them divided.

Oh, so it comes down to realpolitik again, does it?

I'm going to have to ask for more than that on this one.

I'm upset, as well, but in this case of Realpolitik it's not as if the people of Taiwan are being crushed under the boot of China. Taiwanese independence, on many levels, comes down to semantics. It's all sort of a wink-wink, nudge-nudge thing. Taiwan knows it's independent, we know it is and China knows it is and also knows there's nothing it can do about it (read Steve Den Beste's piece on China's military options... http://www.denbeste.nu/cd_log_entries/2003/12/InvasionofTaiwan.shtml)

Cox and Forkum on target again.