Military co-operation across the Taiwan Strait?

[Dirt]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081231/wl_asia_afp/chinataiwanmilitarypolitics_081231142127

I never thought I'd see something like this in my lifetime. At least not before my 70th birthday. Though I think things might be moving a bit too fast. I'm against Taiwan Independence, but, I don't want Chinese integration yet. China has to democratize first.

[Dirt]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081231/wl_nm/us_china_taiwan_2

Take a little, give a little. Isn't this what diplomacy is all about?

Though I think it's a trick.

[Dirt]

It's a trap!

China and Taiwan already have greater economic ties. If the DPP formally gives up Taiwan Independence to enter into the world organizations as, in the words of Hu Jintao, not "2 Chinas" and not "1 China, 1 Taiwan," after Taiwan enters the organizations, China will make it's move. China will likely get the UN to vote to recognize Taiwan as a province of China. With 125 countries recognizing the Communists as China, Taiwan will lose. The only thing that could block this is the veto powers of the USA, UK, France and Russia. I'm pretty sure Russia doesn't care either way. France may voice opposition, however, they won't use their veto power. I think the UK is the same, except the UK may protest more loudly. That leaves the USA. If the USA ends up being the only veto, should China decide to take Taiwan by force, the USA would be left to unilaterally defend Taiwan. We all know how well unilateral actions have fared in the recent past and that the Unites States populace has no stomach for it. I think Hillary Clinton was right when she told someone (allegedly) that the United States would never wage war against China for Taiwan.

[Rob Beschizza]

I like the juxtaposition of history and journalistic shorthand: "Taiwan's Beijing-friendly Kuomintang party."

[Pogo]

Something happened in this thread, and I don't want to read the links to find out what.

[Linoleum]

Reminds me of a prediction I once heard:

Possony -- who represented Taiwan in the World Court in the Hague, and like me was very pro Republic of China -- once told me that the Taiwan controversy would end this way: We and Taiwan would be on one side of the table with the Chinese Mainlanders yelling at us. We would look away; and when we looked back, the Taiwanese and Mainlanders would be on the other side of the table yelling as us. And no one in the West would understand what had happened; not us, not our experts, no one; but many Americans of Chinese ancestry would not be surprised.

[The Chinese Lawyer]

What is all the stress about?

[wildpokerman]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081231/wl_asia_afp/chinataiwanmilitarypolitics_081231142127

I never thought I'd see something like this in my lifetime. At least not before my 70th birthday. Though I think things might be moving a bit too fast. I'm against Taiwan Independence, but, I don't want Chinese integration yet. China has to democratize first.

We were the protectors of Taiwan up until we were torturing totalitarian scumbags. We can't be trusted with money anymore either. Foreign governments may as well find their new allies sooner rather than later.