Stakes raised in China-Taiwan conflict

Taiwan's move to withstand the imperial economic offensive from China just entered it's latest hurdle.  The Christian Science Monitor has a report on how Taiwan, a strong U.S. ally, just abolished the China reunification committee.  This came even after the United States asked him not to do so out of fear that it might once again incite tensions between the two neighboring countries.  It is important to note that Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian was elected on a pro-independence platform, which is putting geopolitical pressure on China to then respond by implementing an aggressive campaign to annex Taiwan via economic starvation.

Just in case you are not familiar with the continuing conflict between Taiwan and China, here is a PBS overview of the matter.

Obviously, the United States does not want a conflict to erupt.  At the same time, we can't just sit around as China out-maneuvers us on the economic front, allowing them to increase their sphere of influence over East Asia.  Simply putting it, the Bush Administration is asleep at the switch in Asia.  China is our number one competitor in that region, and must be thwarted from outflanking Taiwan -- which can be added to Japan and South Korea as our most important allies in the region.

Comments

[gzyhere]

"...allowing them to increase their sphere of influence over East Asia...China is our number one competitor in that region..."
--I'm Chinese and I used to believe Americans support Taiwan out of support for democracy. Thanks for telling me your true nature. But how come a country that can't handle Vietnam and Iraq be able to find fault with us?

[Administrator: Todd]

You're jumping to conclusions. When I said, "sphere of influence," that meant democracy. What else did you think it meant?