posted on Mar, 20 2008 @ 10:15 AM
Originally posted by pavil
I agree with your points but I don't see the real will to make a full out stand there for Taiwan's benefit.
I don't think it's a "full out stand" for Taiwan, it's a symbolic gesture with real capabilities and implications. If the US wanted to make a
"full out stand" we would have set up bases in Taiwan and or allowed it to produce and procure more advanced systems as well as give it monetary aid
for military procurement.
Originally posted by pavil
Sooner or later, by one means or another, Taiwan will eventually be assimilated back into mainland China. It's just a matter of when and how.
Hopefully there will be a satisfactory agreement between the two.
I doubt it. With each generation the population of Taiwan becomes even more independent. The younger Taiwanese think of themselves as Taiwanese where
as the old timers still think of themselves as Chinese and want closer relations with the mainland. The entire cultural, historical and political view
in Taiwan is moving away from China and becoming more "Westernized". Even the education systems in schools highlight this shift.
Taiwan wills never accept China's view of it nor the implications a reunification will have. Anything which negatively changes the status quo and
does not advanced the notion of an independent Taiwan will not be accepted. The only way China will be able to claim Taiwan again is through military
force, they know it and so do we. Fortunately for us due to the US Military China is not certain what the result of such a campaign will be, hence
inaction, for the time being.
Originally posted by pavil
That would be Taiwan's only real detterent.
I agree, similar to Israel but t would be a risky move and… I hate to speculate here but Taiwan is more of a hedge against China for political and
military expansion. It offers us an excuse to keep such a presence in the region with regards to forward deployed base. This in return reaffirms our
control of the entire Pacific which we are not willing to share and or concede to China, not even the PACRIM.
Originally posted by pavil
Pretty much a stalemate.
Hence, containment.