[snowsislander]

One of these days, Red China is going to attack and invade Taiwan. Thousands will die. The UN will whine and complain. No one will be able to do a damned thing about it. We will all sit on our hands and watch a free country, a free people, be overwhelmed by the huge PLA and kill thousands. We have no ability short of nukes to stop it. We will not use nukes. One day, maybe soon, Red China is going to attack. Taiwan, no matter how hard they fight, will die. They will be overcome, and ruled by the communists.

Yes, that's the way it's shaping up. I want to be an optimist on this one, but it is perhaps the one place in the world that I feel most pessimistic.

I think we are going to settle Iran's hash here soon; Afghanistan and Iraq have had free elections; even Kim Jong-il's rule may be becoming a bit rocky (though I don't discount disinformation on the part of the North Koreans, especially after we just caught 15 on our southern border.)

But Taiwan I feel is going to be abandoned. I have seen a few things from the U.S. and Japan that are encouraging, but the public statements from Mr. Armitage and Mr. Powell were not strategic ambiguity in my opinion -- they were "One China" all the way.

[Jacquerie]

You may be right, but history will not look kindly on the US or the President that abandons a democratic Taiwan to the murderous commies.

[RetiredArmy]

The United States abandoned Tawian when it did not veto the change in the wonderful UN to de-recognize Tawian and recognize the communist Red Chinese as the one and only voice of China. WE LET TAWIAN DOWN.