China vowed on Thursday to seize a chance for reconciliation with Taiwan and espect the desire of Taiwan's people to be their own masters, a sign it is in no hurry to bring the island it claims as its own back to the fold.
No hurry? Far be it from me to belittle a charm offensive by a regime that has in the past shown no sympathy for Taiwan's continued de facto independence, but might not the Chinese have heard of Sun Tzu? If near, appear far. And who would suspect anything amiss amidst the warm feelings spawned by Taiwanese sympathy for the China earthquake victims and the Chinese charm offensive that suddenly sees no rush to resolving the Taiwan issue.
And quite honestly, this new development doesn't fill me with the warmth of the moment:
In Taiwan, eight airports are adding safety and currency exchange features to receive up to 3,000 Chinese tourists daily from early July after the two sides signed a landmark weekend direct flight agreement, Premier Liu Chao-hsiun said.
So in three days, 9,000 fit young Chinese men with short hair cuts--"tourists"--could be landed at eight Taiwanese airports with nothing but a customs official to stand in their way. Were I of a suspicious mind, I might call that an airborne division's worth of troops representing part of the first wave of an invasion. Local warehouses could have light weapons and ammunition stocked, and local car dealerships and stores would provide transportation and food. Civilian ships might bring in heavier weapons for the tourists before shooting starts, as well as setting up forces in Taiwanese harbors.
Were I in charge of the Taiwanese military, I would not grant any leave to military personnel during this July and August. And I'd search and monitor every warehouse on the island starting next month.
Better safe than sorry you didn't see the first wave of the invasion asking for directions to their hotel.
