Wednesday, December 27, 2017

When Imminent, Appear Inevitable?

When the Chinese assure us that Taiwan will inevitably fall under Peking's control, I worry that Sun Tzu's influence is showing.

Oh?

China's growing economic, political and diplomatic power means it is achieving an "overwhelming advantage" in bringing self-ruled Taiwan to heel, and time is on China's side, a senior official said in a comments published on Monday.

Taiwan is one of China's most sensitive issues. Beijing has never renounced the use of force to bring what it considers a wayward province and sacred Chinese territory under its rule.

Writing in the influential state-run newspaper the Study Times, Liu Junchuan, who heads the liaison office of China's policy-making Taiwan Affairs Office, said it was inevitable Taiwan would come under China's control.

So China believes Taiwan will eventually join China on China's terms?

When near, appear far, I believe the Chinese strategist Sun Tzu advised. Is China appearing far but preparing to take advantage of a North Korea crisis?

I don't think America would make a deal to abandon Taiwan to get China's support against North Korea.

But would China take advantage of an American campaign against North Korea to hit Taiwan, presumably while we are too busy to fully--if at all--respond to assist Taiwan?

This would be the time to review my Chinese invasion template. The basic outline holds true 12-1/2 years later.

This invasion would mean China won't do the job of taking care of North Korea for us, but will look the other way while America does. But perhaps with assurances from America that North Korea won't be annexed to South Korea, China could believe it is time to take the most core of core interests, Taiwan.

Interesting times suck.