So the Chinese have let us have it:
"(The weapons deal) would undermine national security and the unification of China and harm relations between the U.S. and China," Qin told reporters Tuesday. "We urge the U.S. to clearly recognize the serious harm the weapons package entails."
Why yes, the arms would undermine the ability of the Chinese to conquer Taiwan (excuse me, "unify China"). That's why we are offering advance weapons and not "Welcome PLA" banners. And yes the arms would cause serious harm--they're weapons. Should the Chinese invade, we want the Taiwanese to sink lots of PLAN ships and shoot down lots of PLAAF planes and missiles.
Of course, the Taiwanese legislature needs to approve this:
The proposed weapons deal was first approved by the Bush administration in 2001 but has since been delayed by Taiwan's opposition Nationalist Party, which has a small legislative majority.
Never be let it said that the Chinese don't have their uses for democracy. But if the Nationalists succeed in stalling these weapons for much longer and the Chinese capture Taiwan, it will be the last time that parliamentary maneuvers are a useful skill on Taiwan.
Do the Nationalists really want unification so badly that they don't care if their fragile democracy is crushed by Peking to achieve it?
Still, it has to be good that the Chinese are worried about the weapons. Perhaps it isn't too late for Taiwan to buy them after all.
In any case, I hope the State Department has a form letter for dealing with such pointless Peking complaints.
