Friday, September 16, 2011

A Rising Tide

Well, I really need to make time to read the DOD's 2011 report on Chinese military power. I think I'll update this post as I go along over the next several days. Hey, DOD is months late publishing it so I can be a little late reading it.

This strikes me right off the bat (on p. 1):

Relations with Taiwan have continued to improve, but the PLA shows no sign of slowing its efforts to develop plans and capabilities for a cross-Strait contingency.

If relations continue to "improve," in what sense is that "improvement" significant if the Chinese aren't even slowing their efforts to attack Taiwan? Wouldn't it be more accurate to say that China continues a charm offensive with the purpose of getting Taiwan (and America) to let their guard down?