Consider that the United Nations was established to protect the weak from predator nations by making the promise that the entire international community would rally around any victim and reverse if not prevent that aggression.
Yet when it comes to Taiwan, we are supposed to just accept that the combination of China's military power and ambitions means that Taiwan is doomed:
It is my firm conviction that the continuing rise of China will have huge consequences for Taiwan, almost all of which will be bad. Not only will China be much more powerful than it is today, but it will also remain deeply committed to making Taiwan part of China. Moreover, China will try to dominate Asia the way the United States dominates the Western Hemisphere, which means it will seek to reduce, if not eliminate, the American military presence in Asia. The United States, of course, will resist mightily, and go to great lengths to contain China’s growing power. The ensuing security competition will not be good for Taiwan, no matter how it turns out in the end. Time is not on Taiwan’s side. Herewith, a guide to what is likely to ensue between the United States, China and Taiwan.
The author says that China's identity is bound up with controlling Taiwan since China lost that island when China was weak.
But that applies to Russia's Far East, too, does it not? Russia stripped away chunks of China when China was weak. Is China's identity bound up with regaining control of Outer Manchuria?
Germany does not long for Alsace and Lorraine, nor does the Danzig Corridor inspire martial thoughts. Pakistan doesn't make claims for Bangladesh. Egypt no longer claims Gaza, and Jordan gave up contesting the West Bank. Turkey has given up on Crimea. Nor does American burn with desire for chunks of Canada notwithstanding past chants of "54°40′ or fight!"
All that can be said is that China's identity is bound up with controlling Taiwan--until it isn't bound up with controlling Taiwan. Time and the price to take Taiwan by force could dissipate that core interest's appeal. The latter buys the former, of course.
But if China gets away with destroying the de facto independence of a modern democratic state--even if it is not a recognized member of the United Nations (and that recognition doesn't prevent Russia from wanting Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, and other member states)--that has done nothing other than resist the calls of a Communist Party dictatorship to submit to Peking's will--what is the point of the United Nations?
Does the UN then go the way of the League of Nations?
