No. I do not believe that war with China is around the corner or even the block. It is true that China and the US have traded sharp words recently. Maj. Gen. Zhu Chenghu told reporters that “China would aim nuclear weapons at American cities if U.S. forces intervened in a Chinese assault to prevent Taiwan from turning its de-facto separation from China into formal independence.”
The old general was spouting the Mao doctrine of the 60’s. Mao argued that given the size of her population, China can afford to absorb an American nuclear strike. When I read that General Zhu added that in such a case all of the Chinese East coast would be obliterated, I immediately remembered how Mao spent a fortune moving essential Chinese facilities Westward.
The US responded sharply, and not only with words, as it extended its strategic alliance with India to the nuclear field. Congress remembered the trade deficit.
The Chinese government announced it would stick to its no first nuclear strike policy, adjusted its currency and got its evil younger sister, North Korea to the negotiating table.
I suspect that sharp words were also exchanged between the Chinese government and the army. Why? Because some years ago when I raised in private the issue of Taiwanese independence with a senior advisor to the Chinese government on relations with Taiwan, he responded by taking a paper and drawing a map of the Chinese coast and Taiwan. He sought to demonstrate that an independent Taiwan would mean the encirclement of China. “The army will never stand for it,” he said excitedly, “everything will be lost.”
He, apparently, knew what he was talking about and so should all the militant advocates of a formally independent Taiwan.
posted by Judith.
The Dish 