Shhhhhhhh

Things must be slow in Taiwan.

How else to explain President Chen poking China with a stick. That stick, of course, is the never ending issue of unification. China wants it, Taiwan...not so sure.

This question has always been the proverbial 800lb panda in US-Chinese relations. The issue pops up every now and then, kind of like the swallows returning to Capistrano.

A few days ago, it reared its furry little head again. As the BBC reported, Taiwan's President Chen decided to scrap the council on unification with China.

Hello? Who cares? And why bring it up now?

Domestic consumption? Is there a scandal brewing? Does he need to divert the attention from something else?

China naturally responded by saying the move "will create antagonism and conflict within Taiwan and across the strait."

Well....yeah. What did you expect them to say?

But the real question here, that NO ONE wants to ever have to answer is:

What would the US do in a scenario where China decided to invade Taiwan?

The Bush administration is committed to spreading Democracy around the world. Taiwan, aside from the occasional fist fight on the floor of the legislature, is a Democracy. You see the dilemma here? Who's going to come out on top? Taiwan? A little island that makes computers?

Or Wal-Mart's factory?

Dear President Chen, not sure if you know much folks here in the US like their Wal-Marts, but I suggest sending over a fact finding mission.

Or short of that, you may want to take a meeting with the Ambassador from Wal-Mart.

I'm not saying that Democracy isn't a good thing, and that everyone should have it, but if the dragon is sleeping, don't go poking him with a stick.