Originally posted by lord dolf vader
taiwan has nukes.
Not according to the
FAS. And if they have, they apear not to be using them the way they're supposed to be - ie you have to test one to prove to the world you a) have nukes and b) they work. Most importantly, the whole point is to tell everyone you have them - otherwise they are not a deterrent, and therefore expensive & useless.
China probably doesn't need to bomb Taiwan to enforce the one China policy - they can make an independent Taiwan uncomfortable enough to rethink their independence using economic means. Eg: which country's trade would Corporation X value more if they could only choose one? China or Taiwan? To couch it in US terms: which would you rather be able to sell to/buy from? Rhode Island or the whole of the rest of the US?
That's not to say that China wouldn't use force. But it bears remembering so far the PRC have left Hong Kong alone - and indeed under the evil communist rule, HK has become much more democratic than it ever could have under the UK's colonial regime and has been voted the world's freest economy every year since they took over. Keeping Taiwan's fledgling democracy intact would therefore not be beyond the PRC's capabilities.
Although I suspect the PRC's party heads may take a dim view of all the ridiculous and embarrassing hand-to-hand combat that passes for debate in Taiwan's parliament.
