US-China arms sale rift.

[setsdw]

China: U.S. arms sales to Taiwan hurt national security - Yahoo! News

What is everyone's take on this? I'm fairly conflicted and have been trying to get a better understanding. On one hand I want to say that the Taiwan-China rift is none our business and that by promising support if they are ever invaded has locked us into something that we don't want. Why would we go to war over Taiwan?

On the other hand I see it as the leverage tool that I think our govt does. China has been backing our enemies with weapons for years and is the main reason we can't level harsher sanctions and actions against N. Korea and Iran. By supplying Taiwan with more it ups the ante in China not making a move. Same as the Russians did to us in Cuba and as we did to them in Afghanistan.

Now they are threatening sanctions against the private companies involved in the transactions and have suspended military talks.

Have we shot ourselves in the foot or have we made a smart tactical move?

Also why is there not more coverage of this?

[Guest 1817ak47]

too many people don't want us to know this cause they are helping the chinese by either buying there cheaper goods and(or) cause they own factorys over there allowing businesses to greater mark up the profit margins vs the profit margins whenthey make it here. most of the us citizens are slowly making the chinese enemy stronger.

[DWARREN123]

It's politics as usual.

[Guest mosinon]

China: U.S. arms sales to Taiwan hurt national security - Yahoo! News

Have we shot ourselves in the foot or have we made a smart tactical move?

Also why is there not more coverage of this?

There is a certain tension between the US and China, and it has been that way for some time.

So the rift shouldn't be surprising. The US is a superpower and if things keep going the same way as they are now China wants in on the superpower action

And yeah, we send a lot of dough there and then borrow money from them and then imagine we aren't helping them become a superpower.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

China has been sabre rattling on and off with Taiwan for years. If Taiwan wants to purchase military materiel from us, that satisfies two things; Taiwan security needs,

and US export sales which means American jobs. We have a long standing commitment, at least with republican presidents, to aid in defending Taiwan. The only reason Obama has allowed this to continue is to make him look like he is moving to the middle, politically. He will possibly cave and Taiwan may fall. That will create more instability in that region of the world, since North Korea and China don't seem to get along. I wonder about that second link you posted. For a source they seem to be a

lot more than a little bit liberal, cheering for China at the bottom of the page.

Taiwan declared their independence and they are one of our friends in that region. We are not threatening anyone. Russia exports military hardware, also. I doubt Russia gives a damn what you or I think. If China builds a military base in Mexico that's a different problem. If they created an axis with Venezuela and al Quaeda, that's more problematic. China doesn't have the logistical capability, but they do have economic

cards they can play against us. I wouldn't count us out, though, unless Obama is allowed to weaken us to third world status. That's his goal.

[analog_kidd]

The Pres, in his State of the Union speech, recently said we are going to strengthen America by increasing our exports. That's his big solution to all of our problems. Only thing is, now China, one of the largest importers of the world, has said we are going to decrease our imports and produce domestically.

We can't sell to someone who's not buying.

[enfield]

I believe it's in our best interests to support Taiwan and hinder Red China. I also believe that most people don't care one way or the other.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Me too, enfield. And you used the word "Red China". Too many people seem to forget this, don't they?

The messiah is only going to export jobs. With his ideas on taxation, that's all we have to export. China is a threat to Taiwan. If they want our defense goods they should be able to buy them.

[StPatrick]

Between 1954 and 1980, the US and Taiwan were allied by treaty, which declared that the US would defend Taiwan in the case of invasion or attack. Carter ended the arrangement shortly before the end of his presidency, as a result of the normalization of relations with China.

Some historical and moral sentiment still exists to suggest that the US should aid Taiwan, but there's no rules anymore regarding the relationship that I'm aware of.

While my gut says fight communism whenever it steps outside its borders, my head reminds me that I was never military, and China is an economic house of cards with nukes.

Right now, the only thing protecting Taiwan is the debt-based suicide pact we have with the Chinese - if either country goes down, the other follows.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

I think if we fight the communism within our borders more, our other cards will start to fall in place. The Chinese house of cards will collapse. I don't know much about their capabilities, but it will be a dangerous time for all of us. We definitely need something

more than that man-child President we now have. You hit the nail on the head with "suicide pact".

[setsdw]

I think if we fight the communism within our borders more, our other cards will start to fall in place......

+1

Kind of mind your own yard before you start thinking about your neighbors. Domestic policy is always put on the back burner to foreign policy. Regardless of the campaign promises.