Can we “live without Taiwan”? The claim that we can buy the nominee to be the third-ranking official in the Pentagon has stirred controversy.The question is a strategic, if not literal one. Communist China’s interruption of our economic and military dependence on Taiwan's unique, extremely high-quality chip-manufacturing capability could prove devastating.Ditto Taiwan’s conquest for America’s vital interests in the Western Pacific. Allies and others there would likely accommodate the PRC as the new regional and global hegemon, with dire ripple-effects for our trade and security relations.While suggestions that we can live without Taiwan are characterized as evidence of “realism” or “restraint,” as a practical matter, Chinese dictator Xi Jinping can only perceive them as proof of America’s retreat. That makes more likely, not less, the Chinese Communist Party’s acting to destroy, not just independent Taiwan, but us, as well.
I like that we are moving to consolidate many, if not all, of our critical infrastructure in the US. It makes no sense anymore to count on our factories being overseas, no matter how cheap the products are. If our national interests are threatened, we need to act. However, we do not need to be the policeman of the world. Washington warned us about this and we ignore him, to our peril, more and more each year. We do not need to be imperialist. Trump seems to lean on negotiation and concentration on American national interests, which is what his priority should be. Do we want to bankrupt our country on foreign disputes? We need to be more discriminating on this, not just imperialistic for influence to gain more power. It is something to think about.
I like that we are moving to consolidate many, if not all, of our critical infrastructure in the US. It makes no sense anymore to count on our factories being overseas, no matter how cheap the products are. If our national interests are threatened, we need to act. However, we do not need to be the policeman of the world. Washington warned us about this and we ignore him, to our peril, more and more each year. We do not need to be imperialist. Trump seems to lean on negotiation and concentration on American national interests, which is what his priority should be. Do we want to bankrupt our country on foreign disputes? We need to be more discriminating on this, not just imperialistic for influence to gain more power. It is something to think about.
We need and want all of our Pacific Rim allies. W.H.O. Would Question That????
Perhaps Adversaries and even Enemies!
VBR, Ray