Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Large ironies in the Middle Kingdom

A BBC headline today reads,
 
China's foreign minister has urged the US, Taiwan's biggest arms provider, to take "concrete measures" against any Taiwanese bids for independence.
 
Coming from a foreign ministry which has repeatedly warned the U.S. in the past that Taiwan is a breakaway province, and a purely domestic issue, it would seem that China is changing its policy, and asking for U.S. help in ensuring domestic tranquility.
 
How is it that the Taiwan-China conflict can both be a purely domestic issue--one which China wants the U.S. taking no part in, AND be one where China needs the U.S.'s help to take "'concrete measures' against Taiwanese bids for independence"?  Sounds like having their jiaozi, and eating it too.

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