Chinese Checkers

(Chinese Checkers)

Leve it to the Chinese to take a wonderfully simple game like checkers and increase its complication. Triangles ? What the hell is that about ? But, regular versions or Chinese, how relations are playing out with Beijing but in this case also Taipei. And try as it might, the Peoples' Republic of China cannot keep the Republic of China from receiving undue attention. This time it is a bi-partisan delegation led by House Republicans and Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Then a similar delegation returned to Taiwan.


Needless to say that the Chinese Communist Party is not amused by this Anglo-Formosan interaction. Taiwan is where most of computer chips needed in American electronics and auto-motive industries. Therefore, the relationship between the U.S. and Taiwan is one of the more important.


It is also interesting to note that while the Speaker has actively engaged the Taiwanese government, hosting Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen, and Congressman McCaul (R-TX) and another group travelling to Taipei. Where, however, is the Biden Administration ? If Speaker McCarthy and House Republicans are being seen as confronting China, the Biden approach seems to be non-confrontational.


However, that will become increasingly difficult. The time-table for the final assault on Taiwan is set for 2027. Beijing is promising to close the Taiwan Strait to any "non-authorized" traffic. The Peoples' Republic Army Navy (really ? just Chinese Navy is not sufficient ?) could begin boarding certain ships. That being said, if the Chinese to commit what would clearly a Freedom (or non freedom) of Navigation exercise and would necessitate American involvement to restore regular traffic.


At least, that is what will be required when the time comes. But President Biden will need China's assistance in combatting climate change. Like how Czechoslovakia was abandoned at Munich to placate Hitler, so might Taiwan be abandoned in the same context ? But that would be President Biden's approach. Any support for Taiwan can still come from the House GOP.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Siege Of The Alamo

(Siege Of The Alamo) Any visitor to Downtown San Antonio will recognize the City's most famous landmark, the Alamo. An old Spanish mission that means "Cottonwood" in English was the site where the likes of Jim Bowie, William Barrett Travis and Davy Crockett and about another 185 Texians defended the Mission and its compound for thirteen days against the Army of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana and his 5,000 troops. The garrison was finally reduced on March 6, 1836. However, the Texian defeat at the Alamo and another one at Goliad, bought time for General Sam Houston time to fall back and then face Santa Ana at San Jacinto. There, Houston's army surprised the Mexicans and yelling "Remember the Alamo, Remember Goliad !" all but wiped out the Mexican force. Santa Ana was captured and was forced to recognize the Republic of Texas. Which is now the State of Texas and, like 1836 Texas War of Independence, there is a new invasion from Mexico. Not the armed body o
Read more

TEQUILA !

(TEQUILA !) Happy Cinco de Mayo or May 5th. One can hope that a lot of you out there are awash in inebriation, seeking to mainline tequila shots or enjoying a nice margarita on the patio. Or, in other words, relax. Take a breath. De-compress. May 5th as it happens is the anniversary of Mexico's victory over French "occupation" of Mexico by Emperor Maximillian, brother to Austrian monarch Maria Theresa in what has been called the Battle of Puebla. The reason France was in Mexico in the first place was that Mexico, after the Mexican-American War and a more civil conflict called the Reform War, had bankrupted Mexico City. Mexican President at the time was Benito Juarez, who repudiated all foreign debt, of which France, Spain, and the United Kingdom were all major holders. A naval expedition was dispatched to Veracruz and France's Napoleon III thought it would be a good idea to establish a French "empire" in Mexico. But, on May 5th, 1862, in the aforementioned B
Read more

Intended Consequences

(Intended Consequences) For those Readers who live in the Tri-State area, who had the earthquake this morning, just be still.  There is a postulate called the Law of Un-Intended Consequences. Basically, it says that even with the best intentions, negative results sometimes happen. However, there are also instances when a negative result is precisely the desired outcome. Like with the Israel- Hamas war where the Biden Administration continues to press for an all but unilateral ceasefire on the part of Israel. In California, the new $20/HR minimum wage is wreaking havoc on the fast food industry. And finally, after depleting the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, oil has now become too expensive. How many times must the Biden Administration think it can influence Israeli affairs ? How many times must Israel ignore it. Threats from the President have become redundant at this point but is Biden really prepared to cut Israel loose ? In the middle of the greatest crisis Israel is facing since the
Read more