Hardly a surprise.

Dubya needs the Chicoms to lean on the Norks (how much REAL effort by the PRC to help is anybody’s guess…); we’ve got our hands full with the Middle East and the bulk of Armed Forces (mainly the Army) is in the midst of transition and reconstitution.

We DO NOT need Taiwan shoving a pointy stick up the panda’s nose…at this time.

Will we defend them if the Chicoms get a case of the stupids and force the issue? YES. But all of that presupposes an unprovoked attack on Taiwan.

Will the PRC do anything stupid? No, they’re too clever for that. They will only act when: (a) they’re ready (or at least THINK they are) (b) they’re provoked (see above) © they think America is laying stunned in the mud (insert horrifying senario here…)

So, Dubya’s note to Taiwan: shut up, sit down and DON’T ROCK THE BOAT while we’re in the middle of this storm.

All the other retoric is meant to give the PRC ‘face’; whether or not that’ll translate into help on the NK issue is another matter.

(My opinion? that’s another long post, I gotta go to work now…)

“So, Dubya’s note to Taiwan: shut up, sit down and DON’T ROCK THE BOAT while we’re in the middle of this storm.”

…that’s it exactly Charles.

Some people insist Taiwan could hold off China without our help militarily. I strongly disagree with that premise.

Furthermore, although we would sure intend to help if there was an attack from mainland China, the truth of the matter is our overstretched military might not be able to help even if we wanted to. That, of course, would depend on the global environment at the time of any attack.