NYTimes says Taiwan should cave

This editorial makes a pragmatic recommendation about the Taiwan-China situation. However, I fear it also implies a moral equivalence between the two countries' governments. Wrong-o.

True, once there was a moral equivalency between them. Chiang-Kai Shek's Kuomintang and Mao's People's Army--both were brutal, despotic organizations.

However, over the decades Taiwan's government evolved into a democracy, while the mainland government remained as brutal and despotic as ever. And imperialist (just ask the Tibetans, who they invaded and conquered in 1951). And racist.

Only not the sort of racism most Americans recognize. The People's Republic of China is Han, while the Tibetans, to name just one example within today's China, are a different race, culture, and language.

The indigenous Taiwanese are also a distinct people, but the Kuomintang were Han. However, sharing Taiwan in a burgeoning democracy has made the combined culture of the island far less racist than the mainland's government.

On the other hand, the Communist Chinese government is steadily moving to wipe out Tibetan culture and even its people as more and more Han Chinese move into Tibet--and Tibetans are systematically excluded from the economic development there, in the same way that China treats all its racial/cultural minorities--much as Americans treated blacks before the 1970s. Taiwan, in contrast, now gives all its citizens a shot at the good life.

So even if Taiwan's new government is doing what it needs to do to survive under the constant threat of military invasion by China, no one should try to equate the two countries' governments morally. The Communist government of mainland China (strange to call them that, but that's how they describe themselves) never ruled Taiwan, just as it never ruled Tibet. They're just engaged in a permanent quest for Han lebensraum.

And right now they're quietly pondering whether we'd go to the mat for Taiwan if they invaded. Meanwhile they secretly build up their armed forces, aiming to reach the point where they could knock out several U.S. carrier groups if need be, or, better yet, become so threatening that we'll just back off. One faction of the Chinese military believes we'd just stand by wringing our hands and issuing stern warnings. Are they right?

Last November China refused entry--without explanation-- to a U.S. carrier group scheduled to dock in Hong Kong. Many friends and relatives of the crew had flown there to see them. In Chinese terms they made us lose face, as we did nothing about this calculated insult. Quite a few incidents like this lend strength to China's militarist faction's argument that we won't defend Taiwan if push comes to shove.

And by the way, all this is going on under the watch of the ultra-macho Bush administration. Seems like their real motto is "Speak loudly and carry a teensy-weensy stick."