Of course, we might question US industrial policy that allowed their militarily vital infrastructure to become so exposed, but that's a question for another day. Right now the military political significance of this cannot be overstated. keep to the Fen Causeway
While Kuomintang does not want to declare independence, is there really anything that tells us that they will unite with China?
While freely admitting that I have not kept track on this situation, to me it looks more like two very similar parties that each wants to rule Taiwan. Their constituencies has differing opinions on what Taiwan is, but the parties has no incentive to rock the boat as the current situation is profitable to party leadership. So I expect nothing at all to happen.
The problem is, I have no hard evidence, I have not been over there for quite a while now and the relationship between Beijing and the KMT, along with the psychology of the KMT leadership is not well documented in public.
The text of the official agreement between the KMT and Beijing is quite short and relatively non-inflammatory.
However, since that agreement, KMT party coffers have been swelled quite considerably and the mention of potential changes to the maritime treaties might well, in itself, be enough to spark worries from the Americans. Of course, the Chinese may have the ability to keep the Americans quiet by threatening the dollar, so maybe it is moot. But otherwise, it could be "interesting times."
