General Discussion

Last edited Wed Dec 7, 2016, 06:57 AM - Edit history (1)

supposed to "respond" to their requests.

What is with conservative support for Taiwan and antagonism to China? I assumed money first, of course. We have a lot of economic interests in common with Taiwan, which is our ninth largest trading partner. We reportedly sell a whole lot of military armaments to Taiwan. American business has been expanding investment there, and Trump himself was reportedly looking into investing in Taiwan--during the campaign. China has far too much leverage over prices and other considerations, but Taiwan will be apparently increasingly dependent on us if the TPP is a no-go.

But then there's also the natural conservative high anxiety and bellicosity in response to other strong nations, no doubt exacerbated as China flexes its muscle. American Exceptionalism, with strong roots in conservative religion, really can't accept more than one strong nation--ours. I don't know how true it stands now, but while the right embraces and empowers Putin and Russia these days, one expert I read says there's still an image of Taiwan as an anti-communism bastion. So the plutocrats busy shifting power to themselves here imagine themselves freedom fighters...? In any case, whatever the rest of the fallout--and it would be very big, cutting back our trade with China would hurt the Chinese economy.

Oh, well. Regarding Trump's personal business relationship with Taiwan, just one more item on a whole smorgasbord of reasons the GOP could use to remove him from office.