Sunday, December 4, 2016

It's JUST the Chinese...

On Thursday, president elect Trump accepted a phone call from the President of Taiwan. They discussed business and Trump later publicly spoke of the call. PROBLEM. Since 72 when Nixon recognized China it has been the practice of the U.S. Government NOT to acknowledge the elephant in the room that is the fact that there are TWO Chinese governments. Every American president since Nixon has recognized this fact. The People's Republic of China doesn't accept the sovereignty of Taiwan and regards them as an autonomous territory.
            P.E. Trump while he has never held an office presumably HAS picked up a newspaper or seen a newscast since 1972 and had some inkling that U.S. Sino relations are to say the least complex. Mr. Trump's predecessor has not been friendly to China trade wise and they welcome the change in American leadership despite Trump's angry campaign rhetoric labeling China a "currency manipulator." Before even taking the oath of office,  Mr. Trump has offended a country which has the world's largest military and boasts of having air craft carriers and Intercontinental ballistic missiles.

            Many American firms rely on Chinese manufacturing and oft use China as the economic model they would love to see in the U.S.  I.E. a country with no minimum wage,  Food and Drug administration, Environmental protection agency or workers rights of any kind. It is an Ayn Rand wet dream come true and the end result is shoddy and in many cases toxic products which occasionally have to be confiscated by AMERICAN regulatory agencies when intercepted.  China in recent years as taken pride in corporate espionage and cyber terrorism.
           President elect Trump is offending a nation who when they last fought us directly in Korea agreed to a cease fire only because it was the only way in which both sides could save face.  The Chinese have fought wars of attrition for longer than many countries have existed and if Korean war vets I've spoken to were telling me the truth, Chinese troops attack in human waves. Mr. Trump doesn't like receiving daily security briefings and apparently doesn't like keeping up on global events. Well Mr. Trump I've bad news for you sir, the American people didn't kidnap you at gunpoint and FORCE you to become our president. It was a choice YOU made and after an UGLY and divisive campaign in which you played every low card in the deck you received the honor of being our president. Guess what Mr. Trump what happens in the rest of the world is now YOUR problem now. THIS is the job you wanted.  This is why your predecessors age rapidly while in office.
          Mr. Trump needs to understand that foreign policy is the difference between war and peace and if  he doesn't understand that then he's in for a LONG four years.

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