More than six years ago I wrote this post: Democracy Kills.
The title refers to Humphrey Hawksley’s 2009 book of the same name. He went on to write Asian Waters in 2018. In Democracy Kills there are lots of bad guys but the country in the white hat is Taiwan. I have not been an election observer there but I see no reason to disagree with his informed opinion that Taiwan is a working democracy with a vibrant economy. DK is a bit depressing about working democracies in new nations and Taiwan is a welcome exception.
Russia nibbles away in Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova. China has, legitimately, swallowed up Hong Kong. Its sovereignty over Taiwan should be decided by a referendum. This policy has kept Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands under a British flag. The brinkmanship in the quadrille between China, Taiwan, the United States and the United Nations is being danced in front of our eyes.
There will not be a referendum and you can bet your John Lobb boots that the US and UN will back off. Meanwhile Humphrey was right in 2018 to see Chinese expansionist ambition there too. And why not? China is an empire and I cannot complain. It’s what Great Britain did in the 18th and 19th centuries. History is a continuum of events. I’m sorry but it looks like Taiwan is in for it. It will be a vassal state if it’s lucky.