SB 29-11: ROC Act of 2021 (Passed)

[S019]

The Honorable Senator expresses sentiments that I have held privately for a while too, and regret not mentioning them earlier, I am alarmed that no one yet has mentioned that this bill is tantamount to further conflict with China and a very likely invasion of Taiwan, which could quickly become a war that threatens to destabilize the entirety of East Asia. I understand that a lot of us prefer Taiwan over China and I do as well. I do not like China, but a war with China that destabilizes East Asia is NOT in this nation's best interest, I URGE the Senate to REJECT this, in the interest of maintaining stability in East Asia.

[S019]

The Honorable Senator expresses sentiments that I have held privately for a while too, and regret not mentioning them earlier, I am alarmed that no one yet has mentioned that this bill is tantamount to further conflict with China and a very likely invasion of Taiwan, which could quickly become a war that threatens to destabilize the entirety of East Asia. I understand that a lot of us prefer Taiwan over China and I do as well. I do not like China, but a war with China that destabilizes East Asia is NOT in this nation's best interest, I urge the Senate to reject this, in the interest of maintaining stability in East Asia.

The thing is, China cannot invade Taiwan now not because we haven't recognized Taiwan as such, but because the PRC think that if they do, it will be WW3 (or 4 in game I guess) with the United States.

Instead we pretend that we don't care about Taiwan while making clear we actually do, and China pretends that we don't care so they can carry on their internal stability efforts with the whole "One China Policy" and Taiwan just being a rogue province "to be acquired later". Eventually hoping to be in a relative position of power to just overrun the place without us being able to stop them.

True, but if Taiwan is formally recognized, that would shatter all pretenses or delusions about the facade and Taiwan is no longer merely a "rogue province," but now an independent hostile nation endorsed by the leader of the free world. Make no mistakes, China cannot allow that happen and they will not.

[S019]

The Honorable Senator expresses sentiments that I have held privately for a while too, and regret not mentioning them earlier, I am alarmed that no one yet has mentioned that this bill is tantamount to further conflict with China and a very likely invasion of Taiwan, which could quickly become a war that threatens to destabilize the entirety of East Asia. I understand that a lot of us prefer Taiwan over China and I do as well. I do not like China, but a war with China that destabilizes East Asia is NOT in this nation's best interest, I urge the Senate to reject this, in the interest of maintaining stability in East Asia.

The thing is, China cannot invade Taiwan now not because we haven't recognized Taiwan as such, but because the PRC think that if they do, it will be WW3 (or 4 in game I guess) with the United States.

Instead we pretend that we don't care about Taiwan while making clear we actually do, and China pretends that we don't care so they can carry on their internal stability efforts with the whole "One China Policy" and Taiwan just being a rogue province "to be acquired later". Eventually hoping to be in a relative position of power to just overrun the place without us being able to stop them.

True, but if Taiwan is formally recognized, that would shatter all pretenses or delusions about the facade and Taiwan is no longer merely a "rogue province," but now an independent hostile nation endorsed by the leader of the free world. Make no mistakes, China cannot allow that happen and they will not.

Can Atlasia in good conscious consign Taiwan to the same fate as Hong Kong, Tibet or Xinjiang?

We have made great efforts to not bend the knee to Beijing on trade, economic considerations, Hong Kong, the Uyghurs and many other victims of PRC oppression.

China has not yet invaded Taiwan and quite frankly, as you said they know they probably won't get it back, but pretend they will, they won't, if left undisturbed. If this bill passes on the other hand, their bluff is called, and they're forced to act.

At the end of the day though, the PRC cares about preserving its power first and foremost and will accept any condition that preserves such and will react aggressively to anything that is perceived to undermine its power. However, at the same time China has to be realistic about its own position and it is not a martyrdom state bent on death either.

If the administration is determined to challenge the PRC, which they seem to be, there needs to be an over arching strategy behind this desire for a two state solution.

For this reason, I don't expect China to invade Taiwan if unprovoked, they will not be the ones to incite the war. We should not be the ones who incite the war either.

[S019]

This bill is dangerous and foolish, and all of you warmongers who support it might bite off more than we can chew, and I say "WE" because it is all of us who will pay the consequences.

Few understand the risks of another conflict with China more than I, but I am also cognizant of the fact that we have indeed fought a conflict with China before that both Sestak and myself were involved with ending. If his administration has a plan here, I am inclined to appreciate that he understands the risks and has weighed them accordingly.

You do not only avoid wars that you will lose, you want to avoid wars in general. Whether or not we'd easily beat China in a war is irrelevant, such a war will lead to the deaths of thousands, if not millions of civilians.

[S019]

This bill is dangerous and foolish, and all of you warmongers who support it might bite off more than we can chew, and I say "WE" because it is all of us who will pay the consequences.

Few understand the risks of another conflict with China more than I, but I am also cognizant of the fact that we have indeed fought a conflict with China before that both Sestak and myself were involved with ending. If his administration has a plan here, I am inclined to appreciate that he understands the risks and has weighed them accordingly.

You do not only avoid wars that you will lose, you want to avoid wars in general. Whether or not we'd easily beat China in a war is irrelevant, such a war will lead to the deaths of thousands, if not millions of civilians.

If I thought the only path forward from this was war, I would not have sponsored it. The plan referenced, would be some form of diplomatic maneuvering.

Why would China agree to diplomatic manuevering when the last facade of the One China Policy has been shattered? Do you expect them to just stand down and not try to save face?

[S019]

This is a massive mistake