The Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank in Washington, D.C., has argued that, if the lanes are so important, regional powers such as Australia, Japan and South Korea should come to Taiwan's defense. U.S. protection of Taiwan could escalate into full-blown war. The Liberation Army Daily, the Chinese army's official newspaper, was livid over the House approval of the Taiwanese Security Act. And Taiwan is not Kosovo. The possibility of war between China and the U.S. is frightening.
China has a relatively modern military and astounding manpower capabilities.
With about 200 million men available for military service in 1999 and another 10 million a year reaching the conscriptable age of 18 every year, this would not be a repeat of the Gulf War, as former Reagan aide Pat Buchanan warned. As the Cox Report on national security concerns indicates, China has design information on America's most advanced thermonuclear weapons. The American people wish freedom and prosperity to the people of Taiwan and China. If the United States wants to sponsor diplomatic talks between the presidents of Taiwan, so be it. Nonetheless, it should not endanger our lives and wealth by laying the foundations of a military alliance which could cost millions of American lives and billions of dollars.