If China wants to make sure Taiwan doesn't get the equipment, it should halt or considerably slow its missile buildup. This is the same strategy the Dubya's team wants to use with Russia. Bush plans to sharply cut the number of nuclear warheads in the U.S. arsenal in the expectation that Moscow will follow suit. This would increase security and save money for both sides quickly. Bush's father, George the First, unilaterally eliminated theater nuclear weapons from Europe, and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev followed suit without any written agreement.
Deeds speak louder than documents.
The carrot part of the arrangement is likely to be used with other nations that the U.S. has difficult relations with, such as Iran and Libya. Richard A. Haass, head of the State Dept. policy-planning shop, believes it's useful to specify what benefits countries in Uncle Sam's doghouse can expect if they act responsibly. In a book last year, Haass complained that though Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright intended to construct a road map for better relations between Washington and Tehran, she never followed through. The arrangement might start slowly. Iran might agree to meet with American officials at international gatherings and help with the probe of the Khobar Towers bombing.