Based upon China's recent invasion threats, it seems that the billions of dollars Taiwan has sent to the mainland have not been sufficient to quell the aggressive urges of the Chinese military. China must continue to be considered a potential military threat to U.S. interests for the foreseeable future. The risks of hyperbole There seems an unpleasant tradition of lies and exaggerations in American political debates. Perhaps the practice is so common that Americans have come to automatically discount claims made in a political context. Unfortunately, the public is unlikely to reject the recent debate on China PNTR to the degree it deserves.
China is the most difficult and complex challenge currently faced by U.S. foreign policy.
In the PNTR debate, the public and Congress were assured that China's new trade status will solve problems from human rights to Taiwan. Passing PNTR is a good decision, but the expectations that have been raised in this debate are greatly exaggerated and will prove impossible to fulfill. In a few years, a new U.S. president is likely to have to explain to an increasingly frustrated public and Congress why the United States continues to face a high trade deficit with China, why China continues to deny its citizens human rights and why it continues to pose a threat to its neighbors, particularly Taiwan. Hopefully, that president will be able to frame a policy toward China that is balanced and realistic without raising unfulfillable expectations. If he is not, the future of U.S.-China relations looks rocky indeed.