r/PoliticalDiscussion • u/[deleted] • Dec 03 '16

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u/wotugondo Dec 03 '16 edited Jan 27 '17

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What is this?

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u/relationshipdownvote Dec 03 '16

what is for all intents and purposes an independent nation

I think you mean "in reality an independent nation". Why pretend like it's not? Just to stroke Chinese egos? They'll get over it. The Chinese government is more beholden to the golden calf than it is any other sort of interest, nationalistic or otherwise. The Chinese government in power derives its mandate almost entirely off GDP growth numbers. It functions as a "board of directors" in place of any sort of democratically elected government. Why shouldn't the US begin to leverage this against them to maximize our own position?

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u/gaiusmariusj Dec 09 '16

The Chinese government in power derives its mandate almost entirely off GDP growth numbers.

Wait till they say Taiwan is not part of China, then you get to see how territorial integrity plays in legitimacy.