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Culture War Roundup for the week of June 24, 2024

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First of all, we’ve had decades since Mao to recognize Taiwan’s independence. We haven’t, and in fact more states recognize Palestine than Taiwan.

How's that going for Palestine?

The US and the West in general doesn't officially recognize Taiwan because getting into a war with China over appearances isn't worth it. But it's just appearances. When China bitched about Pelosi going to Taiwan, Pelosi went to Taiwan anyway. When President-Elect Trump talked to the Taiwanese President, China and the US press went apeshit. Trump said the US didn't necessarily have to uphold the One China policy. China did, as they could, nothing. The US is walking a bit of a tightrope -- on the one hand keeping up appearances enough that China doesn't get too offended and do something stupid, and on the other making sure China knows the US is only keeping up appearances so China doesn't think they have carte blanche to do something stupid. But that's been true for decades and it hasn't changed.

Second, we’re already bleeding hardware and equipment to Ukraine.

The Seventh Fleet likely has rather different needs than Ukraine.