Arriving in China, Rice faces tough diplomatic challenges

Condoleezza Rice, wrapping up her first Asian tour since taking the job of secretary of state, arrives in China at a time that would tax the resources and talents of the most experienced diplomat.
A pretty good indication that Rice was not about to be cowed by her hosts was the statement she made at the end of her visit to South Korea. She made it a point to suggest that it would be irresponsible of Europe to lift its arms embargo of China and begin selling sophisticated weaponry that might one day be used against U.S. forces in the Pacific.
Making it clear
"It is the United States, not Europe, that is defending the Pacific," Rice said.
The European Union imposed an arms embargo on China after the deadly 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square.
China's access to the latest in weapons technology is more than academic. China is not only doing whatever it can to beef up its military, it has taken an increasingly hard-line in its battle of words over the status of Taiwan.
During her two days in China, Rice will discuss China's continuing human rights abuse, its aiding and abetting pirates of intellectual property, its role as a broker in talks over North Korea's nuclear weapons program and, of course, the Taiwan question.
For nearly a generation, the United States was a stalwart ally of the Nationalist Chinese on Taiwan and didn't even have diplomatic reactions with mainland (Red) China. Now, the United States has walked a tightrope for a generation, recognizing only one China, the mainland, discouraging talk of an independent Taiwan, but still maintaining a position that it would not tolerate military action by China against Taiwan.
Provocative move
Just a week before Rice began her Asian trip, China passed a law codifying its intention to use military force against Taiwan should the island declare formal independence. The law is so broadly worded that it would allow China to take action against Taiwan with very little provocation.
Essentially, it leaves Taiwan twisting in the wind. And given U.S. commitments to Taiwan, the United States is twisting as well. An inflammatory speech by a Taiwanese official could set in motion a chain of events that could have disastrous consequences.
On this brief trip, Rice must send a clear message to China that it is to its benefit to crack down on intellectual pirates, to do its part to rein in the renegade North Korean regime, to foster more freedom among its people and to raise the standard of living of a Chinese worker above that of an indentured servant. She must do all that and convince China that taking military action against Taiwan would be the biggest mistake it could make.