China, Let Taiwan Go

China's response to the United States's $6.4 billion planned arm sale with Taiwan is a reaction that should raise the entire world's immediate concern regarding China's impending rise as a global power. Is this a nation the United States and the rest of the world wants as a rising power? A nation that threatens to reduce providing global financial crisis? Isn't the responsibility as a powerful nation, to ensure peace talks between North Korea and Iran's nuclear standoffs?

But China threatens to cease aid in resolving these issues and is acting that of a irresponsible nation because of the United States' involvement with Taiwan.

Taiwan is a self governing nation that China views as another Tibet, as its own. Currently, more than 1,000 ballistic missiles are aimed at Taiwan. And if Taiwan ever formalizes its de factor independence? Beijing has threatened to invade if the island and launch those 1,000 missiles at the island.

The United States' planned arm sales to Taiwan is that of a defensive military sales. The weapons include Black Hawk helicopters and Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles, all of which are defensive missiles and not offensive missiles.

Because China has 1000 ballistic missiles aimed at Taiwan, the United States is, by law, required to provide defensive aid to Taiwan.

Thus, the reaction of China, which has always been hostile in regards to matters of the United States providing assistance to Taiwanese matters, and the threats placed by China to cease aid in resolving global issues is that of a rising global bully.

The U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley's statement that "[Their] action regarding Taiwan reinforces [the United States'] commitment to stability in the region" and "[the United States knows] China has a different view" upon this matter.

But China, a rising global power, should not be aiming 1,000 ballistic missiles at a tiny island of innocent people. Threats of accelerating weapons testing and test-firing of rockets is that of a bully using death and war as a means of resolving issues and oppressing those that challenge its power.

Of course, the United States has not been perfect either as acting as a global power.

But it is time for China to realize that Taiwan, is its self governing nation, and a nation that was responsible for supporting China when China was rebuilding and a shadow of its current rising economic power.

Let Taiwan go, China.

The juvenile threats regarding Taiwan only spur concern whether China is inadequate as a global power and incapable of promoting peace talks. As a rising nation still struggling to shed its communist labels and controversy over issues like Darfur and the melamine milk incidents, China's threat to suspend military exchanges with the United States only serves to prove that China is not yet fit to be a responsible global power.