The Post Cold War Peace Is Over
Wes Vernon
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Excuse me, but there seems to be a disconnect here.

On the one hand, Pentagon officials are warning that China's buildup of its military might is growing faster than U.S. intelligence expected, bolstering suspicions of an attack on Taiwan within two years — meaning war with the United States, which is honor-bound to defend Taiwan.
All the while, China's People's Liberation Army regards the U.S. as "the main adversary," and has laid out plans in black and white as to its preparations for war with us.


On the other hand, we learn that China may be allowed to buy an American oil company. The state-owned China National Offshore Oil Corporation - China's third largest producer - is outbidding Chevron to acquire Unocal, a 115-year old California gas exploration company.


We can only hope that the U.S. China Economic and Security Review Commission's strong misgivings on this transaction will be heeded by policy-makers in Washington. The UCRC, strictly an advisory panel, has fired off a letter to the Senate urging a "thorough assessment" of China's offer to buy Unocal.


UCRC Chairman Richard D'Amato says this is "a national security issue" for the United States, and adds the Treasury Department's Committee on Foreign Investment should go over the deal with a fine tooth comb.


The latest information on China's buildup, front-paged in Sunday's Washington Times under the byline of its crack national security reporter Bill Gertz, is that Taiwan is not the only reason for the Dragon's aggressive pursuit of enhanced military muscle.


"Beijing also is facing a major energy shortage that, according to one Pentagon study, could lead it to use military force to seize territory with oil and gas reserves," the Times reported.


That sets the table for an interesting scenario. Where does it lead? "Let us buy your American energy firm or else?"


If history teaches us anything, it is that you can't buy off dictators hell-bent on aggression.


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