From: Steven Durrett 

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At which point the Taiwanese negotiators will valiantly stifle their giggles.

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I think Peking means it when they say they will not tolerate any
declaration of independence. Unfortunately, while they do not have the
ability to conquer Taiwan, they do have the ability to sterilize it if that
becomes the island's highest and best use. I don't even think that a modest
nuclear deterrent in Taiwan's hands would prevent that from happening;
Peking would absorb the loss.

Steve Durrett

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