The Place of Dead Roads

George Bush is off traveling around Asia. The following, via CNN, is from a speech he plans of delivering in Japan on Wednesday:

"Modern Taiwan is free and democratic and prosperous. By embracing freedom at all levels, Taiwan has delivered prosperity to its people and created a free and democratic Chinese society."

I take it we can assume mainland China is going to be oh so happy to hear Bush refer to Taiwan as a free country. WorldPress.org reports on the joint military exercises from last summer.

August 26, 2005 - Russia and China conducted their first joint military exercises, dubbed Peace Mission 2005, last week. Many observers contend that the maneuvers were meant to send a clear message to the United States, Japan, and the rest of the world that the jury is still out over power in Taiwan and Central Asia.

WorldPress.org goes on to include this analysis from the Taipei Times

The exercises are expected to have a significant impact on the balance of power in Asia and are also an opportunity for China and Russia to make the U.S. take note of their growing military strength. …

NPR reports on the scale and intent of these exercises:

August 18, 2005 · Russian and Chinese forces begin eight days of joint military exercises involving 10,000 troops. Moscow and Beijing say they are training to counter "terrorism, extremism and separatism." But the long-range weaponry involved suggests a broader agenda.

Good job George, with China and Russia flexing their military might together, seems like a good time to start pissing China off.