The good news is that this time China is using words, not warheads, to register its vote in Taiwan's presidential election next month. The bad news is that their effect may be just as unhelpful—to Taiwan, to China's relations with America and ultimately to China itself. Four years ago, China, which claims Taiwan as its own, lobbed missiles into the sea lanes nearby in the hope of scaring voters in the last presidential election away front independent-minded Lee Teng-hui. Instead they secured for Mr Lee a convincing victory, provoked America into sending two aircraft carriers to steam protectively near Taiwan and put mainland China's relations with America into a deep chill. This time the Chinese have threatened Taiwan with "drastic measures, including military force", if it attempts to delay talks on reunification indefinitely (see page 49). Will Communist China never learn?
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