Really important events today in Beijing, as KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun met with China's senior leadership, including both Wang Huning and also Cai Qi. Despite what Washington's myriad hawks are saying, this is not a major setback for the U.S. position in Asia. To the contrary, this is profoundly good news for U.S. national security. Americans are more safe if there is peace across the Taiwan Strait and American service members are in considerably less danger. Let's all hope these important steps represent the beginning of the end of the Chinese Civil War (finally). U.S. leaders might even come to realize that Ms. Cheng is doing them a favor in seeking reconciliation. I was at an event yesterday at Brown with a senior U.S. Senator who described Taiwan as a country no less than 3X -- ugh. DC leaders really need to get educated. Meanwhile, Cheng is actually deserving of the Nobel Peace Price -- much more than Ms. Machado of Venezuela fame. Remember the prize is for those making peace not for those promoting democracy -- an important distinction.
