April 24, 2001

China's aggression toward U.S. reconnaissance

China's aggression toward U.S. reconnaissance flights that led to this month's confrontation is unacceptable. China wants to be a prominent player in the world. Having hot shot fly boys ram into other planes over international waters is no way for a world leader to act. Then the Chinese detain those servicemen for 11 days and still refuse to return the plane. The Bush administration should have offered the Aegis defense system to Taiwan. Although the Chinese say doing so would have a "devastating impact," they must feel the consequences of acting as an uncivilized nation. Sometimes the best way of dealing with a bully is to pop him in the nose. Aegis would be quite a pop the Communists couldn't ignore.

"U.S. Offers Arms Deal, Minus Aegis, to Taiwan"