After observing the recent invasion of Ukraine, once again, I couldn’t help but reminisce about my studies at The George Washington University, specifically my Political Geography elective during my undergraduate studies. My research paper, originally submitted in November of 2005, “The Wild, Wild East,” is a treatise concerning China’s reunification with Taiwan (embedded below via Scribd); unfortunately, I was unable to recover the final draft, which also contained additional economic data, of which at the time cited Taiwan as responsible for producing 95% of the world’s semiconductors- and please pardon any grammatical or editorial errors while realizing how incredibly prescient this paper was for a mere sophomore in college, circa 2005.
If recent events in Ukraine portend any indication, the political showdown between China and Taiwan will inevitably reach a critical mass, demanding the world’s attention, particularly that of the United States of America, to definitively recognize an independent Taiwan, or one China. In examining the history of the contentious dispute, analyzing the varying perspectives of the participating political entities, while exploring the political and economic forces involved, to my recent surprise, I concluded that the gradual annexation of Taiwan into the PRC might resolve the protracted conflict. Although the aforementioned was offered as the least destructive, in terms of both economic and human cost, it is indeed humbling now as a retired professional to realize how my worldviews changed since my studies as an undergrad. Indeed, desperate times call for desperate measures in a post-American world without a liberal international order- no matter the cost, from the Ukraine to the Taiwan Strait…