[arcticbull]

> I think the point is that PRC considers Taiwan as part of broader China, and this move makes that statement less likely to be taken seriously. Which is good.

Well, you should tell that to the US government, who believes there's One China and the capital is Beijing.

When Trump got elected he actually took a congratulatory call from Tsai Ing-wen (president of Taiwan) which utterly incensed the PRC. That aside, it's been the position of America since 1972.

For what it's worth Taiwan also believes there's One China, including all territory claimed by the PRC and that the capital is in fact Taipei.

With that all in mind, any major world power has been paying lip service to One China and practically ignoring it, but the PRC exerts its influence over smaller/weaker countries such as recently flipping Sao Tome and Principe in violation of the no-poaching agreement in the One China accords. In reality, no big power believes they're one country, and operates accordingly. No small power does either, but substantially all back the PRC because the West has largely ceded its influence over smaller nations to the PRC.

[johncolanduoni]

Someone should really say something to the US military. They’ve been selling top tier military equipment to and coordinating with illegitimate rebels for decades!

[arcticbull]

> They’ve been selling top tier military equipment to and coordinating with illegitimate rebels for decades!

To be fair that's been the US MO for the majority of the last century haha [1] -- who do you think hooked up the Mujahideen?

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Cyclone

[remarkEon]

>who do you think hooked up the Mujahideen?

CIA, actually, as noted in the wiki you linked.