Islands by nature are curious creatures, and have scared this article for as long as it has existed, all of 21 words. There is something a little off about a place entirely surrounded by water, and therefore connected to nothing. However islands have long fascinated our easily fascinated culture. I am told that the United States was once an island, and indeed, our infatuation with these tiny places has continued to burn bright with the glorification of island life. Islands are portrayed in American culture as havens from the real world, where hammocks hang from every tree, and coconuts full to the brim with alcoholic drinks and tiny straw hats fall from the trees high overhead. This glamorization of island life came to a head during the mid-thirties. The Bureau of Island Tourism created the propaganda machine now know only as "Pinocchio," where a magical place called "Pleasure Island" was featured prominently and depicted as a sort of heaven for small boys.

In reality, which apparently is where this article should try to ground itself at times, islands do not have it so easy. This not-so-true point brings us to the next, semi-related topic of discussion: Taiwan, a small island floating somewhere near China.

The United States has always liked Taiwan. They’ve never tried to attack us, and they pretend to like democracy, which is always a recipe for ensuring the love of the United States. And so we have tried to help them in their struggle to keep the dream of democracy and independence from mainland China alive. China is a big bully that constantly tries to tell Taiwan what to do, believing that Taiwan should be a part of China.

And so every interaction between the United States and Taiwan becomes significant in the sense that it will be interpreted as indirectly involving China. With China gaining size and power, it seems to be the only country still capable of scaring the mighty United States, and thus the United States has stepped lightly around issues involving China in recent years, if a large landmass like the United States is capable of such a thing as walking.

The United States this week, approved a fairly large sale of arms to Taiwan, which included Kidd-Class destroyers, sub-hunting planes, and despite major objections from China, submarines, the most fearsome of all amphibious water vessels. However, the United States did not sell Taiwan the sophisticated Aegis radar and battle management system, which can track and respond to hundreds of planes and missiles at one time, and the sale of which was vehemently protested by China.

Still, the United States did not rule out the possibility of selling Taiwan the Aegis system at a later date. At this point in time, the Taiwanese armed forces would not have the sophistication to be able to use the Aegis system properly, and Bush offered the analogy that were Taiwan in possession of such a system, it would be as if it was in possession of a lighted match in a bin a fireworks. Bush did not speculate how big this bin would have to be, nor how or why Taiwan would be inside such a bin. The United States maintains that all of the weapons that it has offered to sell Taiwan are defensive in nature, and a response to the 300 or so Chinese missiles directed towards Taiwan. Speculation is rampant however, that the sale of submarines could enrage China nearly as much as the sale of the Aegis system, as much of China’s tactical advantage over Taiwan stems from its superiority underwater. However, the Bush administration has claimed that the submarines that will be sold to Taiwan will be equipped with arms that will only be defensive in nature.

China opposes any U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, claiming that it will contribute to refusals by Taiwan to negotiate with China about reunification. However the U.S. and the Bush administration has offered the counter idea that if Taiwan feels more secure it will enter talks with China more readily. Whether this sale will help or hinder Chinese relations with Taiwan remains to be seen, but one thing is certain, the U.S. and the Bush administration seem desperately to be trying to project themselves as having no fear of China, nor of the Chinese responding to this tough-nosed stance in kind.