Does prosperity create democracy, or is it the other way around? One argument asserts that ending communist rule in the People's Republic of China (PRC) is essential to enhancing and fully developing the PRC economy in a free market/capitalist direction. It is inconceivable and in reality impossible that a free market should flourish in a state still governed by a hard-line Marxist regime. According to data from the IMF, China has the world's third largest economy. All conditions are in place to allow real internal change in China. The more economic prosperity the Chinese people acquire through their free enterprise endeavors, the more political freedom they will inevitably demand from their rulers. Economic freedom eventually yields political freedom. When that is accomplished, China's development will continue at a more rapid pace, and the Chinese people can construct a more modern and democratic society. The other argument is that all states must uphold basic human rights principles. China does not adhere to its obligations in pursuance of the International Declaration of Human Rights. Hence any state may intervene to ensure these principles are applied for the benefit of the Chinese people. Therefore the US should send a powerful message condemning harsh Chinese labor practices and urge adoption of more humane industrialization policies. While the latter strategy seems more sympathetic, eventually it would inflict more harm on the very people it seeks to aid. Reflecting on Western labor history, the record is far from unblemished. Although the circumstances differ greatly (no forced prison labor camps lay at an essential convergence of Western industrialization) there were prisonesque sources of employment; the first factories resembled prisons. Eventually Western countries got beyond that dark stage and created better sources of capital. The old socialist argument that "you built fine industries and created many nice inventions, but those financiers made their fortunes by the sweat and travail of the laborers" is quite inaccurate. The process does not operate like the Horatio Alger rags to riches stories. The process must be allowed to take its course in its slow and painful way.
Then there is the Taiwan issue. The US has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but in June 1995 the US gave the Taiwanese President a visa to attend a college reunion. Two months later amid all the VJ Day celebrations, a US Congressional delegation hosted an event to honor Madam Chiang, the ninety-six year old widow of Chinese nationalist leader Chiang-Kai-Shek. This decision did not please the PRC leaders who still insist they are the only government of China. To them Taiwan is no more than a province in prolonged rebellion. In reaction to the granted visa, the PRC recalled its ambassador in Washington.
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