Tensions rise over Taiwan Strait as U.S. and China harden positions

[TomSea]

Tensions rise over Taiwan Strait as U.S. and China harden positions
Simon Denyer
https://www.facebook.com/simon.denyer?fref=ts

TAIPEI, Taiwan — As President Trump battles it out with China over trade and the mood in Washington sours toward Beijing, there is a growing fear that Taiwan will end up suffering the consequences.

“When two elephants are dancing, we must take care not to be stamped upon,” said Jason Lin Chun-hsien, a legislator for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party. “Today you yell at each other, but tomorrow maybe you shake hands. We must try to avoid becoming a bargaining chip.”

A Sino-U.S. trade war could seriously damage Taiwan’s ­export-oriented economy. More than half of its exports go to China, mostly parts and intermediate goods that are then assembled and exported to consumers in countries such as the United States.

Read more at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/tensions-rise-over-taiwan-strait-as-us-and-china-harden-positions/2018/04/08/e9d54982-38a2-11e8-b57c-9445cc4dfa5e_story.html?utm_term=.86e12cc4e3df