Cozying up to Taiwan is a Republican tradition as cherished as tax cuts. In 1980 Ronald Reagan defied his advisers and pledged to re-establish official relations with Taipei. Facing defeat in 1992, George Bush authorized the sale of 150 F-16s to Taiwan. Even Bob Dole talked about building a missile-defense shield over the Pacific to protect Taiwan from Chinese aggression.
Given that history, it's no surprise that conservative candidate Gary Bauer has already declared his support for Taiwanese independence. But don't expect the same from George W. Bush. The Texas Governor has stayed clear of dramatic policy shifts on Taiwan, and...
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