China Stretches, Accidentally Breaks Small Country

China has passed an anti-secessionist law that allows it to use force if Taiwan gets too uppity:

"A leading Communist party official said force would be a last resort if reunification efforts fail.
China has considered Taiwan a renegade province since communist forces drove nationalists from the mainland in 1949, and has repeatedly threatened to use military power against the island if it declares independence.
"Using non-peaceful means to stop secession in defense of our sovereignty and territorial integrity would be our last resort when all our efforts for a peaceful reunification should prove futile," Wang Zhaoguo, vice-chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC), told the session.
In the event of any conflict, China would take the utmost care to protect civilians and foreigners, as well as their property, Wang stressed."

Sure it will. And the US is bound to protect Taiwan if that happens.

And China holds our debt, which is getting bigger and uglier every day. Not to mention our desire to utilize China as a market for capital expansion. Not to mention that within 20 or 30 years China may eclipse us in any number of ways both economically and militarily. This sets the stage for some scary realpolitick, especially with Bolton, king of conciliation, heading for the UN.

I see troubling possiblilities for conflict here, not to mention the potential for another Iraq happening in Syria. Hunker down, kids, and keep your ears covered.