pacific forum History of Pacific Forum

PacNet #5A – Beijing’s Legal Preemption

The Bush administration is now infamous for its “preemption doctrine,” which warns rogue states against providing safe havens for international terrorists or possessing weapons of mass destruction. The Chinese government is following in U.S. footsteps when it comes to Taiwan. There is one big difference, however: at least for now, the instrument for preemption is not force, but law.