There is some disagreement as to whether Taiwan is or was ever a part of China. Political status of Taiwan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia There is no debate that Iran was EVER part of the US. But if it were and we wanted it back, we would not stand on ceremony to get it any more than we stand on ceremony to take middle east oil. China has been around 5000 years. I have no doubt that China knows how to be around another 5000. Subsidizing the US is part of that. So is making us fat and lazy, just like they made their rulers fat and lazy over decades, and centuries. They definitely have a plan. And seeing China as a minor playor on the world scene is a big mistake. Also, so is seeing them as being beneth us. They have most of the engineers of the world, all of their children take English from ages 13-17; if you speak in their presence they will understand you, but you will not understand them unless they speak your language. Granted, they don't have all the human rights we have, but give them time. Just in the last few years they released their lawyers from government control. That in and of itself will give the people of China a footing they have never before had. Of couse WE want to kill all our lawyers because we don't see their relevance where our rights are concerned.