8/19/22 Peter Van Buren’s “Neopracticalist” Take on Taiwan

Scott interviews writer and State Department veteran Peter Van Buren about Taiwan. Van Buren is sticking with his assessment that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan will not happen because there’s too much money to be lost if trade between China, Taiwan and the U.S. takes a hit. However, he does fault the American government for doing its best to escalate the conflict. In this interview, he talks with Scott about Pelosi’s visit, the early history of the Taiwan conflict, China’s current navy, the narrative that China is already waging economic war on the U.S. and more. 

Discussed on the show:

• “How Does Asia Feel About Nancy Pelosi?” (The American Conservative)
• “Nancy's Pointless Trip to Taiwan” (The American Conservative)
• “Strategic Ambiguity Works” (The American Conservative)
• China’s White Paper on Taiwan
• American Factory (IMDb)
• “Why Bombs Made in America Have Been Killing Civilians in Yemen” (New York Times)
• “China: From Death Camp to Civilization” (LewRockwell.com)

Peter Van Buren worked for 24 years at the Department of State including a year in Iraq. He is the author of We Meant Well: How I Helped Lose the Battle for the Hearts and Minds of the Iraqi People and the novel Hooper’s War. He is now a contributing editor at The American Conservative magazine.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: The War State and Why The Vietnam War?, by Mike Swanson; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and Thc Hemp Spot.

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