Do We Really Want a New Cold War?

[Farsala]

Mnementh said:

Oneeee-Chan!!! said:
Will Asians become more democratic and progressive when they come into contact with Westerners?
It hasn't sunk in yet.

Taiwan has moved from a one-party dictatorship to a democracy after Chiang Kai-sheks death. Japan was a fascist country in WW2 and has moved to become a democracy. South Korea was until the 80s a military dictatorship. I think the track record of soft influence is pretty good. In none of these countries the West imposed sanctions and none of these countries toppled the government violently to reach todays status.

The only downside: it takes decades.

You forget to mention that all 3 were occupied by the US. Even Vietnam became less communist and more sympathetic to the west after a brief occupation. Hong Kong and Macau was occupied for a long time. Germany was occupied by the west and the USSR, but eventually the western occupation won out. That kind of points to occupying China as better.