Everyone is writing a lot of papers to each other, just like before WWII. Much of this has to do with who claims what territory, which affects how one nation identifies another, which affects peace and stability. Letters can change all of that.

By not normalizing relations with the government it expelled, China has kept a war on the books for over 65 years. This defines China’s military and government as an occupying force. They could end that war and legitimize their claim to the mainland, but they want to keep the war going until they control all land they have ever claimed. No one knows how long that will take.

War games happen in stages, time limits, and windows of opportunity. The times are shifting and, once China has the chance to take some of the islands in the Pacific, other factors will have changed, thereby outdating their battle plans.  · · · →