Hong Kong, Aug. 25 -- China continues to tighten the thumbscrews on Taiwan - or perhaps it should be more aptly called the rack. Beijing is prosecuting a simultaneous, multi-pronged campaign against Taipei, using diplomatic, military, grey-zone, psychological warfare and espionage pressures.

Beijing and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continually remind everyone of their historical rights over Taiwan with phrases such as "belonging to China since antiquity". However, these are blatant lies, for Taiwan has never been part of the modern People's Republic of China (PRC).

The only time China ruled over Taiwan was during the Qing Dynasty when it annexed Formosa in 1683. It was then lost to Japan in 1895. After that, the Republic of China (...