Troublemaking can never promote stability

Whenever, and wherever, the United States vows to bring peace, stability and progress, people are always wary as that invariably results in just the opposite. Likewise when it holds aloft the banner of human rights to preach freedom and democracy, as that often foreshadows the above.

So it should be of concern to the region and the world that after the US State Department approved a $100 million sale of the Patriot missile system and services to Taiwan on Monday, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency claimed that the deal would "assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region".

In saying that helping to defend Taiwan is to defend "democracy", the US is engaging in some classic misdirection while it employs some sleight of hand to put more pressure on Beijing.