1.   The worldwide diplomatic blockade that Beijing has created against Taiwan is not the worst of it.

2.   Then came the hostage crisis and a U.S.-led diplomatic blockade of the country.

3.   Until now, the Chinese diplomatic blockade and Western submission to it have been merely disgusting.

4.   A Taiwanese official on Sunday warned China that its diplomatic blockade only fuels independence sentiment on the island.

5.   China vowed Friday to maintain its diplomatic blockade of Taiwan this year and urged Taiwanese leaders to try to bring about talks with Beijing.

6.   The clandestine nature of the trip was indicative of the lengths to which Taiwan must go to break out of the diplomatic blockade imposed by its rival, China.

7.   The seeming paradox shows that despite its diplomatic blockade of Taiwan, China wants to pursue business as usual with its ideological foe.