Taiwan launches a lifeboat

THE Chinese, naturally, have a saying appropriate to the moment: “In a crisis lies opportunity.” The opportunistic Taiwanese believe it, most of them. So far, they have been relatively unaffected economically by the region's turmoil. They long to end their diplomatic isolation, and their neighbours' troubles may provide them with the means to do it (and perhaps a few bargains too). But it will have to be done without causing offence, except to China, which regards Taiwan as a rebel province. There are plenty of Taiwanese who remain distinctly cautious.