Some in the Chinese leadership are suggesting giving President George W. Bush "The Thatcher Treatment" over Taiwan.

Soon after Sino-British negotiations over Hong Kong's fate began in the early 1980s, late patriarch Deng refused to entertain suggestions by then British Prime Minister Thatcher about alternate ways to prolong Britain's lease over the crown colony.

In a heated exchange in 1982, Deng simply told the Iron Lady that times had changed, China had become much stronger -- and there could be no nonsense over Hong Kong's return to the motherland's embrace at the stroke of midnight, June 30, 1997.

Thatcher was reportedly so taken aback that upon leaving, she slipped while going down the steps of Beijing's Great Hall of the People in front of the Chinese and international press.

If the Chinese think they can succeed at this kind of hardball tactic against President Bush, they're sorely mistaken. If the Chinese attempt to attack or undermine the democratically elected government of Taiwan without an outcry -- and military assistance -- from the Western world (at least the U.S., Britain, Aussies and Poles) they're in for a surprise.

The Chinese also forget the anger directed their way by the United States after their hot-shot pilot forced down our surveillance plane (operating in international waters). The terrorist attacks on 9/11 is the only thing that diverted American ire away from the Chinese.

America won't stand by if the Chinese commies attempt to subjugate their democratic brothers.