If Taiwan provokes China by declaring independence, should we be drawn into the conflict?

But neither should Washington provoke China by embroiling itself in the Taiwan independence issue.

We don't want to provoke China as the previous administration did for eight years.

But they see T.I. as a hopeless cause, one that would only provoke China into taking unpredictable action.

This could only provoke China into an accelerated arms race.

But even Senate Republicans warn that could unnecessarily provoke China.

It is not in America's interest to provoke China on this score.

As a practical matter, it could prove difficult to move to full democracy without provoking China.

Precipitous action by Russia, the Council feared, might provoke China.

In doing this, we do not seek to provoke or antagonise China.