Posted on 12/09/2003 11:34:14 AM PST by tallhappy
Bush Sends Stern Warning to Taiwan over Independence Moves
Scott Stearns
White House
09 Dec 2003, 17:25 UTC
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President Bush says he opposes any action by Taiwan's leaders to declare their independence from China. Mr. Bush spoke at the White House during an official visit by China's Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.
The concern over Taiwan follows a decision by the country's leaders to hold a referendum in three months that could lead to greater calls for formal independence from China.
Meeting with the Chinese Prime Minister in the Oval Office, President Bush says neither country should try to change the nature of the relationship that has separated them since 1949. "We oppose any unilateral decision by either China or Taiwan to change the status quo. And the comments and actions made by the leader of Taiwan indicate that he may be willing to make decisions unilaterally that change the status quo which we oppose," he said.
China considers Taiwan an inseparable part of the country and has long vowed to use its military to prevent any attempt at independence. Prime Minister Wen says China wants a peaceful reunification with Taiwan.
He said Taiwanese leader Chen Shui-bian is purposefully misleading the people. "The Chinese government respects the desire of people in Taiwan for democracy, but we must point out that the attempts of Taiwan authorities, headed by Chen Shui-bian are only using democracy as an excuse and an attempt to resort to a defensive referendum to split Taiwan away from China. Such separatist activities are what the Chinese side can absolutely not accept and tolerate," he said.
Prime Minister Wen said China appreciates the U.S. position on Taiwan's planned referendum.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan would not respond to reports that the Bush Administration has asked Taipei to cancel the March vote, saying only that the country's leaders are "well aware" of the president's views.
Mr. Bush says the Chinese prime minister's visit reflects increasing ties of cooperation between the countries in fighting terrorism and trying to convince North Korea to give-up its nuclear weapons program. "We are partners in diplomacy working to meet the dangers of the 21st Century," he said.
President Bush says he is grateful for China's leadership in multi-lateral talks between North Korea, South Korea, Russia, Japan, China, and the United States. The president says stopping Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program is essential to a stable and peaceful Korean peninsula.
The prime minister's visit also includes talk of differences over currency rates, Tibet and human rights. Mr. Bush says discussing those differences openly is all part of healthy U.S./China relations. "The growing strength and maturity of our relationship allows us to discuss our differences, whether over economic issues, Taiwan, Tibet, or human rights and religious freedoms, in a spirit of mutual understanding and respect," he said.
The importance of this visit was reflected in the prime minister's White House welcome, which was more similar to ceremonies for a visiting head of state with a full honor guard on the South Lawn.
can't say I know all the reasons for this, but on the face of it I'm disappointed.
WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness -- That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Or not.
Some people want to whitewash the significance of this.
I support Bush, have greatly appreciated his adminsitration and believe in the principles he's expounded.
This is why this mistake is very important and must be talked about.
he undercuts our core reason for fighting the war on terror which is that we all deserve freedom and democracy.
We cannot say:
America will lead by defending liberty and justice because they are right and true and unchanging for all people everywhere. No nation owns these aspirations, and no nation is exempt from them.
and then add --- except for Taiwan -- they are exempt. And China. They don;t count either.
No amount of spin or misinformation can change the fact that Bush has done exaclty what Clinton did in Shanghai back in those dark days of Clinton rule.
This is the saddest post I have ever posted here and it pains me and makes me literally a bit naseous to see this happen and to point it out.
America will lead by defending liberty and justice, because they are right and true and unchanging for all people everywhere. No nation owns these aspirations, and no nation is exempt from them. George W. Bush
The Taiwan was formed by the fleeing Guomindang, or Nationalists, after the Gongchandang, or Communists, defeated them on the mainland. This is the continuing fight between the Republic of China, and the People's Republic of China.
It is not in anyone's interest to inflame the situation. China has their land, Taiwan has their island. So long as we are dedicated to keeping them apart by force, which Bush has already gone on the record and stated, there is no need to fuss when we try to keep the lid on the problem.
They are not being sold out or handed over to the PRC. We're just telling them to shut up. Since we could be dragged into fighting there, we have every right to tell them to shut up if we feel they are rocking the boat unnecessarily.
Standing by your friend in a barfight is one thing. Letting him pick a fight with the biggest guy in the room for no reason is another.
ye, even if your review were apt it does not have bearing on the bigger issue and indeed might even make it worse.
Is this at all different from what we said before -- that we don't support Taiwan's independence? Does this have anything to do with the recent disagreement over "do not support" and "oppose?" I get confused with diplomatic-speak.
President Bush's statement about opposing changes to the status quo doesn't necessarily mean the same as not supporting independence, does it? After all, the status quo in Taiwan is de facto independence.
puh-freeking-leeze. I wouldn't go so far so soon.
Our government, President Bush included, is obviously scared of China and their threat of war. They are clearly a superpower and our chief rival.
The Plymouth Colony was formed by the fleeing Puritans, or Non-Conformists , after the Church of England, or Mary and Elizabeth, defeated them on the mainland. This was the continuing fight between the Massachussetts Bay Colony, and the English.
Perhaps my knowledge is fualty.
Perhaps not.
I understand that most people on FR don't spend studying China, or have a lot of familiarity with the Chinese, so they're prone to miss the sublties of what is really going on.
You, on the other hand, are either being intentionally obtuse, or are a little too close to the subject to see the big picture.
The bigger issue is that we have bigger fish to fry, both in Asia and in the rest of the world. Taiwan is safe, China is out, and we are free to pursue more pressing problems. We don't need Taiwan pushing China's buttons, and then expecting us to ride to their rescue. If China tries to be a bully, we'll be there to smack them down. Otherwise, they should not abuse our willingness to back them us.
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