US Navy ‘invited’ to go to Taiwan and ‘have fun’ after Beijing bans port visits to Hong Kong

South China Morning Post ^ | 12/03/2019 | Sarah Zheng

[SeekAndFind]

Beijing’s decision to suspend US military port calls in Hong Kong has been greeted with a degree of derision in Taiwan, with many suggesting that the Americans would be welcome to come to the island instead.

Although the United States is unlikely to risk angering Beijing further by sending warships on a port call to the self-ruled island, many Taiwanese internet users said the southern port city of Kaoshiung would “win big” if the Americans did decide to visit.

One comment on the PTT terminal bulletin board system joked those visits would happen only when “US-China [trade] talks fall apart or reach a standstill”. A Taiwanese blogger wrote on Facebook that such a move could “stimulate spending in Kaoshiung by US naval officers and elevate Kaoshiung’s skills in naval vessel repairs”.

Chen Fang-yu, a former visiting fellow at the Global Taiwan Institute, joked to more than 19,000 followers on Facebook that the US military should come to Taiwan to“have fun”.

As a further incentive, he pointed to comments by Matthew O’Connor, the head of the Taiwan branch of the American Institute in Taiwan, a de facto consulate, praising Kaohsiung’s stewed meat rice as “tastier than Taipei’s”.

Although Washington does not have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, it has supported the island unofficially including through arms sales, joint military training programmes and high-level exchanges.

Beijing considers self-governed Taiwan as part of its territory, and expressed “solemn concerns” to Washington last October after a US Navy research ship docked at Kaohsiung for the fourth time for refuelling and crew changes.

On Monday it announced it would suspend visits by US vessels and aircraft to Hong Kong, in direct response to the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act being signed into law by US President Donald Trump.

[SeekAndFind]

Well, since we’re talking about Taiwan, not the Philippines, I am glad to inform you that Prostitution in Taiwan is illegal except in special zones, but no “special zones” have been opened. I don’t think the port of call in Kaoshiung is going to make this place a special zone.

[60Gunner]

Send them to Taipei. AWESOME city, and the Taiwanese are among the most welcoming, charming, and giving people I have ever met.

[SeekAndFind]

Yes, and the efficiency and cleanliness of their Subway and
Bus system puts New York and any other American city to shame.

Signs and annoncements are in both Chinese and English.

[AF_Blue]

Although the United States is unlikely to risk angering Beijing further by sending warships on a port call to the self-ruled island,...

Sarah must not have read President Trump’s latest book, “The Art of the Troll”.

I believe now is a perfect time to have a port call at a Taiwanese city.

[JimRed]

Who is China to dictate where US ships can and cannot go?

Hong Kong is Chinese territory. Like we can deny visits to US ports by Chinese warships, they can deny us the same.

[Leaning Right]

> Hong Kong is Chinese territory. <

Yep. My fault for not being more precise. I meant China has no right to say that US warships should not visit Taiwan.