US to Taiwan: don't provoke China (So much for standing for freedom GW.)

UPI ^ | 12/8/03 | staff

[dinok]

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- The Bush administration Monday warned Taiwan not to hold a scheduled referendum that could fuel the island's independence movement.

The New York Times said the warning inserts the United States squarely into growing tension between China and Taiwan.

[dinok]

We go around the world telling people we are at war to support freedom, yet when the people in Taiwan want to excercise their freedom to vote for independance, we tell them not to "provoke" the dictatorship next door. Following that logoc, why didn't we tell Kuwait to stop provoking Iraq?

Its all about the cash deals the Chicoms have made with politicians of both parties. They owned Clinton...now we see where GW stands.

[joesnuffy]

Bought and paid for...the Chinese and the Saudis know how to control America

[Brilliant]

Maybe he's just trying to head off a war. Personally, I would rather not tangle with the Chinese on the battlefield.

[dwilli]

What can GWB do if China decides to invade Taiwan? It ain't
like We have any forces to deploy. The only option is the
Nuclear option.

[zook]

Most of my friends in Taiwan do not want this referendum. They do not want to make a declaration of independence at this time. They claim it will not help improve Taiwan's economy and will not have any positive impact on Taiwan at all.

[CasearianDaoist]

Any war with China would be a Nuclear War, and a devastating one at that.

[dinok]

What can GWB do if China decides to invade Taiwan?

Ok...you got me...let's surrender. If the Chicoms get their way in Taiwan, it will be Korea next.

Can you say APPEASEMENT?

[dinok]

"Bought and paid for...the Chinese and the Saudis know how to control America."

Ditto that.

[KriegerGeist]

"Bought and paid for...the Chinese and the Saudis know how to control America

This has U.S. Department of State written all over it and G.W.B. is going along with them...

Let's see now, thats chuck Israel and send support to the Palestinians, chuck Taiwan for the Chicoms, give Saudi Arabia and Syria a free pass for "helping" us and being helpful allies (thats 'all-lies) and forget about all their support for terrorism, then let's make nice to North Korea. And whatever we do, let us not support the independence movement in Iran or Lebanon...

All that should make Colin Powell and that den of vipers over at the State Dept. happy and make him a prime candidate for 2008

[Bombard]

Taiwan has been considered part of China for several hundred years. Now think if California was voting for independence, would the national government stand for something like that. I think not. The USA is committed to one China. What the USA is against is the mainland imposing a government on Taiwan. This referendum is a mistake and the Taiwanese government is playing with fire.

[Cicero]

This comes straight from the New York Times. Are we going to jump on board their propaganda wagon and believe their spin?

Clinton actually DID slightly change US policy toward Taiwan during his visit to Beijing. Early in his presidency Bush changed it back. I doubt if this statement is any different. The US has never said they would support a formal declaration of independence by Taiwan. This was a two-sided warning to both parties to cool it, which UPI and NYT have spun into something completely different.

It's very irresponsible, especially if not only conservatives but the Chinese take it seriously. But what does the NYT care about that, as long as they can damage Bush?

[camas]

this just what the rats want. they want to make GWB bring back the draft.
at present we can not fight two conventional wars with our present arm forces.

why not say that china is free to join taiwan if they like!!!

[witnesstothefall]

Are you proposing the United States pursue an escalatory policy in the Straits of Taiwan at the present time?

Or are you just taking cheap shots at a president already fighting two foreign wars and entering a tough election year?

Are you over 18?

[zook]

I think California is not a good analogy. Maybe Midway Island or Puerto Rico is. If they really wanted independence, I think we would eventually allow it. There's no question that China is too hypersensitive to this issue. Like a 4th grader fighting over who gets the root beer.
But I agree too that Taiwan is playing with fire. No sense in riling up the Chinese right now. No use in it at all.

[witnesstothefall]

Ditto that.

Please disregard my earlier queries. It's clear now where you get your expansive and nuanced geopolitical wisdom.

[dwilli]

What do you suggest doing? We clearly do not have the combat forces to support the Taiwanese.

Submarines are our only available offensive weapons. We don't have enough non-nuclear missiles to make a dent in the Chinese infantry.

I figure it's already the policy at the White House and Pentagon that Taiwan is pretty much been hung out to dry.

[MTR]

First the U.N. decided to not recognize Taiwan, followed by Jimmy Carter. That alone is enough to make me side with an independent Taiwan. But there is this little known document which pretty much says that Taiwan has the right to declare itself a free and independent State. Here is a quote from said document:

"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. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."

[hchutch]

This seems more like a "cool it" to both sides, I agree. Still, Taiwan must be allowed to decide its destiny for itself.

[CyberCowboy777]

Ping....

We just touched on this at the party....

[Steel Wolf]

Personally, I would rather not tangle with the Chinese on the battlefield.

What battlefield? They can't walk to Taiwan.

They also don't have anything resembling an effective navy. We'd sweep them off the board in no time. The Chinese have no chance of taking Taiwan if we get involved.