[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.

[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?

[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."

[CyberCowboy777]

Ping....

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

[adam_az]

WTF

The President is sending a message - we will sell you out at the first opportunity, and that supporting freedom and democracy is just talk.

He sends the same message to Israel.

[gooleyman]

I don't believe this crud from the N.Y. Crimes.

[Dog Gone]

Let me get this straight. You think it is a good idea today for Taiwan to provoke a Chinese attack?

Or is the Bush Administration suggesting that we don't really want to start that war just yet?

[Az Joe]

I don't guess that China wnats to invade Taiwan in at least the near or middle range future.

[DeuceTraveler]

This just says he advises Taiwan not to provoke China and a request to delay the referendum. It's just words to please the Chinese and not even harsh words that would keep a determined Taiwan from going for the referendum anyway.

[Steel Wolf]

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

This isn't the same thing. GW has no need to provoke China. So long as we do smart things, like pressure China to pressure North Korea, and help their economy, we strengthen the factions of their government that want reform. If we do dumb things like act menacing and start throwing our weight around, it will strengthen the hand of the military, who doesn't really care for democracy or reform.

Since we can beat them either way, it makes more sense to not fight at all. Taiwan stays free, we don't have to start another war, and China continues to inch towards becoming a modern, more 'civilized' nation.

[Spruce]

Handing Honk Kong and the Panama canal, plus selling cutting-edge missile tech to the ChiComs was a great idea.

[Quix]

I agree that we tend to kowtow too much to China.

I don't know that there were a lot of options for Bush short of a further racheting up toward full scale war with China.

Is now the time for that?

Do we really need that on top of Iraq and Afghanistan?

It seems to me Bush took the minimalist road in giving China's envoy SOMETHING to take home. But it was all mostly words.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

First Iran, then Korea, then...

[Remember_Salamis]

The key to North Asian security is a rearmed Japan. Although that srtikes fear into allof asia, let me console them: a rearmed Japan on an american leash is not a threat to them at all. On the contrary, Chinese policy towards the ASEAN member nation closely resembles the Japanese Empire's "Greater East Asian Co-prosperity sphere" than anything that Free Japan would do.

[holdmuhbeer]

we don't have the soldiers necessary right now to battle china folks. we've got enough going on already.