Bush Sends Stern Warning to Taiwan over Independence Moves

VOA News ^ | 12-9-03 | Scott Stearns

[tallhappy]

Bush Sends Stern Warning to Taiwan over Independence Moves

Scott Stearns

White House

09 Dec 2003, 17:25 UTC

 

AP

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.

[Tai_Chung]

"We oppose any unilateral decision by either China or Taiwan to change the status quo.

The status quo has changed and there is no turning back.

• China has hundreds of missiles pointed at Taiwan and continues to add more.
• Taiwan has matured into a democracy which fostered the first peaceful transfer of power in a Chinese country.
• China threatened war to an attempt to stop free elections in Taiwan.
• Taiwan has lost most of their diplomatic allies and will likely lose more.
• The US policy toward "independence" for Taiwan has been "we do not support" rather than "we oppose". We were trying to take a neutral middle-ground. Taiwan does not believe they can win a military conflict against China. US statements against Taiwan has always shaken Taiwan's confidence.

  I understand the need to play politics on the international stage, but I do not support any policy that discourages elections/referendums in a free society.

[antiRepublicrat]

Would you be happy if 200-odd years ago we'd just driven the Brits off our land but never actually declared independence? Knowing they are not formally an independent nation without normalized diplomatic ties with the world and the U.N. must be quite irritating to the Taiwanese.

[ThinkDifferent]

Taiwan is already, for practical purposes, an independent democratic republic.

Exactly. If the tyrants in Beijing want to pretend otherwise so they can save face, it doesn't really matter.

[Steel Wolf]

They are also consistent with the idea we provoked the 911 attacks by support for Israel, troops in Saudi Arabia etc...

No, they are not.

The PRC leadership inhereted a sixty year struggle with Taiwan. Since their grasp on power is waning, they cannot afford to be openly embarassed by Taiwan. So, when Taiwan acts in a manner that could destabilize the PRC, it puts in jeopardy everything the U.S. is trying to accomplish, in North Korea, in China, and in the region.

Taiwan is rich, free and not ruled by Communists, so they win. The PRC is blocked from taking over 'their own land' by the U.S., which is a continuing source of embarassment for their government, so they lose.

What that has to do with Bin Laden and 9/11 is beyond me.

[ThinkDifferent]

Knowing they are not formally an independent nation without normalized diplomatic ties with the world and the U.N.

True, although one thing we've learned over the past year is that "diplomatic ties" with the UN are highly overrated, unless you're a socialist and/or terrorist.

[Tai_Chung]

The people on Taiwan and the people on the mainland both think of themselves as Zhongguoren, or Chinese. They both want to be part of China

For the KMT leaders, this statement is true. However, most of the population did not migrate to Taiwan at the end of the Civil War. The native population is in power and is trying to change the national language from Mandarin to Taiwanese. They don't want to be called Chinese, but Taiwanese. They want a different national flag and passport. They have no desire for "reunification".

[tallhappy]

So what do you suggest? A hardline policy that will force possible...

There was no reason to change from standard boilerplate of "3 communiques" "Taiwan Relations Act". Bush went much further and even openly colluded to publicly criticize the President of Taiwan with the Premier of China.

That is the troublesome part. Not that he didn't get in the ChiCom's faces.

[philosofy123]

We have already said to the world that might makes right. We started unilaterlism, and we cannot tell other big powers not to take things in their own hands?

[Steel Wolf]

For the KMT leaders, this statement is true. However, most of the population did not migrate to Taiwan at the end of the Civil War.

You're right, of course, the native Taiwanese are still like 80% of the population, and they speak Min or Hakka or something. Once you start getting into all of the subplots, it gets very confusing. Perhaps the Japanese would like to raise a claim over Taiwan?

Regardless of their history, there is the present to consider. Were it not for the North Korean problem, I'd be all for Taiwan having a referendum, plenary session, shindig, hoedown, hootenanny, showdown, or an out and out revolutionary war.

As it is, their timing sucks. That's the problem. Bad timing. Bush correctly analysed the problem, and has taken steps to defuse it. No one is talking about throwing Taiwan to the wolves, that's just paranoid Bush bashing.

[antiRepublicrat]

True, although one thing we've learned over the past year is that "diplomatic ties" with the UN are highly overrated, unless you're a socialist and/or terrorist.

Understood, but to know that a communist dictatorship has a voice in the U.N., even a Security Council veto, while they have none shows how little our appreciation for democracy goes.

[Gunslingr3]

At any rate, yes, it is a civil war. Taiwan is not a renegade province, it's the vestiage of the old mainland government that was defeated by the Communists. They lost, and headed a government in exile on Taiwan.

Chiang kai-shek is dead. If the free people of Taiwan declare in a referendum that they want independence that is their right, unless you disagree with the spirit and letter of the Declaration of Indepedence.

[smalltown]

Bush is doing what he has to do. He's simply trying to prevent Taiwan from forcing the issue to the point of a war which would be disasterous for all, and unnecessary because, as others have said, Taiwan is free despite the empty threats from the PRC.
From what I have seen of President Bush, he takes this pragmatic position with a great deal of distaste.
One point of clarification, the criticism of Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian is by the PRC's Premier Wan, not by Bush. This particulat article is unclear but others show that the quote about "misleading" was by Wan.

[squidly]

No change from our Taiwan policy of the last half century.

[Arthalion]

Our government, President Bush included, is obviously scared of China and their threat of war. They are clearly a superpower and our chief rival.

Which makes Bush's performance all the more pathetic. Never in history has the U.S. publically cowed before dictators or superpowers, sacrificing what's RIGHT for what's economically feasible or peaceful. We stood up to England, Spain, Germany, the USSR, and others, even when it put us in grave peril, because America supports freedom, no matter what the cost. Bush may be adept at mouthing the words, but he essentially just told a free and democratic nation to "shut up and sit down" simply because they don't want to be swallowed up by a domineering communist nation? Is this what the American Way is being reduced to?

This isn't going to make me popular among the BushBots, but what in the hell have we REALLY gained during this presidency? Two botched occupations? The systematic dismantling of our nations economic backbone? The infringement of our civil liberties in the name of "national security"? The promised continued denial of our second amendment rights? The abandonment of our traditional world role as the protectors of democracy? The ONLY redeeming quality that I can find in Bush is his Christianity, and I question even that. A man who walks in the footsteps of Jesus while handing his nation to Satan is no more Christian than the Islamist murderers he claims to be fighting. I made the mistake of voting for Bush the first time around, but I think I'm going to sit the next one out.

I REALLY hope the Taiwanese tell Bush where to shove it...there's simply no excuse for this kind of behavior from an American President.

[Arthalion]

He's simply trying to prevent Taiwan from forcing the issue to the point of a war which would be disasterous for all, and unnecessary because, as others have said, Taiwan is free despite the empty threats from the PRC.

Umm....OK. You're essentially saying that Taiwan is free as long as they don't try to exercise their freedom. Since China won't attack them if they comply with China's wishes, they aren't really being oppressed? By that logic, all of the people of Iraq were truly free and prosperous under Hussein. After all...he only beat and tortured them if they refused to do what he said. If they complied with his wishes, they were free to do whatever he wanted.

That's a pretty twisted view of freedom.

[ought-six]

Oooops, Bush just gave the ChiComs the green light to smack around Taiwan.

[ChinaThreat]

We have made a deal with the Chi Comms to stop our heavy support for Taiwan in exchange for keeping the North Korean's in check. Of course this has not been made public and will not be for years probably. A pretty good deal all together in my opinion since we don't really have much choice and the North Korean's are insane and nuclearly insane at that. I hate selling the the Taiwaneese down the river but its only a matter of time and not worth WWIII. It is truly in America's best interest.

[desertcry]

Yes, indeed, let's discuss this issue. My views: (1)It has been the policy of all previous administration to maintain the status quo on Taiwan and that is keep Taiwan Free and Democratic. (2) What W has done is precisely that, and avoid goading China to invade Taiwan. (2) Bush wants to focus the attention of China on the North Korean nuclear development and deployment. W wants to give China a virtual carrot by discouraging Taiwan to push for a formal independence, which they already have, in practice. All this is OCMHO, I trust President bush to do the right thing,
thus far I have not been disappointed. The President is not perfect, but on balance he has done a very good job.

[Merdoug]

EXACTLY right. Bush always thinks of big-business first; even over the country. I can't wait to read how the Bushbots defend this,....but they will.

[verity]

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.

Well put! However, some folks are simply blind to the obvious!