Weekly Standard: Bush Should Back Taiwan

NewsMax ^ | 12/19/03 | Limbacher

[goldstategop]

The people of Taiwan are entitled to decide their own future. I'd be ashamed of my own President if he stood in the way of their freedom to appease the ChiComs.

[sunryse]

As much as anyone hates to admit, we need China right now. I don't think Bush CHOSE China over Taiwan. If that were the case, we'd have let China march on them a long time ago. But right now, China is keeping North Korea in check and we can't afford to take on North Korea alone (or China for that matter, given they would probably jump on the bandwagon, like a pack of wild dogs on an injured animal) with our situation in Iraq. I'd dare to say once we get things under control there, then we can deal with Taiwan. But right now, Taiwan needs to back off the indepedant state thing. For NOW anyway. We all know China is wrong in this, but Taiwan counts on us to protect it. Lord knows it can't protect itself from China. But NOW is not the time, and if Taiwan gets froggy, it may see just how irrelevant it really is.

[risk]

BTTT!

Here's the article: Stand by Taiwan!

[sinkspur]

To avoid any misinterpretations of the President's present stand, Kagan and Kristol say that President Bush "needs to revert to his core principles and make clear that the United States supports Taiwanese democracy."

Of course the United States supports Taiwanese democracy. Taiwan is already democratic!

The people of Taiwan are entitled to decide their own future. I'd be ashamed of my own President if he stood in the way of their freedom to appease the ChiComs.

The problem is the timing. Chen wants to stir the pot while the US is tied up fighting terrorists in the Middle East, and China is helping keep North Korea in a bottle.

If Chen wants the US to back up Taiwan militarily, he'll have to wait until WE say so.

Kristol and Kagan are the reasons I don't subscribe to the Weekly Standard any longer; they're hot dogs who don't think things through.

[risk]

Your thinking is exactly what the Chinese are expecting. In fact, it may be what the axis of evil is all about.

[sinkspur]

Your thinking is exactly what the Chinese are expecting.

Maybe. But, the fact is, we're stretched thin, militarily. If China were intent on Taiwan, it could just move in, and we'd be in deep kimshee.

[risk]

So you're in favor of appeasing China because we're "busy" with the nuclear ambitions of the states they've been helping to arm?

[COEXERJ145]

I think Bush desiring for the status-quo to remain is more of a decision of necessity than kissing up to China. Right now it would be a disaster for the United States to have to defend Taiwan. Let China talk tough but they're not going to do anything as long as Taiwan doesn't declare Independence.

If Taiwan wants to declare independence, they should do so during the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing. The Chi-coms would be caught between a rock and a hard place. They really couldn't do anything with the entire world watching but they also couldn't let Taiwan get away.

[sinkspur]

So you're in favor of appeasing China because we're "busy" with the nuclear ambitions of the states they've been helping to arm?

No. But Taiwan is doing what it is doing to tweak China. Totally unnecessary.

[RLK]

Weekly Standard's Robert Kagan and William Kristol insisted that the U.S. must stand by Taiwan.

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It's not in the fundamental nature of Bush's personality to do it. It just isn't.

[RLK]

As much as anyone hates to admit, we need China right now.

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No we don't.

[Magnum44]

The people of Taiwan are entitled to decide their own future. I'd be ashamed of my own President if he stood in the way of their freedom to appease the ChiComs.

Yes, but not at US expense. There are those that believe that given assurance that the US would come to a fight to ensure the independence of Taiwan, regardless of who precipitated the conflict, that certain Taiwanese official would go ahead and declare Independence. That would be a trigger the PRC has clearly stated would lead to war.

Since our supporting Taiwan would cost American lives, our president certainly has the obligation to use every political means at his disposal to reduce the risk of war, even if it means offending the Taiwanese every once in a while.

[risk]

But we came across as censoring the free, democratic process in Taiwan. It was a faux pas. Last year, this is what the president had to say:

Today, these ideals are a lifeline to lonely defenders of liberty. And when openings arrive, we can encourage change—as we did in central and eastern Europe between 1989 and 1991, or in Belgrade in 2000.When we see democratic processes take hold among our friends in Taiwan or in the Republic of Korea, and see elected leaders replace generals in Latin America and Africa, we see examples of how authoritarian systems can evolve, marrying local history and traditions with the principles we all cherish.

Embodying lessons from our past and using the opportunity we have today, the national security strategy of the United States must start from these core beliefs and look outward for possibilities to expand liberty.

Democratic processes did take hold, and the Taiwanese became a bit exuberant about stating the obvious. We could have simply remained silent. Even when King Fadh came to the Bush ranch, we stated that we couldn't abandon Israel, our friends.

I think the error can be reversed, and may be in the coming weeks, but I can have no other response than regret.

[risk]

Neville Chamberlain would have agreed with you 100%.

[tallhappy]

As much as anyone hates to admit, we need China right now.

If so, we are lost.

[Steel Wolf]

If Taiwan wants to declare independence, they should do so during the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing. The Chi-coms would be caught between a rock and a hard place. They really couldn't do anything with the entire world watching but they also couldn't let Taiwan get away.

I like the way you think.

[risk]

You and I see this for what it is: the Chinese master strategy unfolding. We do not need to play along.

[AUH2OY2K]

"But Taiwan is doing what it is doing to Tweak China." Just as we "tweaked" the British back in 1776. Unjustified! /sarcasm.

[tallhappy]

The problem is the timing. Chen wants to stir the pot

It's not Chen, it is a true will of the populace and what is not known or understood is that these ideas are coming from China stirring the pot. China is always maneuvering behind the scenes to marginalize Taiwan at every level, even in international beauty contests and at important ones such as trade agreements between Taiwan and other countries.

Taiwan is responding reasonably. Bush should have told the Chinese to cool it.

Taiwan is treated incredibly unfairly and this treatment affects every day people in real ways. Of course they will stand up for themselves and this can surely not be considered "stirring the pot."