Posted on 11/09/2004 4:04:14 AM PST by 4kevin
Results of a survey released Monday show that 70 percent of Taiwan's people consider the island an independent state, not a province of China. The private Taiwan Think Tank conducted a telephone poll of 1,076 adults Nov. 4-5, with a margin of error of 3 percent, the South China Morning Post reported Tuesday. More than 60 percent supported holding a referendum on Taiwan's sovereign status, as proposed by President Chen Shui-bian, despite the risk of provoking mainland leaders. Beijing insists Taiwan is a province of China, and has threatened a military strike if Taiwan formally declares independence. Should conflict with China arise, 40 percent believed the United States would support Taiwan; 42 percent said the United States would side with China over Taiwan, to protect its political and economic interests. In terms of ethnicity, the survey showed that 57.6 percent of the people considered themselves Taiwanese, 19.2 percent said they were both Taiwanese and Chinese, and only 14.3 percent identified themselves as Chinese.
Good news. They are gonna need this majority to assert freedom from tyranny.
It will be interesting to see whether Bush will support the free and democratic Taiwan or Communist China which is engaging in forced abortions, slavery, religious genocide, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Bush's decision will speak volumes about his character and his professed claim to be against tyranny
They need nukes.
Just like our forefathers these people what to be (remain) free. I say more power to them. We should offer all the support we can. The more outposts of freedom we have in that area the better.
That's when the Qing Dynasty lost Taiwan. Then there was 1927 Civil War that lasted for more than 20 years, then there was 'Sino-American War' in Korea. I say, let them sort it out amongst themselves. China's changed, and the political situation has changed a lot in that area. China is slowly (they tend to take a very long term view over there) transforming its economy and politics.
What we need to remember, they are transforming themselves for the Great China, not the greater China. There's no military threat from China now, and, hopefully, there won't ever be one.
We should sell them some nukes....
I'd bet they already have Nuke capability, probably purchased from Israel.
Doesn't seem very likely : missiles have to be tested (and so would have been detected), and their warplanes would be tied up in a defensive battle against the PLA Air Force, after having been lobbed missiles at by the thousands.
Plus, wouldn't that be in the best interest of Taiwan to publicly state that they have nukes so the deterrence tactics work ?
You would think they'd let the world know. They might have other reasons for keeping a lid on it, tho.
Well, they could keep the nukes "secret" like Isreal - don't publicly annouce them, to keep down the diplomatic issues down, but the security just loose enough that the PRC intelligence will know you have them.
Yes, I reckon they could do that - they'd still have to strongly hint at their having nukes, especially since Red China's plans of battle against Taiwan will probably heavily rely on surface-to-surface missiles, but it could be that way.
A clever idea, o Great Old One !
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