China Authorizes Attack on Taiwan; Warns U.S.

cnn.netscape.cnn.com ^ | March 08 2005 | ELAINE KURTENBACH

[crushelits]

China Steps Up Pressure on Taiwan
BEIJING (AP) - China unveiled a law Tuesday authorizing an attack if Taiwan moves toward formal independence, increasing pressure on the self-ruled island while warning other countries not to interfere. Taiwan denounced the legislation as a ``blank check to invade'' and announced war games aimed at repelling an attack.

The proposed anti-secession law, read out for the first time before the ceremonial National People's Congress, doesn't say what specific actions might invite a Chinese attack.

``If possibilities for a peaceful reunification should be completely exhausted, the state shall employ nonpeaceful means and other necessary measures to protect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity,'' Wang Zhaoguo, deputy chairman of the NPC's Standing Committee, told the nearly 3,000 legislators gathered in the Great Hall of the People.

Beijing claims Taiwan, split from China since 1949, as part of its territory. The communist mainland repeatedly has threatened to invade if Taiwan tries to make its independence permanent, and new law doesn't impose any new conditions or make new threats. But it lays out for the first time legal requirements for military action.

Taiwan's leaders warned that the move could backfire by angering the island's voting public.
Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, which handles the island's China policy, said the law gives China's military ``a blank check to invade Taiwan'' and ``exposed the Chinese communists' attempt to use force to annex Taiwan and to be a regional power.''

[BladeLWS]

Would not be surprised if a battle group is setting sail for those waters right now...

[bikepacker67]

Interesting juxtaposition between China's saber rattling and John Bolton's nomination.

I think the "Captain Kangaroo lookalike with an attitude" is gonna come out on the winning side.

[crushelits]

Wouldn't our armed forces be spreading too thin?

[Monti Cello]

Yeah, who hit the fast-forward button on the VCR of history?

[appalachian_dweller]

China needs our money. We need their cheap goods. Right now I don't see this coming to blows.

Can anyone else expand on this thought?

[Cicero]

This can't be allowed to go unanswered.

I hate it when the Chinese pull these stunts. Thanks to clinton, China is a far greater threat than earlier. But it's also dangerous to let them develop the illusion that we are a paper tiger.

[bikepacker67]

Yeah, who hit the fast-forward button on the VCR of history?

Ohh, we use DVD's now. We can skip forward with nary delay.

[BerniesFriend]

This is just plain baloney..china has had several chances for the past 56 years to attack taiwan..and they have no plans now..especially with this President in office..it is just sabre rattling which will be forgotten shortly..

[yooper]

Bring it on, you communist chain-smoking dwarfs.

I'd advise all here to dump their Wal-Mart stock ASAP.

[PhilDragoo]

B-2 Spirits to Guam this week.

[Honcho]

Wouldn't our armed forces be spreading too thin

Any fight over Taiwan would be a Naval engagement, which we have plenty of. Defense of the island would be carried out by Taiwan troops.

[Finalapproach29er]

Bring it on, you communist chain-smoking dwarfs.
---
The old Buchanan line. You forgot pajama-wearing. :)

[Brilliant]

Why on earth would any sane CEO invest in China?

[Robe]

Sell Taiwan 3 of our soon to be retired FULLY, and I mean FULLY, equipped SSBN's

[meatloaf]

Is there some other place for a half dozen carrier groups to go?

[familyop]

Yep. ...and carrier groups probably still out all over the place.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1357652/posts

B-2 bombers headed to Guam (first time ever)

Stars and Stripes ^ | March 1

Posted on 03/07/2005 6:47:24 AM PST by Truth666

U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit bombers left Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., Friday en route to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, as part of an Air Expeditionary Force deployment, according to a Pacific Air Forces news release.

The release did not specify the number of B-2s deploying to Guam. The AEF deployments to Guam began in February 2004.

[traviskicks]

China needs our money. We need their cheap goods. Right now I don't see this coming to blows.

Can anyone else expand on this thought?
---

How's this:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1285398/posts?page=192#192


and this:
http://www.neoperspectives.com/terrorism.htm

It has been argued that the United States is the world's best policemen because our citizens own many things of value in countries across the world. Likewise, multitudes of citizens from many, many countries across the world own things of value in the United States (such as businesses that employ our citizens). Therefore, as the wealthiest country in the world, we have the most interest in seeing the world stay free, peaceful, and prosperous in order to protect and increase our own wealth and prosperity. For the United States, a win for us is a win for the world (and vice versa). In the same sense, China's shift from a Communist regime to a Capitalist regime has greatly reduced the threat it poses to it's neighbors. Any hostile actions by the Chinese against, say, Taiwan, would devastate it's economy. Chinese businessmen and workers, the former of which are becoming increasingly influential in the Communist party, would howl and possibly revolt. Chinese aggression is a loosing strategy for China and a loosing situation for the world. In contrast, a hostile action by Saddam Hussein against Kuwait is a win for him and a loss for the world. Socialistic countries are not held back from aggression by business/economic pressures; they see only external prizes that can be easily claimed by 'the state'. It's citizens don't raise a fuss about the need to protect their property because the citizens don't own anything (or very little)! Of course, the term 'Socialistic' as I am using it here does not apply to the Socialistic Scandinavian countries, which consist of private industry (with internal and external foreign investments) burdened by high taxes and regulations. In Arab Socialistic countries there may be some areas of relatively low taxes, but there is little private industry.

[DannyTN]

"Why on earth would any sane CEO invest in China?"

Because if you don't then your company ceases to be competitive. Somebody else will and will be able to undercut your prices. So you have to. You have to maximize profits when you are a CEO.

You can not put the interests of the country first. Public policy has got to set the rules. As long as public policy allows any CEO to invest in China and take advantage of almost free labor, then no CEO can ignore China.

The only way to stop the drain is government regulation, or tarriffs.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #11

And 3 Aegis cruisers in Japan (against N. Korea) U.S. and Japan jointly declared interest in Taiwan security. Japanese are hinting that they can go nuclear in 90 days, if they want.(A well-known Japanese business commentator said to S. Korean major daily.)

The game in E. Asia is heating up.