Posted on 03/14/2005 3:43:48 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
THE US today branded "unfortunate" China's adoption of a law giving its military the legal basis to attack Taiwan if the island moves towards independence.
"We view the adoption of the anti-secession law as unfortunate. It does not serve the purpose of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters. At the same time, he restated US support for the "one China" policy and warned that Washington "does not support Taiwan independence."
"We oppose any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo. We don't want to see any unilateral attempts that would increase tensions in the region," Mr McClellan said.
He did not spell out what Washington's response would be, but mentioned the Taiwan Relations Act, which established the US as a key ally of Taipei and laid the groundwork for Washington to sell weapons to Taiwan.
Mr McClellan spoke not long after China's parliament passed the legislation, which takes effect immediately, drawing an angry retort from Taipei which said it was an authorisation for war.
The National People's Congress passed the legislation as it closed its 10-day annual session, with an overwhelming majority of 2896 votes for the law and none against. Two delegates abstained.
Taiwan politicians burnt a Chinese flag and called for one million Taiwanese to rally in protest, while the United States and Japan voiced concern.
The text of the 10-article law, according to the official Xinhua news agency, calls for the use of "non-peaceful means and other necessary measures to protect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," if all else fails.
This will be necessary "in the event that the 'Taiwan independence' secessionist forces should act under any name or by any means to cause the fact of Taiwan's secession from China," the law said.
The law does not spell out what is meant by "non-peaceful means" but analysts believe it would cover anything from a naval blockade to surgical missile strikes and an all-out invasion.
"We believe it runs counter to recent progress in cross-strait relations. The law, as you are well aware, allows for non-peaceful means directed at Taiwan, and we oppose any attempts to determine the future of Taiwan by anything other than peaceful means," Mr McClellan said.
The Red Chinese leadership still hasn't heard that communism is dead.
Taiwan has grounds for a pre-emptive defensive strike.
Were I Lee Teng Hui I would make Taiwan a nuclear power by any and all means possible and make it clear to the filthy old men in Beijing that THEY are my one and only target.
China wants a war.
Trouble is the communist leadership would see losing a few million of its people as a bonus...
Recognize Taiwan en masse and send a strong message to the ChiComs that it is they who are out of step.
Gotta have them cheap Walmart products.
"Trouble is the communist leadership would see losing a few million of its people as a bonus..."
One death is a tragedy, a million deaths is just a statistic.
And in China it's only bad news if it happens to you.
I agree. Taiwan holds a sword over China's head. The Three Gorges Dam. Just like Isreal targeting Aswan High Dam for Egypt. Even a low yield nuclear bomb to the dam would cause a massive flood that would make even nuking the cities pale in comparison.
Actually most of the stuff at Wal-mart comes from the mainland. Stuff from Taiwan is marked as being from there. I try to buy from Taiwan just to stick a finger in China's eye.
'Evening Dasher.
Gidday Granny!
I'm glad you posted this. I get annoyed by this 'we are your friends and allies' and then 'we don't support a separate China (Taiwan)'. It makes my government look schizophrenic. Unfortunately I don't have any suggestions for this problem....
We could make it very clear we support a free and democratic Taiwan and tell China to mind its own business.
I'd be there. I've still got my knickers in a knot over all the stuff Mr. Clinton sold/gave the ChiComs.
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