Posted on 02/03/2006 6:26:50 AM PST by Theodore R.
U.S. caves to China, again
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: February 3, 2006 1:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com
I'm ashamed of my country today.
In 1776, the United States of America was formed in the name of independence. Our forefathers fought a gallant and war in the name of independence. They risked their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor in the name of independence.
But this week, the United States told the people of Taiwan, once again, to forget about independence.
Don't even talk about it, the State Department warned. You might enflame the passions of the totalitarians in Beijing who want to crush your free island nation and subjugate you as one more miserable province in their fascist nightmare-land of forced abortion, controlled speech, dictatorial rule and crushed dissent.
Taiwan's duly elected president, Chen Shui-bian, has suggested drafting a new constitution emphasizing the nation's independence and said he believes the country deserves a seat in the United Nations
For that he was firmly and rudely rebuked by Taiwan's so-called ally, the United States.
The State Department said the United States "does not support Taiwan's independence and opposes unilateral changes to the status quo by either Taiwan or Beijing."
"We're issuing this, in the wake of some comments by President Chen in Taiwan, that we don't want to be inflammatory or send the wrong signal," said spokesman Adam Erili. "We certainly weren't expecting it and we weren't consulted about it."
I've got a bulletin for the State Department and the Bush administration: The status quo is that Taiwan is a free and independent nation in every sense of the word – like it or not.
Why would the United States oppose independence for another nation? Why would the United States condemn another people for struggling for it? Why would the nation that made history by declaring independence from the greatest superpower at the time in the world denounce another people fighting for the same thing?
The answer, of course, is obvious. We don't want to rock China's boat.
Imagine if the French of the 18th century took a similar stance. Imagine if Lafayette didn't want to "be inflammatory or send the wrong signal." Imagine if our founders were as timid as the Bush administration about freedom.
Last summer, the brutes in Beijing threatened the United States with nuclear annihilation if we lifted a finger to defend Taiwan.
"If the Americans draw their missiles and position-guided ammunition onto the target zone on China's territory, I think we will have to respond with nuclear weapons," said Maj. Gen. Zhu Chenghu. "If the Americans are determined to interfere ... we will be determined to respond. We Chinese will prepare ourselves for the destruction of all of the cities east of Xian. Of course, the Americans will have to be prepared that hundreds ... of cities will be destroyed by the Chinese."
What did Bush say or do in response to this threat?
Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
That's real courage, huh? That lack of spine is the very thing that will eventually, inevitably, lead us into war with China.
Long ago, the United States embarked on a wrong-headed, immoral policy of appeasement of China, adopting as its own official position Beijing's claim to Taiwan as part of China. It is not. It never has been in the history of the world. When China or anyone else talks about "reunification" with Taiwan, it is misleading itself and the world. Taiwan was not part of China when the communist revolution took place, and it has not been since.
Taiwan is an independent, free and prosperous nation that wants no part of "unification" with a closed, totalitarian government. It was a tragic error for the United States to say it will not recognize Taiwan as an independent, sovereign nation. It is by every definition. Even if Taiwan had been, as the Chinese view it, a breakaway province of China, it would have every moral and legal right to live as a free and independent nation. But that is not the case.
It's long past time for the U.S. government to recognize China is an expansionist threat to peace in Asia. It's long past time for the United States to recognize it is only a matter of time before China embarks on its military plan of conquest of peaceful Taiwan. It's long past time for the United States to recognize that giving China mixed signals on this issue will have the unintended consequence of making armed conflict with China more likely – not less.
this gives new meaning to "most favored bation", doesn't it?
I would close our ports to everything Chinese, immediately!
The communists in this country are already ballistic over fighting a bunch of dirty, rag-tag head-bangers that are killing Americans all around the globe on a regular basis. Look how much hate, discontent, and internal strife they are creating over the stupid muslims. What do you think would happen if we got into it with the ChiComs over Taiwan?
Until the people in this country rediscover the true American ideology of freedom and self-determination as opposed to living a comfortable spoiled life, we're screwed.
Remember, in the modern age it's all about me, me, me, me, me.
Heck, if I were the Taiwanese President, I'd build them and then go public and state that since "we're just a part of China anyway" that the nonproliferation treaty doesn't apply to us.
We won't tangle with China. If we do, they'll stop buying our debt, and then we might have to reduce the size of government. Watch, they'll be selling nuclear bombs to terrorists, and our leaders will still be smiling and shaking hands with them.
Even though we worry about their subs and Taiwan, China is still a most favored nation.
It just means that $$ trumps everything else.
imo
Nothing will be done about China -- why? Because it effects our economy too much. Bush, and Washington, would rather see Taiwan go under, which would be gross hypocrisy relative to our stance on freedom, etc., than to risk the POLITICS of a temporary downside in our economy.
Again, the POLITICS OF WASHINGTON trump what is truly right for the people. More rampant HYPOCRISY from Washington.
Well, in this environment, how many guys want to defend Taiwan to death? Try convincing Joe to sacrifice himself against them.
Did you see us protest the Olympics when China was selected? Or now at all? Like we did against Moscow?
I'm guessing that any administration would rather see Taiwan go under, than to risk a downside to the economy...they all want to either get elected, or re-elected.
That's very true. On the other hand, W is on record as saying "We will do whatever it takes to defend the independence of Taiwan." He has, to my knowledge, never withdrawn from that sentiment. And, I believe, the Chinese believe him.
He didn't say that, he said "We will do whatever it takes to defend Taiwan", which is a stupid statement because what happens next is that the Taiwan president thinks US will defend it, and hence, moves towards independence and causing all the tensions. Chen shuibian's goal is: "We'll declare independence, and YOU Americans will send us your sons to die for us".
The Taiwan Relations Act doesn't require the US to send military forces to taiwan, only that it has to "assist" Taiwan. It gives a lot of leeway for the president.
What happened back in 1980 was the boycott of the Moscow Olympics. The reason for the boycott was the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. There aren't any Chinese troops in Taiwan. Totally different situations. We should support the Olympics in Beijing.
It's an outdated term that is not used in political circles anymore. The more accurate term is Normal Trade Relations (NTR), which China has been granted. They are not favored over anyone else.
Hey just ask anyone here, it's just capitalism at work.
I'm being totally sarcastic by the way.
I guess it's easier to accept if it's considered normal.
Why would you want to do that? Taiwan is the one adding to the rhetoric. Besides, the reality is, China is encouraging US ports to expand capacity so that they can accomodate more Chinese imports.
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