Posted on 04/21/2006 3:18:06 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
In remarks certain to please visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Thursday told a gathering of Chinese-American business and cultural leaders in San Francisco that the United States has no obligation to defend Taiwan if it provokes China into a military confrontation.
Feinstein's comments came on a day when Hu and President Bush sat down together in Washington to discuss a range of issues -- including Taiwan, which China regards as the No. 1 issue in U.S.-China relations. Before his first U.S. visit this week, Hu urged Taiwanese leaders to resume talks with China and called actions toward independence a threat to the region.
``It is important to point out a common misconception -- nowhere does the TRA explicitly require the U.S. to go to war with the mainland over Taiwan,'' Feinstein said, referring to the Taiwan Relations Act, at the annual conference of the Committee of 100 in San Francisco. The group helps foster U.S.-China relations.
The act, passed by the U.S. Congress in 1979, is the foundation of U.S.-Taiwan relations. Some supporters of Taiwan assume the United States is legally bound to defend the island, but the United States' obligation to Taiwan has increasingly become a point of contention as Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian has promoted Taiwan independence. His provocations have irked the Bush administration and caused tensions in U.S.-Taiwan relations.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory. Since 1979, the United States has acknowledged China's ``one-China'' policy and recognizes Beijing as the legitimate government of all China.
Feinstein isn't the first U.S. official to assert that the United States isn't legally bound to defend Taiwan, but her comments are certain to cause ripples. Bush had pledged in 2001 that the ``U.S. will do whatever it takes to defend Taiwan.''
(Excerpt) Read more at kentucky.com ...
Soon to be re-elected Empress Senator DiChiFi has spoken,, and the Ca GOP whimpers about its current state of impotency as it does next to nothing to field a candidate.
Define "provokes" or is it a "living and breathing" definition? ;-)
One Communist to another...
coming from someone who won't even defend our own borders. I'm not surprised.
Your right, the republicans in california do not even try to field a good candidate to upset the Di fi, and one needs to remember a good bulk of her husbands wealth is with his investments in Communist China..
Feinstein should be bound and gagged.
Doesn't her husband have lots of $$ tied up in deals in the PRC?
Talk about undermining our position in Asia! But then again, if memory serves, Feinstein is heavily invested/influenced by Red China, no?
Ah, with "friends" like Diane, who needs enemas.
No doubt she felt this way about Vietnam too.
Or Japan or California.
I gag every time this fool Feinstein opens her mouth.
Richard Blum, Di's hubby, has done very well over the years, China deals notwithstanding. He sits on the Ca Board of Regents as well.
Then I hope that the Chinese there field and fund someone and then rouse up the people to oust her.
Red meat for Michael Savage.
What the hell is wrong with the USA? Why are both Republicans and Democrats doing the kowtow to the President of china like we are some kind of vassal state?
Sure is different that what I was taught all the way back to grade school.
How much of her opinion is influenced by her husband's foreign business deals?
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