Posted on 03/05/2007 5:42:48 AM PST by em2vn
Taiwan needs to "go independent" and Taiwan was the best name for the country to use in seeking entry to the UN, President Chen Shui-bian said last night. "Taiwan will say yes to independence," he said. "Taiwan will be correctly named, Taiwan will have a new constitution, Taiwan will develop. There is no left-right political axis in Taiwan, just the question of independence or assimilation."
"The name `Taiwan' is the name of our mother," the president told a 25th anniversary dinner for Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) in Taipei. "[It's] the most beautiful, most powerful name; the best name for us to [use to] enter the United Nations."
"Taiwan needs a new constitution in order to become a normal, complete country," he said. "The continual existence of Taiwan is beneficial to the citizenry, Taiwanese businesspeople and democratic groups. We can only ensure cross-straits peacefulness by implementing democracy, fostering economic prosperity and taking care of the marginalized."
When reporters asked pan-blue officials to comment on Chen's speech, the response from the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the People First Party (PFP) was critical.
"Chen's speech was an attempt to suppress former president Lee Tung-hui's recent remarks that Taiwan is already independent," said Chang Jung-kung,executive director of the KMT's policy coordination department, at a separate event last night.
"It was also an attempt to provoke China when it comes to the issue of cross-straits relations," Chang said. "He is trying to use his `four yesses and one no' to make waves in Taiwanese politics and draw attention away from the corruption that occurred during his administration."
Chang said that China would not be so easily provoked and the US would step in to curb Chen if he goes too far.
(Excerpt) Read more at taipeitimes.com ...
Looks like it
Make that "China fury at Chen's Taiwan call"
The only way out for both countries is for Taiwan to offer cash for the island and for China to accept. That way China doesn't lose any face and Taiwan gets what it wants.
Taiwan should go for it right before the Olympics.
Although the Chinese do seem to have a money-oriented culture, offering to pay for the island doesn't seem to be a feasible option.
12 whole comments over an annoucnement that could lead to war with China, and 22k on a thread about Anna Nicole Smith. Some days I wish I hadn't got out of bed.
That's the most absurd idea I've ever heard.
Why not?
Seems like a great option to me and in the spirit of China's economic reforms.
* Taipei: Chen Shui Bian announces the need for Taiwan to seek membership at the U.N. as an independent nation, and renounce their links to China. A dangerous move almost certainly telegraphed to Beijing and Washington in advance.
* Pyongyang: Hu Jintao delivers a message in person to Kim Jong Il at the Chinese embassy. An unusually direct move on the part of China.
Folks, something is going on here. A high level poker game that we're starting to see the edges of. With 2008 looming as a hard time, for a number of reasons, we're entering into a hazardous stretch of months.
About as absurd as leasing Hong Kong for 99 years. That never worked out, did it?
Well the threads only minutes old...
I missed the ANS threads - And I'm glad... There's really a thread with 22k posts???
But when it's all typed and done (akin to said and done), it just boils down to what individual freepers find interesting. They can't (nor should they) be made to read threads that they don't want to read.
The PRC has made it explicitly clear that it considers Taiwan a part (an integral part) of China. For that alone, the option of a payout seems (seems) off the table.
The new book on Mao says that Kissinger, upon visiting China the first time, offered to give away Taiwan and take all our troops out of Korea.
Looks as though this thread is getting a decent amount of comments so far.
Just the opposite. Paying for the island is an admission that the island belongs to China. Accepting payment allows both parties to back away from conflict.
In any event it's much better than a war.
The PRC would lose face if it had to buy what they consider their own territory. They'd rather blow it off the map then do such a thing.
And Taiwan wants to not be under communist rule. Selling themselves into slavery isn't exactly what they have in mind.
apples | oranges
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