US may post Marines at office in Taiwan

Seattle Post-Intelligencer/AP ^ | 4/19/08 | DEBBy WU

[kiriath_jearim]

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The United States may post Marines at its unofficial embassy in Taiwan - a small but symbolically significant change in its delicate political relationship with the self-ruled island.

A State Department advertisement in the English-language Taipei Times newspaper called for contractors to construct quarters for Marine security guards at a new U.S. compound in the capital, Taipei.

Since the U.S. switched its recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, there have been no marine guards at its Taipei facility - the American Institute in Taiwan - in keeping with its deliberately low political profile.

It is customary for the U.S. to put marine guards in its embassies and consulates worldwide.

Taiwan and China split amid civil war in 1949. China continues to claim the island as its territory, and threatens to attack Taiwan if it seeks to make the break permanent.

Placing the guards at AIT - the de facto American Embassy on the island - would constitute another in a series of gradual steps in upgrading its status.

Staffers were originally required to sever their relations with the State Department and other U.S. government agencies before going to work at the facility. That requirement has been dropped.

In 2005 the U.S. began placing military attaches there, though to keep their profile low they were not allowed to wear uniforms.

An AIT spokesman had no immediate comment on the possible dispatch of the Marines to Taipei.

Political scientist Alexander Huang of Taipei's Tamkang University said if it goes through, sending the Marines would signify an improvement in bilateral relations.

"With the Marine guards in place, the U.S. would be treating its Taipei facility just like its other embassies and consulates despite the lack of diplomatic relations," Huang said.

China is likely to protest the move, Huang said, as "Beijing is very sensitive to diplomatic issues."

The new U.S. compound in Taipei is a part of a large-scale State Department overseas construction program. The facility, to be built in the city's Neihu district, will replace an aging downtown compound.

Despite its lack of diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Washington maintains a robust defense relationship with the island, selling it billions of dollars (euros) of arms annually, often to the ire of Beijing.

[Perdogg]

Taiwan ping!

[the_Watchman]

the U.S. switched its recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979

That would be Jimmy Carter's watch. It's interesting to note that the thread two older than this one is about Carter meeting with the Hamas leader in exile.

After 30 years, it would be nice if Carter would just stay home on his peanut farm. [Actually, it would have been nicer if he had never left his peanut farm.]

[PAR35]

Taiwan ping!

Or, for those who don't recognize Carter's act of betrayal of a loyal friend, 'Republic of China' ping.

[agrace]

Since the U.S. switched its recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979

And just why did we do that? Oh wait, Carter was president. And why didn't Reagan rescind that?

Taiwan and China split amid civil war in 1949.

Wouldn't it just be a little more accurate to say, Taiwan was Japanese-occupied til 1945, then Chinese-occupied for only several years til the Chinese civil war when 2 million opposition citizens fled there? And that China seems to think they own it because they filled a Japanese vacuum for barely any time at all?

China continues to claim the island as its territory, and threatens to attack Taiwan if it seeks to make the break permanent.

The height of arrogance, in my opinion. Really, maybe I have it wrong, but someone please explain to me how China has any real claim to Taiwan at all.

[Perdogg]

Taiwan is a nice place to visit and to do business. However, the Marines are going to be disappointed with the lack of adult entertainment there.;)

[cherokee1]

Remember a couple months ago when the Chicomz stopped one of our carrier groups from a port call in Singapore when the carrier was just offshore and many fleet family visitors were already dockside? The commies never explained why or even offered offered a polite “whoops.” Sounds to me like a very nice Bush/Rice/Gates tit-for-tat and this is one that will stick with the Chicoms way past the next election. Maybe Carter will show up to cut the ribbon on the new shower stalls. After he gets thru putting the wreath on Yassar’s grave. You gotta love it because Bush just a few days ago said he didn’t have to boycott the olympics to get a message to chairman HU.