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Why Beijing Thinks Taiwan Is Different From Ukraine
South China Morning Post ^ | 10 Mar, 2022 | Minnie Chan

Posted on 03/10/2022 1:49:43 PM PST by nickcarraway

Russia’s full-scale attack on Ukraine – justified by Moscow as a response to its neighbour’s tilt to the West and Nato – has many pondering whether Beijing would follow suit in Taiwan.

Beijing has long felt that Washington is using the self-ruled island as part of a strategy to undermine and contain its rival – accusing the US of disrespecting its sovereignty by backing the Taiwanese pro-independence camp.

Beijing regards the island as part of its territory, which it intends to recover by force if necessary, and “Today Ukraine, Tomorrow Taiwan” quickly emerged as a Taiwanese catchphrase after the Russian invasion began late last month.

But analysts said there were clear differences between the two – with sovereignty as the key reason why Beijing’s intentions in Taiwan were largely different from Russia’s invasion of its East European neighbour.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi used his annual press conference on Monday to underline that the situations in Taiwan and Ukraine were not comparable – the former was an entirely internal matter, while the latter a conflict between two countries.

Washington was concerned enough about the similarities to send a high-profile delegation of former security officials to Taiwan, immediately after the Russian invasion.

Without referring directly to the whirlwind visit, led by former chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff Michael Mullen, Wang said the US was pushing the self-ruled island into a dangerous situation. He also stressed the need for the two powers to get along well and avoid confrontation.

Taiwan’s situation is a result of the civil war between the Chinese Communist Party and the Kuomintang, which was finally suspended in 1949 with the establishment of the People’s Republic of China.

It was not until 1979 that Washington cut formal ties with KMT-held Taipei and switched official diplomatic relations

(Excerpt) Read more at scmp.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: beijing; taiwan; ukraine
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1 posted on 03/10/2022 1:49:43 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

The other, unmentioned difference is capability.

China is not capable of occupying Taiwan.

They can destroy it, but they can’t take it.


2 posted on 03/10/2022 1:55:32 PM PST by Mariner (War criminal #18 )
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To: nickcarraway

I tend to regard China as being part of Taiwan’s territory. The communists are the illegitimate usurpers who would never have taken over without the help of Democrats in America.


3 posted on 03/10/2022 1:57:31 PM PST by Telepathic Intruder (Democracy is two dead Democrats and a Republican voting who's brains are for dinner.)
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To: nickcarraway

China cannot afford to have many young men die in a war when they are facing a very serious demographic crisis. Also, we do not fully know what the pandemic did to their population and country and society as a whole, it is likely that very bad.


4 posted on 03/10/2022 1:59:40 PM PST by OttawaFreeper ("The Gardens was founded by men-sportsmen-who fought for their country" Conn Smythe, 1966 )
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To: nickcarraway

ummm, iirc the legitimate elected government fled to Taiwan during the war and you commie bustards took over


5 posted on 03/10/2022 2:00:06 PM PST by Chode (there is no fall back position, there's no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. #FJB)
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To: Mariner

People say Russia cannot occupy the Ukraine.


6 posted on 03/10/2022 2:02:07 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: Mariner

“They can destroy it, but they can’t take it.”

I agree. Taiwan has a decent military, and China has to cross a hundred miles of ocean. And China does have that dam just sitting there. If the Chinese decide to utterly destroy Taiwan, the dam will go too, and China is over.

Although China can incinerate Taiwan, that defeats their objective. They want Taiwan intact, and will probably bide their time and buy off its politicians like they have bought off American politicians.


7 posted on 03/10/2022 2:02:52 PM PST by odawg
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To: Telepathic Intruder

“I tend to regard China as being part of Taiwan’s territory. “

I had to read that three times to REALLY read it.

I wonder how many other freepers read it and transpose the names ?


8 posted on 03/10/2022 2:03:02 PM PST by George from New England
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To: OttawaFreeper
China cannot afford to have many young men die in a war when they are facing a very serious demographic crisis.

Do you mean the opposite? Many say China has too many expendable men.

Also, we do not fully know what the pandemic did to their population and country and society as a whole, it is likely that very bad.

True.

9 posted on 03/10/2022 2:03:13 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: George from New England

Well that’s their problem :)


10 posted on 03/10/2022 2:06:42 PM PST by Telepathic Intruder (Democracy is two dead Democrats and a Republican voting who's brains are for dinner.)
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To: Telepathic Intruder

Exactly. One China, the Republic Of China!


11 posted on 03/10/2022 2:08:20 PM PST by Dead Dog
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To: nickcarraway
An important factor has to be whether or not there is movement by Taiwan that would make the current situation untenable to China.

Putin felt as though Ukraine was moving further away from Russian influence, so he acted. I'm not sure that a similar situation exists between Taiwan and China. It seems as though the two entities could probably accept the current status in perpetuity.

12 posted on 03/10/2022 2:09:03 PM PST by Repealthe17thAmendment
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To: Telepathic Intruder

I tend to regard China as being part of Taiwan’s territory.


The Republic of China feels or at least used to feel that way. Maps of the mainland were not labeled as PRC but rather as a part of China no longer under the legitimate government’s control.


13 posted on 03/10/2022 2:12:43 PM PST by hanamizu
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To: nickcarraway

I thought China was supposed to invade Taiwan at the same time Russia attacked Ukraine. It was predicted here. Did they not get the memo?


14 posted on 03/10/2022 2:14:16 PM PST by McGruff (“A lie can travel around the world and back again while the truth is lacing up its boots.")
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To: Repealthe17thAmendment
Putin felt as though Ukraine was moving further away from Russian influence, so he acted.

That's one explanation, not necessarily the only one. Putin's globalist cronies had reasons to push him to do it.

I'm not sure that a similar situation exists between Taiwan and China. It seems as though the two entities could probably accept the current status in perpetuity.

Well, China has become increasingly belligerent about Taiwan in the last slightly over a year. How do you explain that? Even witness Chinese property Henry Kissinger's statements.

15 posted on 03/10/2022 2:14:34 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: McGruff

“I thought China was supposed to invade Taiwan at the same time Russia attacked Ukraine. It was predicted here. Did they not get the memo?”

I did the memo and you got it wrong.

“China was supposed to invade Taiwan soon after the Beijing Masked Olympics ended. It was predicted here. Did they not get the memo?”

Do You Got It Now ?


16 posted on 03/10/2022 2:20:15 PM PST by George from New England
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To: nickcarraway
Hi.

Formosa is an island off China's east coast..

Has China in the last 500 years conducted a successful invasion on an island 120 miles away? Or anywhere else?

If Xi wants to invade Taiwan, he has to realize the battle space and order of battle.

The battle space is now everywhere. Media, internet, space, land, sea, air and other ways to kill.

The order of battle? Spies, sabotage, airborne, beach assault who knows?

Does anyone know if Taipei has deliverable nukes?.

Be a shame if the Three Gorges Damn failed.

5.56mm

17 posted on 03/10/2022 2:21:23 PM PST by M Kehoe (Quid Pro Joe and the Ho need to go.)
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To: McGruff
Who said that? I think there is definitely speculations, that Russia's invasion could pave the way for an invasion of Taiwan, at some point, but not at the same time.

Among other reasons, China would love the Russia military to be focused towards Europe, if they decide to use their military. Russia and China are both allies, and need to have each other if they are encircled, but both realize they are vulnerable to each other, because of the shared border. They would like a little more assurance than mutual trust.

18 posted on 03/10/2022 2:23:22 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: Mariner
I'm not sure Russia is capable of occupying Ukraine, either.

All those maps showing newly "occupied" parts of Ukraine are very deceptive. The Russians control some roads and towns, but there is no "front line." It's completely porous.

Even the big group north of Kiev ain't Zhukov's Belorussian Front.

19 posted on 03/10/2022 2:24:36 PM PST by pierrem15 ("Massacrez-les, car le seigneur connait les siens" )
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To: M Kehoe
Has China in the last 500 years conducted a successful invasion on an island 120 miles away? Or anywhere else?

Well, the ChiComs did successfully invade North Korea, back when US troops were defending it...

;>)

20 posted on 03/10/2022 2:28:44 PM PST by Who is John Galt? ("...mit Pulver und Blei, Die Gedanken sind frei!")
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