Posted on 03/07/2007 5:07:38 AM PST by zook
Washington called President Chen Shui-bian's pledge to push for independence "unhelpful" Monday and reiterated its stance against independence for the island Beijing regards as a renegade province.
"As it is well-established, the U.S. does not support independence for Taiwan," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.
"President (George W.) Bush has repeatedly underscored his opposition to unilateral changes to the status quo by either Taipei or Beijing because this threatens regional peace and stability, U.S. national interests and Taiwan's own welfare," McCormack said.
He reminded that Chen had pledged in his 2000 and 2004 inaugurations to not declare independence, change the island state's name, or advocate other sovereignty themes.
"President Chen's fulfillment of his commitments is a test of leadership, dependability and statesmanship and of his ability to protect Taiwan's interests, its relations with others and to maintain peace and stability in the Strait," McCormack said.
"Rhetoric that could raise doubts about these commitments is unhelpful."
On Sunday Chen told a group of Taiwan independence advocates that "Taiwan wants independence, Taiwan wants to change its name, Taiwan wants a new constitution, Taiwan wants development."
Such rhetoric in the past has angered Beijing, and raised concerns in the United States, which has pledged to protect Taiwan from Chinese military aggression.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Bookmark for later reference and comment.
So basically you're fine with a little censorship. If America took a small amount of your freedoms away, you'd be screaming bloody murder, as well you should. Why is partial freedom okay for Chinese citizens but not for you?
"As it is well-established, the U.S. does not support independence for Taiwan," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.
"DPP needs to carefully consider the meaning of these words."
Mr. McCormack is dead wrong. He is reading his own Chi-com appeasing sentiments into official U.S. policy.
That policy is not that "the U.S. does not support independence for Taiwan", we are officially agnostic on the subject; neither officially seeking it or officially opposing it.
The core of our position is that the issue MUST be resolved peacefully.
And, if China takes mere words as a provocation for military action the United States will defend Taiwan, as we have given our word to Taiwan on the matter of "must be resolved peacefully".
The largest percentage of the people of Taiwan (1)see themselves now, and historically as Taiwanese, not Chinese (yes there is a difference, get a history lesson from someone other than a KMT or mainland "Chinese); and (2)are not opposed to independence but want the status quo for now (they're business people, they want business to continue).
The "ideal situation" of "reunification of Taiwan and the mainland" is never going to happen peacefully unless and until the dictatorship in China is gone.
The "actions of Chen and the DPP" do not "destroy chances" for anything. They may, depending on what actually happens vs the words of the moment, create a crisis, but it is not a given fact that any particular options at that time have been "destroyed".
No matter what Taiwan does or does not do, if she is attacked by China, the U.S. will defend her (oh, and the U.S. will not be alone in that defense either).
China's prosperity is intrinsically tied to the U.S. at this point; and for the forseeable future. No matter how it feels about Taiwan, that future and its prosperity will end on the day it attacks Taiwan. Matter of fact, in spite of all its own hubris and bluster, I believe the current leaders in the dictatorship understand this.
What I'm "fine with" is when a country like China makes such dramatic moves toward political and economic freedom. That's what I'm fine with. I expect China to make further moves over my lifetime.
By your standard, we should ignored America's potential in its early years, and instead have condemned her for her dismal record on human rights.
I really think you are making the same mistake as Chen. If Chen or any other DPP president announces formal independence, and if China invades, the US will not go to war against China. We may protest at the UN, we may send some Chinese diplomats home, but not one American soldier, sailor, or pilot will die for TI.
Grow some balls Bush - either we do this now or later. China is going to take Taiwan back where are we going to be on the side of history? Im so disgusted with this WH for the lack of will to do whats right.
I'm quite fine with America's position (it's not just Bush's) on this. The status quo needs to remain in effect until such time that China and Taiwan can reunify under conditions of political, religious, and economic freedom. Right now, Chen and the DPP appear to be the ones threatening that understanding.
My great wish, my prayer in fact, is to avoid a US-China war. And I certainly oppose going to war with China to defend the DPP's TI vision.
Instead of saber rattling, if Chen wanted to move Taiwan away from the mainland, he should try to change their culture away from "The Chinese Way".
A peculiar concept to westerners, The Chinese Way is a complex assortment of cultural traits that are ubiquitous in Chinese society, and in its neighboring countries.
In essence, this creates for the Chinese three types of people. The Chinese themselves; the neighboring "barbarians" who practice The Chinese Way, so are less dangerous; and "barbarians" who do not practice The Chinese Way, who are dangerous.
The Chinese feel that they can live with border nations that practice The Chinese Way, and otherwise, they can tolerate most anything those nations do. If they are terribly offensive, a punitive expedition may chastise them, but it will then leave and go back to the way things were.
However, the Chinese also feel that a border nation that does not practice The Chinese Way is a dire threat.
In past, western "imperialism" was to take over and rule other nations as colonies. But Chinese "imperialism" was to expand the culture of The Chinese Way to other nations. In some regards, they even would wish to expand The Chinese Way to the United States, if they could figure out how.
But while Chen threatening independence is annoying to the mainland, they would only feel truly threatened if he tried to "westernize" how they do things in Taiwan. Again, a thousand different things. But to both Taiwan and the mainland, this would be far more concrete, and matter far more.
You haven't seen what's going on with Falun Gong? BTW, if you are getting your impression from having been there, stayed in a hotel and watched TV and accessed the Internet, that is a false impression. Hotels for foreigners are not heavily censored, as opposed to the rest of the country.
Rise up people of Taiwan declare the independece you have always had.
Either America stands for freedom or it stand for nothing at all...
You have nothing to lose and the world to gain.
Go Taiwan Go
W
That's been our *official* position for years...doesn't mean we aren't cheering behind the scenes.
Well, I'm sure some gov't officials support the ChiComs but I'll bet some have the balls to at least quietly support Taiwan.
China is still Communist in name, but their actual system is something more fascist, at least it appears so to me. Correct me if I'm wrong.
So you say....
If the Chineese Government were so sure they would have invaded already..
Instead they flood the Island with corrupt money and try to destablize the Government.
Still the people of Taiwan want to be free..
Freedom.... pretty good stuff when you fight for it..
W
I know about falun gong. In my opinion, they are a cult. And while cults may, in a perfect world, have the right to exist, it's not really surprising that China wants to restrict them or other groups that vocally threaten the government's legitimacy.
That government sits on a potential powderkeg of diverse political and ethnic groupings around the nation. One day, for example, China may have to deal with Muslim religious extremism in its northeastern provinces. When that day comes, I suspect China will do so with a sledgehammer. Will Freepers be complaining then?
I read a story on Newsmax the other day about a Chinese woman who they claim was beaten to death by soldiers for distributing Bibles. Having been to China, I frankly did not believe it, at least as presented by Newsmax. Chinese soldiers, believe it or not, by and large do not really want to beat old women to death. So, while I guess it's possible, I no longer accept these kinds of claims on their face.
Finally, the cable TV I referred to, which had MSNBC, was in a private home, not a hotel. (We stayed the entire time in a private home.)
Rah, rah, rah. Go TI. You have US-China thermonuclear war to gain.
Unfortunately it's not just the left applauding, the Bush Administration is manning the switch for the "APPLAUSE" sign.
I wouldn't call it fascist. There are elements of Sovietism, fascism, and freedom, and freedom is growing. I'd call China a huge authoritarian government, the likes of which we really haven't seen in modern history.
The Chinese would not necessarily have invaded by now. They do not wish to go to war either. But if push comes to shove, they will fight over Taiwan. That is probably the number one political issue for the Chinese people and government.
And remember, Chinese government is not "one thing." There are militarists, peacemakers, and all ranges in between. They struggle for power with one another. But if Taiwan declares independence, the militarists win.
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