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.
Better DEAD than RED.
W
I really wish the State Department weren't such pu$$ies.
You mean the Millionares who fled to Canada..
Or those who could not take their wealth from Hong Kong who everyday lose a little liberty and whose "freedom" exists at discretion of the Party Central Comittee?
W
Liberty is for all, as has been demonstrated by the growth of liberty in China over the past 20 years.
Under that circumstance, under the present circumstances, TI is not worth a drop of American or Taiwanese blood.
Hong Kong is a free city. And don't kid yourself--everyone's liberty exists at the pleasure of those who control armies. And, to borrow one of your own arguments, if those who control Chinese armies are such totalitarians, why have they not already crushed Hong Kong? Why do they continue to allow the expansion of freedom in Beijing and Shanghai?
You mean the freedom to Harvest of human organs of exicuted prisoners for profit..
Or the Murder and imprisonment of Christians and FalunGong Members...
Perhaps the Liberty of forced Abortions?
W
Are you saying the Roman Catholic Church is lying?
Though all of these things have existed in China at one time or another, the freedom I'm talking about is freedom of speech, freedom to start one's own business, own one's own land, criticize the government, leave the country, attend church, etc.
You exaggerate the waning negatives and completely ignore the waxing positives.
What? We *don't* support independence? What?
The Catholic Church is mainly pissed off over China's refusal to recognize Rome as the only authority over Catholicism in that country.
That's a fight over religious orthodoxy, not religious freedom.
I don't know about China, but that reminds me of Castro who was always a nationalist, who never cared for communism, especially the Soviet kind. Communism was merely a means to an end, especially his hatred of the United States.
Did you support us fighting for thee freedom of Iraqi people?
In my opinion, the political and economic conditions under which the Iraqi people were forced to live over the past 25 years were far more horendous than those of the Chinese. Moreover, had it not been for 9/11 and for Iraq's connections to Islamic extremism, I don't believe we would have gone to war.
Well, I would hope you'd agree that the Vatican is a much more competent authority on matters of Catholicism thaan some ChiCom government goons.
That's a fight over religious orthodoxy, not religious freedom.
No, they fear Christianity because it is wholly incompatible with their mindset. If you'd like some Biblical examples, I'd be happy to dig some up.
Hitler made the trains run on time.
Thank you for injecting some sense into this. Unfortunately many people here seem to think that if everything isn't perfect right at this moment than it means that things must be horrible. However the reality is quite different. Anyone who expects any country, let alone one with over a billion people, to fundamentally change from oppression to freedom overnight is not living in reality.
Is China a free country? No. Are there alot of changes that still need to be made before China can be considered a free country? Absolutely. Has China made a great deal of progress towards this over the past 20 years? Of course.
I particularly like your analogy to America's early days. If a country with a completely free society were to have looked at America in 1845 they would not have seen a country where its people were living in freedom and prosperity. Instead they would have seen a country that explicitly allowed the enslavement and "ownership" of other people. Yet today this country stands as a beacon of human rights, and political and economic freedom. I suspect that China's move towards this kind of society will only continue.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.