DPP needs to carefully consider the meaning of these words.
Freedom is on the march.
Taiwan IS independent. And I HATE the media for repeating that evil "renegade province" phrase. Taiwan is an independent vibrant democracy, and has been for decades. China is going to attack and kill those people while the left applauds.
Alternate title:
"Bush Doctrine Ends With a Whimper"
"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
He forgot to mention the other half of the pledge which was provided China did not threaten the use of force to take over the island. When the Chinese passed that resolution a few years ago, they did just that.
"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.
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.
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.
I really wish the State Department weren't such pu$$ies.
What? We *don't* support independence? What?
Me thinks we should keep ourselves out of Taiwan's desire to be Independent.
Let them solve their differences with the main land China, on their own terms!
USfoA has no right to interfere in Taiwan's own affairs!. If Taiwan wants military hardware, let them have it and fight their own war if they choose to do so, for whatever reason!
At the same time I believe that it is about time for the United States of America's State Department, to stop meddling in anyones internal affairs, just because they do not like the outcome and/or the course of politics!
Over the years (perhaps as of 1945/1946)the State Department had it's arm twisting bureaucrats more or less dictating politics all over the world, in various forms.
That kind pressure politics irked a lot of our allies in one form or another.
Not so long as Taiwan is US territory. The US private sector is worth $55 trillion; public sector unknown. How much is Taiwan worth? If there is a buyer, sell it for fair market value.