Posted on 10/22/2014 8:17:35 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Taipei is very closely watching Beijing’s actions in Hong Kong—and so far it doesn’t like what it sees.
The events of the past three weeks in Hong Kong have underlined two major points. First, Beijing’s policy has not changed. Second, China’s attempt to reintegrate Taiwan with the mainland has been postponed indefinitely—perhaps forever. Beijing’s preeminent leader, Xi Jinping, has refused to allow Hong Kongers to participate in the nomination process that is the first step in the selection of the next leader of the province. This does not surprise anyone in Taipei. Even though Beijing formally accepts the one country-two systems formula, it does not want an autonomous Hong Kong, politically or legally speaking. Nor does it want an independent Taiwan.
One can see the reasons. An independent-minded Hong Kong would be a beacon to democrats all over China, to say nothing of Southeast Asia. Movements in Guangdong toward democracy would be strengthened, and local elections might be used to settle economic disputes. Disputants in Xinjiang and Tibet could take heart that their appeals for autonomy might still be heard. But the real audience for the Hong Kong protests is Taipei. Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou has said: “We fully understand and support the Hong Kong residents’ demand for universal suffrage.” The Wall Street Journal reported on October 12 that “one of the most significant outcomes of the policies in Hong Kong over the past weeks has been to further diminish what was left of Beijing’s hope of bringing Taiwan into the fold.” Australia’s former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, an expert on China, recently commented: “[T]o lose Taiwan would mean political delegitimization and a form of civilizational sacrilege” [for China]. Brandishing umbrellas to weather tear gas assaults, the Hong Kong protestors ridiculed the police and Leung Chun-ying...
(Excerpt) Read more at the-american-interest.com ...
The MSM hasn’t even minimally covered the Hong Kong protests. Whats been happening?
Do you people actually believe this. China can crush them in 6 hours. Why are we so naive?
Look up the author’s name. Hard to get more liberal than people like him.
I think China is still patiently waiting for the sufficient amount and quality of distraction in world action before they go for the gold, so to speak. Maybe in the last four months of the Obama Presidency, when he’s at the point of going on Golfing Vacations every two weeks on and off. I think China will coordinate their move on Taiwan while another commrade also leaps forward aggressively. Russia, North Korea or Iran.
When it comes down, Obama will feign ‘surprise’ and of course, do nothing but spout more rhetoric.
Interesting stuff, 2DV! Thanks for posting it!
I believe that the article is saying that Taiwan will no longer consider voluntary unification with the mainland.
But of course you're right. Sometime within the next 30 years, China will cross the straights and take Taiwan. The US will protest, then go back to whatever cable show is popular at that time.
I we like to think yes, but I don’t think so.
Sad fact of the matter is Taiwan is not an issue because Taiwan has tacitly surrendered and accepted the ChiComs authority.
KMT are nothing but spineless sycophants with respect to the CCP.
The Independence contingent does not have the numbers, nor the wherewithal.
The time was during Clinton’s administration to strengthen Taiwan’s independence, but Clinton pushed the other way. Bush continued to demean Taiwan’s move for independence, both admins reflecting mainstream foreign policy “expertise”.
Taiwan test-fires `ship killers’ from submarine
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3217276/posts
I think you’re right. Even I can see there will never be a better time to go for it than while Obama’s in office. And Putin knows it too. And ISIS. And the illegals, and...
Our MSM is on the side of Beijing, even if they won’t really admit it
When did Beijing ever “have” Taiwan to lose it?
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