Jiang to Give Bush Ultimatum in Texas - Threatens US-China War - Plain sailing in the Taiwan Strait?

CNN ^ | 8-21-02 | Willy Lo-Lap lam

[tallhappy]

Yet the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) response to Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's pro-independence statements earlier this month has been bone-chillingly disturbing.

The generals' hawkish outbursts have highlighted the perils of rising nationalism coupled with a military force deemed to have extra-constitutional powers.

[tet68]

.. the hawks see Washington's preoccupation with the war on terrorism -- particularly the imminent strike on Iraq -- as a "golden opportunity not to be missed."

I tend to see this as a major mistake on their part. "Lets take this "golden opportunity" while they aren't looking." ( all while the US. is ramping up it's military and moving logistical support around the world and getting better at it with each passing hour.)

Stupid. But then thats why they are communists.

[VaBthang4]

Who in the heck wrote this?!

Willy Lo-Lap lam

What the...

Anyway...this guy doesnt know what he does and doesnt want to say....or how to say it.

Past the rhetoric, this is a nonstarter.

Asserting that the PLA could fire lame rockets across the straights long enough to bring the Taiwanese to the bargaining table?

Oi...

[tet68]

Willy Wo-Lap Lam writes for the South China Morning Post and
is I believe syndicated in Austrailia as well.
He is not often wrong.

[VaBthang4]

No disrespect intended towards you but he can write for Moses for all I care...

[ASA Vet]

would we be able to defend Taiwan

Yes. All it would take is one SSBN.
The real question is do we have the will.

[hchutch]

Standing up against aggressors like the Soviet Union, Saddam Hussein, and Jiang Zemin is not having favorites. Nor is providing aid to Israel against aggressive neighbors like Syria.

I'll take the advice of Winston Churchill:
"If you will not fight for the right when you can easily win without bloodshed, if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly, you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a small chance of survival. There may even be a worse case: you may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves."

[hchutch]

This President has the will.

He has taken the advice of Winston Churchill:
"If you will not fight for the right when you can easily win without bloodshed, if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly, you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a small chance of survival. There may even be a worse case: you may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves."

[gcraig]

Build fortress America.

At first, I rejected your words, because the friends that you mentioned need our support. After I read this, I can see your wisdom.

[Williams]

The truly dangerous thing is that China may be mixing usual commie power plays with some real nationalistic nuttiness. TYhey certainly have whooped their people up that way. I love the reference to the U.S. getting into a conflict it doesn't want. China wants to battle the U.S.? If China starts shooting at U.S. planes and ships there willl be strong U.S. support for major retaliation.

[skeeter]

At Beidaihe, Jiang indicated that all action should be shelved for the moment -- and at least until his summit with President Bush in the latter's Texas ranch around October 25. The president vowed to deliver the equivalent of an ultimatum to Bush: unless Washington makes it clear that it does not support Chen's "splittist plots," the U.S. might one day find itself embroiled in a military conflict that it does not want.

Bush should respond by having the secret service tie Jiang to the back of ol' Bessie & invite the WH staff to take turns wacking her on the behind with a switch.

CNN International could pipe the images into every household in the PRC.

[skeeter]

Any way the family analogy is apt , this is the abusive husband wanting to beat up the weak spouse who wants to leave home.

More like an abusive husband threatening to beat up a neighbor. Taiwan is not an historic part of the mainland, no matter how ofter the chicoms assert otherwise.

[NormsRevenge]

A Churchill BUMP

[hchutch]

Sadly, building "fortress America" would be penny-wise and pound-foolish.

"If you will not fight for the right when you can easily win without bloodshed, if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly, you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a small chance of survival. There may even be a worse case: you may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves."
- Winston Churchill

[ASA Vet]

an ultimatum to Bush

Giving an ultimatum to a Texan?
Sure wish I could be there to watch the fun.

[hchutch]

First, the ChiCom Xia-class SSBN is taken out at sea.

Then, their ICBM silos have "nasty accidents."

We then send a convoy to Taiwan - heavily escorted. The ChiComs might fire the first shot in an early-21st-Century Battle of the Atlantic, but we'd fire the last ones.

[tallhappy]

Willy Wo-Lap Lam writes for the South China Morning Post

Not anymore. He got canned shortly after Murdoch sold it to a pro-ChiCom Malaysian businessman.

[Frohickey]

Here is to hoping that GWB, who has a degree in history, has studied General George S Patton.

"Men, this stuff some sources sling around about America wanting to stay out of the war and not wanting to fight is a lot of baloney! Americans love to fight, traditionally. All real Americans love the sting and clash of battle. America loves a winner. America will not tolerate a loser. Americans despise a coward; Americans play to win. That's why America has never lost and never will lose a war. " --General George S. Patton, Jr., in characteristic unexpurgated detail, gives his troops a final pep-talk prior to the invasion of Normandy, Enniskillen Manor Grounds, England, May 17, 1944.

[Lion's Cub]

If China starts shooting at U.S. planes and ships there willl be strong U.S. support for major retaliation

We don't have to wait for them to attack us again, as far as I'm concerned. We still owe them for the EP3 and holding the crew hostage.

[Red Jones]

bump

[madvlad]

Evere hear of cruise missiles?

I imagine Silkworm and/or sunburn missile sites
would be taken out.

Mad Vlad