Free Republic

Chinese paramilitary police unload equipment on a road on the outskirts of Hutiaoxia, southeast of Zhongdian, in China's Yunnan province Thursday March 20, 2008. Hundreds of paramilitary troops were setting up camp in the town, which is on the road to Zhongdian, a city in a Tibetan area of Yunnan known as Shangri-La. (AP Photo/Greg Baker) BEIJING (AFP) — Thousands of soldiers were seen in Lhasa on Thursday amid reports of a huge military build-up, as the Dalai Lama expressed fears China's crackdown on Tibetan protesters had caused many casualties. Long military convoys were on the move in Tibet while...

U.S. Representative Tom Tancredo (R-CO) today sent a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asking her to meet with Taiwan President Chen Shui-Bian to discuss enhanced U.S.-Taiwan cooperation on cargo inspections, enforcement of sanctions against North Korea, and to consider giving Taipei a role in the six party talks. “Despite the fact that Taiwan has been unfairly excluded from the UN,” said Tancredo, Member of the Congressional International Relations Committee. “I believe they can contribute much to this effort and would be more than willing to help.” Taiwan’s government has been helpful in the past, interdicting ships hauling illicit...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO), a member of the House International Relations Committee, was joined by Congressmen Robert Andrews (D-NJ), Steve Chabot (R-OH), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) in offering an amendment that would lift some restrictions on the U.S.’s diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The amendment passed the House by voice vote this afternoon. “Lifting these humiliating restrictions will force State Department bureaucrats to treat Taiwan as an equal partner in freedom and democracy,” said Tancredo. “China shouldn’t control our foreign policy, Americans should.” “The State Department’s ‘Guidelines on Relations with Taiwan’ are an unnecessary roadblock to clear communication...