China Enacts Law to Stop Taiwan Secession (vote of 2,896 to zero)

[Kadie]

China Enacts Law to Stop Taiwan Secession
By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN, Associated Press Writer

Sunday, March 13, 2005


(03-13) 17:50 PST BEIJING, China (AP) --


China's national legislature on Monday overwhelmingly approved a law authorizing a military attack to stop Taiwan from pursuing formal independence, a day after President Hu Jintao told the 2.5 million-member People's Liberation Army to be prepared for war.


The measure was approved by a vote of 2,896 to zero, with two abstentions at the closing session of the annual session of the figurehead National People's Congress' annual session.


"We shall step up preparations for possible military struggle and enhance our capabilities to cope with crises, safeguard peace, prevent wars and win the wars if any," the official Xinhua News Agency quoted Hu as saying Sunday.


Hu's comments, made to military delegates at the national legislature, appeared aimed at underlining Beijing's determination to unify with democratically ruled Taiwan, which split from the Chinese mainland in 1949.

more...
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/03/13/international/i173623S81.DTL

[bpilgrim]

1. guess the neoCONs bluff has just OFFICIALLY been called

now what chimpy?

China and India held their first-ever joint military exercises in March

http://www.larouchepub.com/other/2005/3207china_india.html

peace

[Igel]

7. Americans are so ethnocentric.

This has nothing to do with * or the neocons. Not everything in the world involves DUers' pet peeves and concerns.

[bpilgrim]

9. "Not everything in the world involves DUers' pet peeves and concerns."

oh, did i break your orthodoxy? i'm sorry.

but when we are obliged to defend tawain and they tell their forces to brace for war and tell Australia to re-examine it's security agreement with the US it is big news for US.

Rice Opposes China Plan to Authorize Attack on Taiwan (Update1)

March 13 (Bloomberg) -- The United States opposes a plan by China's legislature to pass a law authorizing an attack on Taiwan should the island declare independence, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said today.

more...
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=a3Oa0ps6wqNM&refer=top_world_news

sorry

peace

[Igel]

26. More important than the neocons are things they have no control

over. More important than anything *, Clinton, or the neocons have done are a few other things:

Taiwan's gotten to be a reaonable little democracy and has promise, but there's the possible threat that it could declaring independence: Taiwan no longer claims to rule all of China;
Curacao and Hong Kong are under PRC control--even though Hong Kong itself, strictly speaking, didn't need to be returned--so that Taiwan is the only chunk of land that the ultra-nationalists seem to believe absolutely, positively must be "reunited" at all costs, with the need increasing with every year that the renegade province continues its renegading;
China's gotten the might, or will soon have the might, to do more than issue stupid threats, and certainly has the pull to prevent Taiwan's maintaining its defenses.

The neocons weren't around in the '60s, '70s, and '80s, but there was still the Taiwan/PRC issue. Doctor Who could facilitate a neocon tie-in, but that's just BBC fiction.

The neocons weren't important in the '90s, when China started its massive buildup to threaten Taiwan, and started issuing serious threats against Taiwan. China took notice when Taiwan's support for the "one China" pretense weakened, because then Taiwan just might say they're not part of the mainland. *That* is why there's the anti-secession law now. If the neocons are involved in Taiwan, it's to an absurdly limited extent, and oddly pre-dates any real pull they had in the US. The anti-secession law is not aimed at the US, and probably shouldn't be interpreted as a response to US politics, which is of at least secondary importance.

The rhetoric directed at Australia is plausibly more tied in with the neocons and *, but US law for a decade or so has been to support Taiwan. I think China would have the same bit of wisdom for anybody that could possibly be involved in defending Taiwan.

[bpilgrim]

31. no one is arguing that

and true they weren't in power in the '60s, '70s, and '80s but they certainly were 'around' aka 'the fucking CRAZIES'.

now i don't know what your point is to me but as i said this is a large issue right now and the neoCONs are only exacerbating it.

peace

[depakid]

21. I'm inclined to agree

It's no small irony that America, despite being known as a "melting pot" is by far the most ethnocentric of all of the Western Democracies. The Taiwan/Formosa issue has connections that go back many, many years- it's more than just an artifact of the cold war.

That said, the Republicans (and- to give credit where it's due- the DLC "free" trade Dems) have made matters exponentially worse through corrupt, shortsighted trade agreements and irresponsible fiscal policies- not to mention the saber rattling and dissipation of US miltary power via the Iraq war.

For a bunch of purported global "chess players," the Neocons sure are inept when seeing even a few moves ahead....

[Igel]

25. Oh, they've made it worse. But with every passing year,

esp. now that Curacao and Hong Kong have been "reunited", Taiwan sticks out more.

You're right, neocons haven't made it better. I'm incapable of predicting if this is completely independent of what's said in the US, or if the neocon business speeded up China's impatience.

[Tracer]

40. Curacao? WTF are you talking about.

Curacao ... the island in the Netherland Antilles in the Caribbean?

[Weembo]

42. Yep--an unknown bastion of Chinese communist influence

[Rex]

50. Of course it does

America is seen as a politically weak nation. China will now take advantage of the US having so many troops deployed in other parts of the world. China might take a calculated risk (they're new to capitalism) based on our inability to protect Taiwan with conventional forces. So yeah, it has a lot to do with the US.

[Psephos]

23. China passed a bill authorizing war

For more than half a century China has been plotting to get Taiwan back. They figured out a while ago that if they amass the right amount of armaments, escalate their rhetoric slowly but surely, and are patient, they can rely on the Western impulse to put off difficult decisions, and it will one day be a fait accompli.

China believes its surging economic power gives it geopolitical privileges. This is simply the next move of a pawn forward on the chessboard.

bpilgrim, I'm interested, what do you recommend for the next move?

[BR_Parkway]

29. You left out the key part of the strategy - they own so much of the US

debt and we are so dependent on them showing up every week to buy more to keep us afloat, that they can now act without consequence. Condi can wring her hands, and that is ALL. Anything else, they simply tell us to shut up and butt out, and if we don't, they stop buying the debt and our entire economy crashes down - harder than any recession or depression that we've ever experienced.

Bushco has the masses fooled that he can protect American safety, when in reality, he's sold us out to China and Japan. On the easy payment plan - they pay something like #1,300,000,000 per week! And they said Kerry would sell us out to the UN? Not likely, we'd already been sold.

[bpilgrim]

32. "they can rely on the Western impulse to put off difficult decisions"

??? we didn't put anything off going into iraq.

wtf is that supposed to mean?

"China believes its surging economic power gives it geopolitical privileges. "

so does everyone else.

"This is simply the next move of a pawn forward on the chessboard."

nk... but more like a night, though, imo.

"bpilgrim, I'm interested, what do you recommend for the next move?"

ducktape&plastic :shrug:


there aren't any 'good moves' left, cept get rid of the neoCONs and try to convince the world that we will come back to the international community and cooperate, work together instead of unilateral militarism.

the course we are on now is war, for the worlds remain oil reserves.

peace

[Psephos]

46. If there aren't any good moves left, what's the best of what's left?

"wtf is that supposed to mean?"

I said Western, not US. That's "wtf" that's supposed to mean. Unless you think that the US speaks for/acts for the Western world.

"so does everyone else."

"Everyone else" believes surging economic power confers geopolitical privilege, but almost no one else is actually enjoying surging economic power. China is pre-eminent among emerging economies, and has over a billion people. It feels that it has earned the right to throw its weight around a little.

I was serious when I asked you for your best move, bpilgrim. Duct tape and plastic is not a serious response. Neither is the generic "work together" approach. It's easy to rip other people a new asshole. It's not so easy to figure out what to actually do. But that is exactly what I'm interested in - solving problems, instead of scoring rhetorical points on a forum.

Taiwan has no oil, so there goes that part of your response, too.

I'm interested in answers, bpilgrim. I'm not attacking your point of view. I just want to know what it is.

[Catch22Dem]

2. The thought of this makes me shudder, but...

If we go to war against China, we'll lose.

[Endangered Specie]

27. I seriously doubt we will go to war with China...

no matter what they do to Taiwan.

Bush may "talk" about spreading democracy around the world, but we are dependent on China's exports, and they are one of our largest creditors (and they have nukes).

[LoganW]

30. Why would we go to war against china?

Do you seriously think bush cares who they invade as long as the slave profits from china keep rolling in?

[Catch22Dem]

51. No, I don't think that at all

Just stating the obvious.

[bvar22]

3. vote of 2,896 to zero,

If the DLC can get a few more New Dems or 3rd wayers elected, the votes in our congress will look like this!

[Media_Lies_Daily]

4. Thanks to the regime of Herr Tweedledum, the Chinese have us over....

...a barrel economically, and know that we're stretched thin because of the two ongoing wars in the Middle East that Herr Tweedledum wants to expand to a total of FOUR wars. They have also told Australia to review their military treaties with the US, which is a rather large hint to drop on the Aussies.

Additionally, the Chinese recently decided to up their defense budget by almost 13% to begin the process of modernizing their armed forces. They have already been involved in the process of modernizing their nuclear arsenal.

Thanks, Herr Tweedledum.

[MADem]

28. The Chimp family has been in bed with the Chinese for decades

It's almost as though they don't give a shit about the US, so long as it advances their bank accounts.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2002/02/19/usat-prescott-bush.htm The Bush family's ties to China go back to 1974, when President Nixon named George Bush ambassador to China. The college-age George W. Bush spent two months in China visiting his parents during his father's two-year stint.

....Prescott Bush, now 79, also developed a close working relationship with Rong Yiren, a former trade minister and vice president, who in 1993 introduced Bush to a group of Chinese business leaders as "an old friend." In 2000, Forbes publications reported that Rong, who has retired from government, was the richest man in China.

The president's uncle concedes that he sometimes relied on his name to open doors, but he says any deals he made were the result of his own hard work....

But who knows, maybe the chimp really IS a Manchurian candidate!!! Who knows what happened during those two years in Beijing?

[annabanana]

41. What chu mean "almost" kemosabe?.....n/t

[MADem]

47. Darn, the way I was raised up as a child!!!!

My elders always told me to give people the "benefit of the doubt." Guess it's time I lose my manners!!!

[Renew Deal]

5. If China can have 2896 reps, why can't we?

Why not get us more representation? It makes it harder to buy them all off, and they represent fewer people. If China can do it, so can we.

[Hosnon]

6. Hmmm...China a model to be followed for representation?

I don't think sheer numbers means a whole lot, haha.

[Igel]

8. You have it hideously backwards.

They don't represent the people to the government; they represent the government to the people.

China's moved towards economic freedom, not political freedom.

[Renew Deal]

10. That wasn't my point.

Though I may not have stated it clearly. Those that argue that we can't have a large legislative body partially argue that there's no room. I am saying that it can be done.

[w4rma]

20. That place is a bad example. They *aren't* doing it.

In fact, I would bet that anyone who had voted against this bill would have been imprisoned.

[Renew Deal]

33. I think Bush would like the sound of that.

:silly:

[Igel]

24. Ah. I see.

I might agree, I'd have to think it over. There's always a trade off between efficiency and sanity (smaller numbers) versus better representation (larger numbers).

If you say "China is a model" in the context of a 2000+ to zero vote, it's safest to say in what respect it's a model. It's the kind of mistake I regularly make here, only to have my head handed to me on a platter. Sometimes with mustard, sometimes with ketchup.

[kskiska]

11. WP: China Puts Threat to Taiwan Into Law

Measure Authorizes Use of Force Against Independence Efforts

Monday, March 14, 2005; Page A01

BEIJING, March 14 -- China enacted a law Monday authorizing the use of force against Taiwan if it moves toward formal independence, codifying its long-standing threat to attack the island. The move could provoke a popular backlash in Taiwan and quickly unravel recent progress in cross-strait relations.

The National People's Congress, the ruling Communist Party's rubber-stamp parliament, approved the anti-secession law by a vote of 2,896 to 0, with two abstentions, on the last day of its annual session. The action defied U.S. appeals for restraint and strong protests by Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian as well as some of his political rivals.

Chen has vowed a tough response, and mainland analysts have expressed concern that Taiwan's pro-independence camp will use the law to rally public sentiment against Beijing and push for measures that could escalate tensions.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32353-2005Mar13.html

[dArKeR]

12. DPP pushes law against China threat

The DPP will release a bill today that would give the president the power to act against China without prior legislative approval
By Ko Shu-ling
STAFF REPORTER
Monday, Mar 14, 2005,Page 1

Stepping up its opposition to China's "anti-secession" law, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is expected to unveil today a draft bill giving the president the power to take "non-peaceful" action or other necessary measures, including referendums, without the permission of the legislature in order to safeguard Taiwan's sovereignty and territory. The draft law mandates that the president must report to the legislature on any such measures within 30 days.

China's National People's Congress (NPC) is scheduled to pass its "anti-secession law" today.

While the DPP is scheduled to make public its "anti-invasion" law today, the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) has proposed an "anti-annexation" law.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2005/03/14/2003246185

[dArKeR]

13. Lu, in Texas, speaks out against `anti-secession' law

Vice President Annette Lu (???) said yesterday that Beijing's draft "anti-secession" law targeting Taiwan runs counter to US-China diplomatic ties mandating that China should resolve the Taiwan issue in a peaceful manner.

Lu, who arrived in Houston on Saturday night for a three-day transit stay en route to El Salvador for a state visit, said during her flight to Houston that if the "anti-secession" law were indeed passed and allows the People's Liberation Army to use "non-peaceful means" against Taiwan, the law would seriously contradict the principles of the Taiwan Relations Act.

Lu departed Taipei on Saturday for an official visit to El Salvador and Guatemala. She is also scheduled to make transit stops in Houston and Miami during her 12-day trip.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2005/03/14/2003246186

[dArKeR]

14. Lee calls on Japan to take action on anti-secession law

Former President Lee Teng-hui (???) called on Japan yesterday to refrain from sitting idly by in the face of China's proposed "anti-secession" law, saying that the Japanese government should take action to block Beijing's legislation.

Lee, who is the spiritual leader of the pro-independence opposition Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU), made the remarks while addressing a seminar held in Taoyuan for 70 members of the Association of Lee Teng-hui's Friends in Japan.

In his speech, Lee thanked all association members for their participation in a rally held on Feb. 28 in Tokyo to oppose Beijing's plan to enact the "anti-secession" law, which provides the Chinese military with a legal basis to use force against Taiwan in certain situations.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2005/03/14/2003246187

[dArKeR]

15. Dislike of China's law widespread: poll - 94%

Almost 94% of respondents of the survey rejected the idea that Taiwan is part of China and 91% believe Taiwan's sovereignty rests with her people

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/03/14/2003246212

[dArKeR]

16. Dirty Fucking Red Communist Bastards go to HELL! Why are American

corporations in China? To aid the Communist bastards in taking over the world?

[jayctravis]

17. Bush has unleashed this.

He has proven you can attack another country if you have a good enough reason.

What's the Chinese word for "insurgent"?

[dArKeR]

18. Scores of petitioners detained during NPC meeting

China has detained a number of prominent petitioners seeking redress in an attempt to restrict their activities during the ongoing annual session of the parliament, a human rights group said yesterday.

The New York-based Human Rights in China said most of the detainees were Shanghai residents or relatives of dissidents. Some were placed under house arrest after the National People's Congress session opened early this month.

Jiang Meili, the wife of imprisoned Shanghai property rights lawyer Zheng Enchong, was detained along with her sister by security police on March 10 outside the home of her husband's defense lawyer Guo Guoting, the rights group said.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2005/03/14/2003246229

[dArKeR]

19. Ways to counteract Beijing's ambitions

Not surprisingly, China's unilateral attempt to enact the so-called "anti-secession" law backfired for the government, the people of Taiwan and the international community.

Even though the pan-blue camp is keeping a low-profile regarding the legislation, most opinion polls result in an absolute objection to Beijing's unwise move. Suggested scenarios to counteract China's assertion to incorporate "non-peaceful means and other necessary measures to sabotage any hurdles toward reunification" range from mobilizing hundreds of thousand of people to protest to initiating the "defensive referendum" article of the referendum law.

Even the Mainland Affairs Council did not exclude the possibility of postponing or even terminating current policy toward China, including chartered cargo flights negotiations and the ultimate opening of direct links as further retaliation.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2005/03/14/2003246248

[agincourt]

22. sounds to me,

like they don't want to "miss the bus". They feel a need to preempt Taiwan "terrorism". I think the Iraq war did make them more inclined to accept war as an answer to the Taiwan situation. Even though they may swear it has nothing to do with it. The US is a world leader, unfortunately it's more likely through bad example, than good.

[pnorman]

34. China Law Authorizes Force Against Taiwan

China Law Authorizes Force Against Taiwan

By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN, Associated Press Writer

BEIJING - China's parliament enacted a law Monday authorizing force to stop rival Taiwan from pursuing formal independence, sparking outrage on the self-governing island and warnings that the measure would fuel regional tensions.

The ceremonial National People's Congress passed the law despite U.S. appeals for restraint. It came a day after President Hu Jintao called on China's military to be ready for war and followed a 12.6 percent increase in the country's defense budget for 2005.

Premier Wen Jiabao said the mainland still wants to unite peacefully with the island and doesn't want to disrupt the status quo.

"It is not targeted at the people of Taiwan, nor is it a war bill," Wen said at a news conference. But he also warned outsiders not to get involved: "We do not wish to see foreign interference."
>
>
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050314/ap_on_re_as/china_legislature

The Bush Doctrine seems to be spreading.

[Silverhair]

35. Meaningless.

They are a dictatorship so they have never needed a law to worry about. This is just posturing.

If they tried to actually attack Taiwan they would get their butts kicked by the Taiwanese, and both sides know it.

Short version of military analysis. Chinese have amphibious ability for only 10K troops. Their Air force is mainly stuff that was already obsolete in the Vietnam era, now horrible obsolete. They only have 40 top line fighters. All of their bombers are old propeller driven planes. Taiwan has about 400 top line fighters, better trained pilots, hundreds of anti-air missiles using combat proven systems, and over 1,500 tanks and other armor and heavy artillery to repel any invasion force. Not only that, but the Chinese attack would have to come over the water so they would be detected well in advance.

It is impossible to mount an invasion into any area where the other side has air superiority. And the Taiwanese would have absolute air superiority over Taiwan and the nearby waters.

China knows this and they aren't stupid, so that law is just posturing. Remember that their legislature is just a figurehead for the ruling group. The so called law was passed unanimously.

[pnorman]

37. The point of my posting was

that "saber rattling" is on the rise. It takes no deep analysis to guess where that got started. And ALWAYS, it's wrapped around with the sort of NewSpeak appropriate to the circumstances.

pnorman

[colonel odis]

36. the bush administration, of course, will be standing up for taiwan and

standing up to china over this.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[dArKeR]

38. "Taiwan and China split in 1949" is a false statement, false facts by

CHRISTOPHER BODEEN, Associated Press Writer. Is he stupid or corrupt?

Liu Yan Chun grew up in Taiwan firmly believing that her family would someday go back to mainland China. It took most of her life to realize that there would be no triumphant return, as envisioned by the Nationalists when they retreated (Edit: this word should be INVADED Formosa which they renamed to Taiwan.) to Taiwan after defeat by the Chinese Communists in 1949. It took her longer still to realize that she had no desire to return.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/315530.asp

Lee said that the people of Taiwan need to shrug off the mentality of being a "long-term laborer" after being ruled by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) for half a century, and take up the responsibility of being the master of their own country.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/02/09/2003098044

The ‘New Taiwan Person’
Centuries ago, the island had an aboriginal culture of Malay and Polynesian descent. In the 17th century, the Dutch and Portuguese had colonies here, and the imported Chinese laborers — all men — intermarried with locals, forming the basis of the majority of today’s population. According this version of history, it was only in 1887 that China declared Taiwan a part of its territory in an effort to stem Japanese expansionism, say independence activists. But when that failed, China ceded Taiwan to Japan in perpetuity.
The Japanese held Taiwan for 50 years, until their defeat in World War II. In the years immediately after, Allied Forces backed Chiang Kai-shek’s temporary occupation of Taiwan. But according to pro-independence legal experts, the Nationalists never had a legal basis to stay.
“In 1949, Taiwan did not “split off from China”, but was occupied by the losing side in the Chinese Civil War,” according to a 1999 white paper endorsed by 18 overseas Taiwanese associations.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/316717.asp?cp1=1

`One China' review under way
RE-EXAMINATION: An academic at the Heritage Foundation says the US is studying the longstanding policy with an eye to debunking the myth that Taiwan is part of China
By Charles Snyder
STAFF REPORTER IN WASHINGTON
Thursday, Jun 17, 2004,Page 1

The Bush administration is already conducting a secret review of its "one China" policy, although the review is fairly narrow and technical and will not necessarily result in a decision to support Taiwan's independence, a leading Washington Taiwan specialist says.

John Tkacik, an academic at the Heritage Foundation, told the Taipei Times that the review aims to debunk the myth that Taiwan is part of China and to clarify just what a "one China" policy means.

He was commenting on a report issued in Washington on Tuesday by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, which recommended that the Bush administration and Congress "conduct a fresh assessment of the `one China' policy, given the changing realities in China and Taiwan."

"I think the State Department is already reviewing the `one China' policy," Tkacik said.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/06/17/2003175359

[dArKeR]

39. I've just called AP, they actually answer the phone. [phone]

The first person is helpful but I pressed to talk to a higher up and they actually transferred me to the "Corporate Communications." I told them AP continues to publish an error of history. He told me to email "[e-mail]" and put the writer's name in the subject line and the email will be routed to the bureau's chief editor. I wanted to grab someone outside of China's attention because I believe the Bejing bureau chief is also corrupt. (I was nervous talking on the phone and the only error I might have made was he said [e-mail] but I'm 99% he said [e-mail]. I know there is a valid [e-mail] but I've tested [e-mail] and it hasn't been returned bad yet.

If you write, say "Taiwan was invaded in 1949"
and maybe attach these stories on the bottom of post.

Don't sit on your duffs and think you can't get something done. I got Taiwan's AP bureau chief, Jeffrey Parker, fired in 2000. He put out a story that CNN everyone picked up on. He only talked about Soong and Lien as Taiwan presidential candidates when Chen, Abian, was clearly the most popular with the people. Parker was clearly ignorant and/or being paid off by the KTM. Chen had about 80% support but about 40% of those were afraid of China so they said they would vote for someone else. (local polls). I sent an email to the AP UK and I actually got a corporate response that they'd look into it. Parker lost his job after Chen won with about 39%.


+++++++++++++++++
Liu Yan Chun grew up in Taiwan firmly believing that her family would someday go back to mainland China. It took most of her life to realize that there would be no triumphant return, as envisioned by the Nationalists when they retreated (Edit: this word should be INVADED Formosa which they renamed to Taiwan.) to Taiwan after defeat by the Chinese Communists in 1949. It took her longer still to realize that she had no desire to return.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3072140/

`One China' review under way
RE-EXAMINATION: An academic at the Heritage Foundation says the US is studying the longstanding policy with an eye to debunking the myth that Taiwan is part of China
By Charles Snyder
STAFF REPORTER IN WASHINGTON
Thursday, Jun 17, 2004,Page 1

The Bush administration is already conducting a secret review of its "one China" policy, although the review is fairly narrow and technical and will not necessarily result in a decision to support Taiwan's independence, a leading Washington Taiwan specialist says.

John Tkacik, an academic at the Heritage Foundation, told the Taipei Times that the review aims to debunk the myth that Taiwan is part of China and to clarify just what a "one China" policy means.

He was commenting on a report issued in Washington on Tuesday by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, which recommended that the Bush administration and Congress "conduct a fresh assessment of the `one China' policy, given the changing realities in China and Taiwan."

"I think the State Department is already reviewing the `one China' policy," Tkacik said.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/06/17/2003175359


The ‘New Taiwan Person’
Centuries ago, the island had an aboriginal culture of Malay and Polynesian descent. In the 17th century, the Dutch and Portuguese had colonies here, and the imported Chinese laborers — all men — intermarried with locals, forming the basis of the majority of today’s population. According this version of history, it was only in 1887 that China declared Taiwan a part of its territory in an effort to stem Japanese expansionism, say independence activists. But when that failed, China ceded Taiwan to Japan in perpetuity.
The Japanese held Taiwan for 50 years, until their defeat in World War II. In the years immediately after, Allied Forces backed Chiang Kai-shek’s temporary occupation of Taiwan. But according to pro-independence legal experts, the Nationalists never had a legal basis to stay.
“In 1949, Taiwan did not “split off from China”, but was occupied by the losing side in the Chinese Civil War,” according to a 1999 white paper endorsed by 18 overseas Taiwanese associations.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3072143/



Lee said that the people of Taiwan need to shrug off the mentality of being a "long-term laborer" after being ruled by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) for half a century, and take up the responsibility of being the master of their own country.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/02/09/2003098044

[dArKeR]

45. [e-mail] is correct and not the other

sorry

[Kadie]

43. White House Unhappy With New Chinese Law

White House Unhappy With New Chinese Law
By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer

Monday, March 14, 2005


(03-14) 07:28 PST WASHINGTON, (AP) --


The Bush administration said Monday that China's threat to use force to stop any Taiwanese move toward independence is an "unfortunate" development that could increase tensions in the region.


"We view the adoption of the anti-secession law as unfortunate," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said. "It does not serve the purpose of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We believe it runs counter to recent progress in cross-Strait relations."


snip...
McClellan reiterated that policy, but said U.S. officials are dismayed at the threat of force.


"We oppose any attempts to determine the future of Taiwan by anything other than peaceful means," McClellan said. "We don't want to see any unilateral attempts that would increase tensions in the region. So this is not helpful."

more...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/03/14/national/w072817S47.DTL

[DireStrike]

44. That's a monstruously big legislature

And they ALL voted the same way, save two abstentions?

Sure. Representatives my ass.

[Vladimir]

48. That's my kind of vote!

:P

[Brooklyn Michael]

49. Last night's "Simpsons"

Homer: (visiting China) "You guys are Commies??? Then how come I see so many signs of a rudimentary free market?"

Scenario A (bad): China invades Taiwan. Large war ensues. Bush, forced to live up to this "spreading democracy" thing, commits an already over-extended U.S. military to some saber-rattling in SE Asia. WWIII begins in earnest, but with the BIG toys.

Scenario B (also bad): China invades Taiwan. Large war ensues. Bush shrugs, looks the other way, figures we import too much from them that we can't afford to piss off Wal-Mart's biggest supplier, as it would bottom out our economy....even his "have/have more" base.

:nuke: :smoke: :nuke:

[dArKeR]

52. Lu urges UN to condemn China

Vice President Annette Lu (???) urged the UN on Sunday to stridently condemn China over its enactment of a law authorizing the use of force against Taiwan.

Lu, who arrived in Houston Saturday evening for a three-day transit stay en route to a Central America diplomatic tour that will take her to El Salvador and Guatemala, made the appeal in a speech delivered at a dinner given in her honor by major Taiwanese associations in Texas.

The dinner happened to coincide with the passage of the "anti-secession" law by China's rubber-stamp parliament -- the National People's Congress -- in Beijing before the conclusion of its 10-day annual plenary session.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/03/15/2003246321

[rooboy]

53. Democracy ON THE MARCH.. .left...left...left right left.... n/t