March 20-Increased Tensions

They did and they didnt. China still recognizes them as a province but htey nkow they have no control over them. Tawain considers themselves free but yet they are not officially recognized. So they have not officially suceded. March 20 is when they vote if they will declare there independency officially

Well I see this as a case of status quo. Say Taiwan does declare their independence officially. Then what? Does that give them more tanks, missiles and airplanes? No.

This only has meaning diplomatically. Since the two countries (oops) are seperate anyway there's no transfer of power or speeration of industry. I don't think the declaration is worth the paper it's written on, unless it can be backed up.

And there's the problem. What this declaration will do is say that Taiwan can act with impunity, because the US has their back. So, I see this as heightened aggressive posture.

But is it worth anythign if the US doesn't have the balls to back them up? I think if push came to shove, the US would try to resolve the conflict diplomatically, instead of fighting a war with China. That's just insane.

Look at what Bush did with North Korea and Iraq. See the difference? If the country can fight back, he goes a different route.

Whoa the Tawain issue sounds huge. I read that Q&A and wonder if this is so serious why not more air play in the US (or on European news agency websites).

What would the US do if they China attacks? If we respond against China it is going to get ugly.

Couple that with a potential attack somewhere in retaliation to the Iraq War, it could be a rough Friday and Saturday...

ktpr i was talkin to soem of my professor friends and they have the same view as you. I mean if tawain makes it official then the balls in Chinas court. THey can choose either to not recognize it, recognize it and do nothing (which wont happen), or attack like they have been sayin they will. It also matters if the rest of the world will recognize it as a soverign country. And okie thats my point this is huge! I dont understand y there is no major media on this. I mean this could be teh story of the century.

Looks like China is flexing it's muscles just before the election in Tawain.

Here is an article about a missle test they just had




Here is the story:
Washington Times article

read some of there prior statements more then just flexing

a link that 'proves' it stared on the 17th and 20th, too.
i believe it was the twentieth that the proverbial # hit the fan.
bush said, "On my orders, coalition forces have begun striking selected targets of military importance to undermine Saddam Hussein's ability to wage war. " he doesn't say when, he just says it on the nineteenth. the actual attack could have been before or after(probably before, as bush is a sucker puncher, preemptive strikin', vacuous devil-worshippin' redneck).
in actuality, the bombing never stopped from the first gulf war.
the 17th is also a 'good' date, because 17 is a prime and odd number, and 'they' like to do things that increase their 'odds'.
but soltices and equinoxes are power times(in their opinion, which makes them ACTUAL power times, because those who wield the power choose to move according to these dates and numerological considerations).

[Edited on 20-3-2004 by billybob]

did anyone else hear about the attempted assasination of the taiwan pres & vice pres??

i'll look for a link.

About the attempt on his life

"TAIPEI, Taiwan (CNN) -- Taiwan's voters are casting their ballots in what is expected to be a close presidential election the day after a failed assassination attempt on their leader and his running mate."

Poll's could spark crisis CNN

"TAIPEI, Taiwan (CNN) -- As campaigning for elections hits full swing across Taiwan the unfolding political drama is reverberating in capitals as far away as Beijing and Washington."

looks like this could be "unfolding"

There is also more on the front page of cnn

www.cnn.com...

The guy who got shot won.

China will be royally now.

I agree. I hope that this global upheaval is another fiery baptism for mankind and not some cheesy action movie ending (at least we wouldn'y have to watch the credits).

The thing that worries me more than the plans of men lately is the increasing evidence that Gaia is going to heave back and hock us out like a big flemn ball...

I believe the human race needs a good lesson of humility as of late. People,corporations and nations are taking to many liberties and i feel mankind has lost its way, it needs to become more focused or needs to go back to basics, either will do me fine.

Back on topic has China released any official comment about the Taiwanese elections.

[Edited on 20-3-2004 by TPL]

Well nothing happen on the surface but who knows how the events from yesterday will effect the world in the future/

the only "major" things to happen (arouns the 19th & 20th) where, the two taiwan poleticians getting shot, and the bomb's in baghdad

and taiwan electing an anti china presidnet.

oh yeah i forgot about that. well i think that the shiznit will hit the fan very soon.

3/20 may have been the start, but today seems to be a day that much more can happen. I really hate Mondays.

That Yassin assasination wont help.

People look at history it is the only key. We are playin into our past perfectly its just slightly different with people playin different roles. Many of the same things that started ww1 and ww2 are happenning now as we speak and the general populace cant see it because they are ignorant. It our job to inform the masses. We have pacifist like in the first stages of ww2 that just want to appease the powers to be. We have assasination attempts and treaties liek that of ww1. We have citizens of countries electing socialist into office because they are scared, just like italy, germany, and russia did before ww2. We have people underminding the government of soo many countries its not even funny, yes we are entitled to an opinion but to and educated one at lease. We have people yelling isolationism like those in the first days of ww2. We have friends hosting naval exercises with the enemy, friends that would love to stab us in the back after we have saved there asses many times. We have extremest groups tryin to throw the world into war for there own sick plans like in ww1. Please people wake up and take a stand. I will not sit quitely and wait for it to fall down and repeat the history of my grandfather. I will not let this world fall into ww3 without doin anything in my power to stop it because people if you thought the past 2 world wars were chatostrofic think of a war with the weapons we have now. No im not preaching anti-war and peace im preachering stand up and do not let this get out of hand like we let hiter get out of hand.