POLITICS: China-Taiwan Tension Worsening

Originally posted by Phoenix
Question; shold the Taiwanese just surrender their independace ala "Chamberlain" style as was done on the eve of WW-II in the false hope of world peace or should the Taiwanese express their right to self detemination irregardless of the Chinese desire to control them.

What is your opinion, "peace in our time" or "freedom at all costs"

Where do you draw the line when it comes to your own comfort over others freedom?

Originally posted by Phoenix
What is your opinion, "peace in our time" or "freedom at all costs"

Where do you draw the line when it comes to your own comfort over others freedom?

From: BBC: Taiwan head seeks China dialogue

Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian has said he is ready for talks with China.
He was speaking on the anniversary of the establishment of the island state, which the communist mainland regards as a renegade province.

"Because we can't communicate, there's a lot of misunderstanding," said Mr Chen, who has backed an independent policy since taking power in 2000.

He also called for arms control talks to try to defuse military tensions across the Straits of Taiwan.


The president also said that China should talk to Taiwan about direct charter flights from the island to the Chinese mainland.

However, he also defended his proposal to seek a multi-billion dollar purchase of US armaments.

"Every citizen should recognize that increasing Taiwan's defensive strength is the first condition of preserving the peaceful status quo in the Taiwan Strait," he said.

From Xinhuanet: Chen Shui-bian's call for talks discredited :
Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian was accused Sunday of playing word games in his "national day" speech.

Mainland researchers described his call for cross-Straits peace talks as "more symbolic than substantial."

The researchers said Chen's peace overture was "too insincere and vague to be treated seriously by the mainland"

Chen promoted Taiwan as an independent country throughout an earlier address yesterday and justified the island's planned purchase of American weapons.

His administration is planning to buy 610.8 billion new Taiwanese dollars (US$18.2 billion) worth of US-manufactured anti-missile systems, planes and submarines. The move has met with strong opposition from the Taiwanese people.

"You can see clearly Chen is determined to push for 'Taiwan independence' through military build-up and his talk about peace is nothing but deception"

Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan expressed on Saturday strong indignation for the recent convening of the "US-Taiwan defence conference" in the United States.

The United States and Taiwan recently held an annual defence conference in Arizona, during which it was reported that US Deputy Under Secretary of Defence Richard Lawless urged Taiwan to approve its special budget for the US arms purchase.

"This practice helped motivate the Taiwan independence forces and is very harmful to peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits," Kong said."

CONTROVERSIAL DEAL: A pan-blue politician attacked two pan-green lawmakers after they pointed out that the deal to buy US weapons was formulated by the KMT.

Taipei Times: Legislators scuffle over arms budget

From Military displays Patriot missiles

Saturday, Oct 23, 2004,Page 1
The military showed off its missile defense system to the media for the first time yesterday, but said it badly needed more advanced weaponry to counter the threat posed by China.

The defense ministry opened one of its three Patriot missile bases to reporters in a rare move apparently aimed at trying to win legislative support for the controversial US$18 billion special arms-purchase budget.

"The missiles can be used to shoot down incoming enemy aircraft, ballistic and cruise missiles," General Ku Feng-tai (�J����), head of missile command, told reporters.

The military said it was confident in the ability of the three PAC-2 anti-missile batteries, but that it needed more advanced versions to match the increasing number of ballistic missiles China had targeted at Taiwan.

"The foremost threat from the Chinese communists is their some 600 ballistic missiles," said Admiral Chen Pang-chih (�–M��), head of the political warfare bureau.

The ministry estimated the number of ballistic missiles aimed at Taiwan would reach 800 by the end of 2006.

From Pan-blues block arms deal citing Powell's comments

The statute governing the arms deal with the US failed to pass the Procedure Committee yesterday as the pan-blue camp claimed they objected to the statute in response to US Secretary of State Colin Powell's statement that "Taiwan is not a sovereign state," and the meeting ended in confusion as the lawmakers from the two camps threw their lunch boxes and other items at each other to vent their frustration.

The pan-blue camp lawmakers boycotted the statute yesterday, saying that if Powell does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state, then Taiwan should refrain from buying weapons from the US.

Click on DPP Legislator Chen Chong-yi (above) for the full article...

From Taipei Times: MOFA blasts US `betrayal'

Minister of Foreign Affairs Mark Chen criticized Secretary of State Colin Powell's remarks on the cross-strait relationship two days ago as a breach of the "mutual trust" shared between Taiwan and the US.

"The US has told us not to give them surprises, but this time it is the US giving us a surprise. This is unfair. Taiwan and the US share the same interests and we should build mutual trust. But Powell's talk has breached mutual trust," Chen said.

"This is indeed the first time the US has used relatively heavy language [about the cross-strait relationship]," Chen said when questioned by other lawmakers.

"There is only `one China.' Taiwan is not independent. It does not enjoy sovereignty as a nation, and that remains our policy, our firm policy," Powell told the Phoenix TV.

Originally posted by bodebliss
The U.S. preparedness strategies are moving in such a way as they would be there in the event of a chinese attack.

They are coordinating and integrating w/ the Tawanese. They are moving forces to the ready.