China renews Taiwan threat of war

[Mario Feldberg]

In a tough statement, the Vice-Minister at Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office Wang Zaixi said Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's recent pro-separatist activities had crossed Beijing's "red line" and that they "run the risk of triggering a war" with the mainland.

"War will break out if the island declares formal independence," state media on Wednesday quoted Wang as saying.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/east/11/18/taiwan.war/index.html

Personally I don't take this threat serious.
Taiwan is under the US umbrella. Attacking
it would be close to a declaration of war
against the US and Red China isn't that
stupid, at least I hope so...

Imagine if it would really happen...

 

[Knight-Dragon]

The Chinese had declared it so far too many numerous times, to be able to back away fr such a statement shld Taiwan really declare independence. I expect the Communists would really go to war, comes what may, shld such an event comes thru or else, the Communist Party leadership will lose face in front of their own people.

However I think the DPP guys in Taiwan will not be so foolish to do so openly, particularly when the Taiwanese themselves are divided on the issue. I expect many don't wish to rock the boat at all, and would prefer the status quo. Also, consider the hundreds of thousands (perhaps even millions) of Taiwanese now resident on the mainland, either working or studying there.

Time is on the mainland's side. Probably during the next election with the KMT and James Soong's party working together, the pro-independence DPP will probably lose.

 

[Simon Darkshade]

Very nice and civilized behaviour from the Red Chinese. One looks forward to the day when we are resolved to speak to them in the same language in which they have addressed us for such a long time, to use some useful words from history.

 

[Ozz]

Should be a time lapse on land claims made at the UN.

If it's not yours for 50 years, yer claim is void.

That'd pull the proaganda clothes off naked aggression.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

On what legal basis does the U.S. have military arrangements with Taiwan? Thirty years ago, the U.S. acknowledged that Taiwan is part of China, and ended diplomatic relations with it. So whats the basis for selling it advanced fighter jets and being willing to go to war in its 'defense'?

 

[MarineCorps]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, I don't even think that China has the ability to get troops over there

Taiwans military

Chinas military

Our military

 

[Hitro]

All just rhetoric, as always, on both sides.

 

[smalltalk]

Why should Taiwan declare independece?

Maybe Taiwan could act as a beacon or a bait to the Chinese. Like Western Germany was to Eastern Germany. Don't you think that the North Koreans sometimes wish to be in South Korea?

China's structure has to break from within. Couldn't a Taiwan, that is still Chinese, be a blueprint or an inspiration for a new China?


(Let me add, that I don't know much about Taiwan, so I can't judge if it deserves to be a role model.)

 

[Ozz]

Originally posted by smalltalk
Why should Taiwan declare independece?

Historically, Taiwan is the legitimate governement of China.
It's the Mainland that should declare independance.

It's like if the US never declared independance from Britian
during the revolution, and 50 years later (1830 or so)
threatens war if Britian declares independance.

 

[thestonesfan]

That little island has to be extremely crowded. Could Chinese troops even fit there?

 

[smalltalk]

Of course I don't approve of Chinese diplomatic, uhm, procedings.

Are there any practical effects if Taiwan remains Chinese - on paper?

I guess we will have to be patient with China. While some of the Chinese actions are unacceptable (Tibet, Tiananamen, Falun Gong), a direct confrontation would not necessarily improve the overall situation for the Chinese people.

 

[Double Barrel]

China is not an ally.

They are not even our friends.

They are a wolf in sheep's clothing.

They are an enemy of the U.S., yet we are asleep at the wheel and it will be too late when we realize China's true colors.

Failure to understand the threat will be to our detriment.

Do not trust the Red Communist bastids!!! They are planning our demise while we get fatter and lazier and even more preoccupied with being entertained at the table of glutinous desires.

Mark my words: We will be at war with China within our lifetimes.

 

[Little Raven]

Don't worry, WalMart will make sure everyone plays nice...or at least nice enough.

Say what you will about globalization and the harm it brings; it definately makes war a lot less likely. When the economies of two countries rely on each other to the extent that China and the US do, war just doesn't make good business sense....

 

[Ozz]

Originally posted by Double Barrel
China is not an ally.

They are not even our friends.

Mark my words: We will be at war with China within our lifetimes.

Right

Right

Wrong, You are their market for their crap goods, they ain't going
to do anything to hurt Walmart, Zellers, Stedmans and the
dollars stores, and Walmart, Zellers, Stedmans and the
dollars stores are'nt going to allow the US government is
disrupt their supply of slave labour/ pollution control free goods.

Same goes for Canada BTW.

 

[Desmond Hawkins]

China does not have the capability to invade Taiwan. Attempting to would mean the end of their navy and air force.

 

[GrandAdmiral]

Taiwan has a better argument for independence than most I have heard. They have had their own government, military, economy and have had geographical isolation for decades. In short they have established their own nation long enough that they have a right to sovereignty. Since we (the US) has supported Taiwan in the various ways that it has I think its our responsibilty to defend Taiwan. If not all our deomcracy talk is rubbish.

 

[Sparrowhawk]

If not all our deomcracy talk is rubbish.

That's what it all comes down to. It's all very well to invade a helpless country in the name of democracy, but I wonder whether the current US admin has the guts to take on the chinese.

That said, intervention probably wouldn't require a significant investment in ground troops on the part of the US, since the chinese don't have the amphibious capacity to make a decent invasion. Control of the air would be key, and I think the US has that pretty well sewn up.

 

[GrandAdmiral]

Well we sent a carrier battle group near the strait once and that shut everyone up. So the question would be do the Chinese have the guts to sink our battlegroup (if they could) then engage the most heavily defended island in the world? I don't really see how the Chinese could win if they attacked. All they could do is lay seige to Taiwan through missile strikes that would only kill civilians. I think that would shore up enough support in the US admin.

 

[Moff Jerjerrod]

Originally posted by Double Barrel
China is not an ally.

They are not even our friends.

They are a wolf in sheep's clothing.

They are an enemy of the U.S., yet we are asleep at the wheel and it will be too late when we realize China's true colors.

Failure to understand the threat will be to our detriment.

Do not trust the Red Communist bastids!!! They are planning our demise while we get fatter and lazier and even more preoccupied with being entertained at the table of glutinous desires.

Mark my words: We will be at war with China within our lifetimes.

Brilliantly stated and I agree with you wholeheartedly. They know what our weaknesses are and how to exploit them. How long would america continue to support taiwan if we started losing troops by the tens of thousands?

 

[thestonesfan]

Originally posted by Moff Jerjerrod


Brilliantly stated and I agree with you wholeheartedly. They know what our weaknesses are and how to exploit them. How long would america continue to support taiwan if we started losing troops by the tens of thousands?

Hell, I'd quit supporting Taiwan if China threatened to quit sending us fireworks!