China: No independence for Taiwan

CNN ^

[traumer]

BEIJING, China -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao opened the annual session of the National People's Congress in Beijing by saying a planned anti-secession law would never permit independence for Taiwan.

Addressing the gathering of almost 3,000 delegates in the vast Great Hall of the People on Saturday, Wen said the law reflects the "strong determination of the Chinese people to ... never allow secessionist forces working for `Taiwan independence' to separate Taiwan from China."

But in his two-hour speech Wen gave few details of a law that could provide a legal basis for an attack on the island.

[ProudVet77]

China will huff and they will puff, but they do not want to blow themselves up. Trying to take Taiwan is a total loser move for China, and they know it.
First they can't do it militarily
Second, they will hurt themselves as nations boycott their products.
China is one of the few countries in the world that is vulnerable to economic sanctions.

[NEBUCHADNEZZAR1961]

While I despise China, could someone remind me why Taiwan is worth losing a single US city, let alone a single precious US servicemen for?

I mean China is possibly one of our biggest, if not the biggest, trading partners so they can't be as bad as the Taiwan first crowd says they are.

[Fast1]

Fat chance China Bent Klinton is not in office in case you did not notice.

[ProudVet77]

Simple, we said we would defend Taiwans right to exist going back 50 or more years ago.
IMHO - Taiwan is the Israel of the far east. It's a democratic stick in the eye to mainland china. And freedom is catching on.

[traumer]

" Second, they will hurt themselves as nations boycott their products... "

I wish you were right.... The US customer is now almost totally dependent on their cr..

[Walkingfeather]

Um Ahem... CHina, You better start to worry if your own country catches the democracy fever rather than worry about taiwan.

[ProudVet77]

I understand your viewpoint, but I can always by my underwear (boxers not briefs:) ) from Malaysia or Bangladesh. We won't suffer long.
I want to add a note to NEBUCHADNEZZAR1961, there are 21 million people on Taiwan. I am sort of pro-democracy and I would be willing to fight to keep 21 million people free. I've done it before and I'll do it again.

[Barney59]

Problem is China see this as a multi-generational issue... if it doesn't happen in 10 years, then 100 or 1,000...

They will never give up.

[snowsislander]

Interesting how CNN avoids using the word "communist" except for the historical reference "China has considered Taiwan a renegade province since communist forces drove nationalists from the mainland in 1949".

[NEBUCHADNEZZAR1961]

Good on you. I guess you can start helping make people free by liberating those 21 million you spoke of. Taiwan has the death penalty for the private possesion of firearms. Doesn't sound to free to me ProudVet. They aren't worth dying for my friend.

[ProudVet77]

Your opinion and you are free to speak it.
If I were to think like that though (single issue decision making), I'd probably say that the USA permits the infanticide of 1.3 million children per year, and therefore is not worth helping.

[Bommer]

Taiwan has the death penalty for the private possesion of firearms.

In NYC is automatic 5 years for possession of a gun. Are they worth fighting a war on terror over?

[Fishing-guy]

In 20 years, I bet Mainland China will be democratic and maybe even have a similar democratic system like that of Republic of China on Taiwan.

BTW, the picture in the article. I didn't realize cowboy hat is a traditional dress of the Chinese.

[Goldwater4ever]

In that China is "one of our biggest trading partners so that can't be as bad***" You've got to be kidding.

Are forced abortions, religious genocide, slavery, and the major proliferator of weapons of mass destruction, bad?
Not when it compares to a cheap toaster oven /sarcasm

[NEBUCHADNEZZAR1961]

Are forced abortions, religious genocide, slavery, and the major proliferator of weapons of mass destruction, bad? Not when it compares to a cheap toaster oven /sarcasm

Sorry but we can't have it both ways. China will be, if it isn't, out biggest trading partner. If they are good enough to trade with, even give MFN status too, then they can't be all that bad. Frankly the fact that the Taiwanese will execute any private citizen who dares to posses a firearm is reason enough for me to say, "Later."

[NEBUCHADNEZZAR1961]

In NYC is automatic 5 years for possession of a gun. Are they worth fighting a war on terror over?

If that was all we were looking at, no. But they are part of this nation and therefore they are (barely). Taiwan is a different nation. Sell the all the weapons you want, they just aren't worth dying for.

[Diddle E. Squat]

While I despise China Germany , could someone remind me why Taiwan Poland is worth losing a single US city, let alone a single precious US servicemen for?

[fish hawk]

Taiwan is already independent. When a Taiwanese gets unemployed, do they get the check from China? Does China give them money for highways? The only thing connecting them to China, that I can see ,is the constant threat of invasion. It's like saying that Israel is actually Arab and they better not try to go on their own. IMHO

[Bommer]

Neither are Iraqi's or the French on D-Day worth dying for. But if you don't stop the bully on the block, they won't stop at just 1 punk to pick on. We made a pact with Taiwan. If we don't keep it, no country on earth will ever trust us to help them out. Its long overdue to kick China's ass. They only thing they got is lots of humans and very few nukes.