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Feinstein insists U.S. not bound to protect Taiwan
Mercury News ^ | 4/20/06 | K. Oanh Ha

Posted on 04/21/2006 3:18:06 PM PDT by NormsRevenge

In remarks certain to please visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Thursday told a gathering of Chinese-American business and cultural leaders in San Francisco that the United States has no obligation to defend Taiwan if it provokes China into a military confrontation.

Feinstein's comments came on a day when Hu and President Bush sat down together in Washington to discuss a range of issues -- including Taiwan, which China regards as the No. 1 issue in U.S.-China relations. Before his first U.S. visit this week, Hu urged Taiwanese leaders to resume talks with China and called actions toward independence a threat to the region.

``It is important to point out a common misconception -- nowhere does the TRA explicitly require the U.S. to go to war with the mainland over Taiwan,'' Feinstein said, referring to the Taiwan Relations Act, at the annual conference of the Committee of 100 in San Francisco. The group helps foster U.S.-China relations.

The act, passed by the U.S. Congress in 1979, is the foundation of U.S.-Taiwan relations. Some supporters of Taiwan assume the United States is legally bound to defend the island, but the United States' obligation to Taiwan has increasingly become a point of contention as Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian has promoted Taiwan independence. His provocations have irked the Bush administration and caused tensions in U.S.-Taiwan relations.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory. Since 1979, the United States has acknowledged China's ``one-China'' policy and recognizes Beijing as the legitimate government of all China.

Feinstein isn't the first U.S. official to assert that the United States isn't legally bound to defend Taiwan, but her comments are certain to cause ripples. Bush had pledged in 2001 that the ``U.S. will do whatever it takes to defend Taiwan.''

(Excerpt) Read more at kentucky.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: 109th; china; chineseamericans; difi; feinstein; hu; huvisit; richardblum; taiwan
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To: NormsRevenge
... the United States has no obligation to defend Taiwan if it provokes China into a military confrontation.

What a filthy slime bag of a hag!

Why are ALL DemocRAT women either ugly, stupid or traitorous?

41 posted on 04/21/2006 3:59:31 PM PDT by FerdieMurphy (For English, Press One. (Tookie, you won the Pulitzer and Nobel prizes. Oh, too late.))
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To: FerdieMurphy
I'd rather protect Taiwan than San Franfreko.
42 posted on 04/21/2006 4:02:03 PM PDT by BW2221
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To: NormsRevenge

I understand her husband has business interests there?
Of course, that has no impact on her policy, I'm sure.


43 posted on 04/21/2006 4:03:33 PM PDT by bordergal
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To: rhombus
Define "provokes"

"Exists". It's the same with Israel.

44 posted on 04/21/2006 4:05:53 PM PDT by ThinkDifferent (Chloe rocks)
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To: SF Republican

She rode to national fame on the basis of an assassination. Before Moscone was killed, she couldn't get elected mayor. Came very very close to being recalled a few years after her "ascension." I never understood how either she or Boxer had statewide appeal, but then I forgot that whole "Year of the Woman crap they foisted on us that got them entrenched.


45 posted on 04/21/2006 4:08:51 PM PDT by Right Cal Gal (Conservatives know the names of Tookie's VICTIMS!!)
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To: NormsRevenge
ChiFi: The US is not obligated to defend Taiwan if it provokes China..

Translation: The US is not obligated to defend Taiwan if it in any way depreciates Richard Blum's (her hubby) investments in China.

Senator Feinstein, you belong in jail!

46 posted on 04/21/2006 4:11:37 PM PDT by Carry_Okie (There are people in power who are truly evil.)
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To: NormsRevenge
DiFI is only protecting the family investments in China. Since when does a US Senator set American foreign policy? Get her off the stage.
47 posted on 04/21/2006 4:11:52 PM PDT by Uncle Hal
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To: NormsRevenge

No conflict of interest ... "oh hubby! Their attacking your masters again... shall I issue the appropriate propaganda?" Sheesh! Frankenfeinstein in top form.


48 posted on 04/21/2006 4:17:29 PM PDT by GOP_1900AD (Stomping on "PC," destroying the Left, and smoking out faux "conservatives" - Take Back The GOP!)
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To: Centurion2000
What the hell is wrong with the USA?

What are you willing to do?

Will you volunteer for our military and spend the next few years in Taiwan?

Would you be willing to spend a whole lot more in taxes to pay other people to do it?

Or will you just type stuff on a message board?

49 posted on 04/21/2006 4:24:39 PM PDT by Doe Eyes
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To: FerdieMurphy

My perrenial question: why is she (and her ilk) walking around?


50 posted on 04/21/2006 4:28:25 PM PDT by Salvey (ancest)
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To: Doe Eyes
What are you willing to do?

Will you volunteer for our military and spend the next few years in Taiwan?

Been there and done that already. USMC and did it for Saudi Arabia when a big bad guy named Saddam invaded his next door neighbor. You might have heard of something called Desert Storm?

We should defend Taiwan just as strenuously.

51 posted on 04/21/2006 4:32:40 PM PDT by Centurion2000 (Every man must be tempted, sometimes,to hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.)
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To: Caveman Lawyer
I need some more definitive authority before I belive that the President has signed on to the "One China" policy.

From the White House website, from President Bush's remarks of April 20, 2006, on the arrival of Hu:

The United States will also be candid about our policy toward Taiwan. The United States maintains our one China policy based on the three communiqués and the Taiwan Relations Act. We oppose unilateral changes in the status quo in the Taiwan Strait by either side, and we urge all parties to avoid confrontational or provocative acts. And we believe the future of Taiwan should be resolved peacefully.

52 posted on 04/21/2006 4:35:31 PM PDT by snowsislander
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To: Ben Chad
"Red meat for Michael Savage."

when she opens her big stupid mouth i can't listen to him for 3 days. if words could kill he would be in jail and she would be pushing up flowers.

she is going to give him a heart attack.
53 posted on 04/21/2006 4:35:38 PM PDT by postaldave (McCain & Bush, you traitorous !#!$!!s. you two are no different then ted kennedy.)
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To: originalbuckeye
A lady with whom I work said that yesterday Bush declared that Taiwan was a part of China.

He probably thinks Texas is part of Mexico, too.

54 posted on 04/21/2006 4:41:26 PM PDT by nosofar
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To: Centurion2000
We should defend Taiwan just as strenuously.

But we is still not you.

55 posted on 04/21/2006 4:41:43 PM PDT by Doe Eyes
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To: NormsRevenge
I wonder who *would* defend Taiwan at this point. Nothing short of a ground assault against The Continental US would cause us to do anything against China.

Well, maybe not even then. Mexico seems to be getting away with it without so much as a dirty look from most of Washington. The Minutemen may help protect Taiwan.
56 posted on 04/21/2006 4:45:58 PM PDT by KoRn
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To: gondramB
Well, the Taiwan relations act does contain this threat but apparently we interpret this as saying it doesn't apply if Taiwan provokes the attack.

Eventually, China will attack Taiwan and this is how we'll interpret the situation, that Taiwan provoked the attack. We'll 'give' Taiwan to China in exchange for some vague assurance that China will hold back N. Korea from attacking S. Korea or some such. I suspect China is also smart enough to attack Taiwan when there's a Democrat in the White House.

57 posted on 04/21/2006 4:48:31 PM PDT by nosofar
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To: Centurion2000

Because we are a vassal state. Without the propping up of our currency that China does by funding our deficit spending, the economy would collapse. We would be up the creek without a paddle, China would go back in time to the 80's.


58 posted on 04/21/2006 4:54:32 PM PDT by jeremiah (How much did we get for that rope?)
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To: RightWhale

"Taiwan is a US Territory. The US may elect to defend it or to sell it or grant it statehood."



Taiwan is not a U.S. territory. That's an urban legend.


59 posted on 04/21/2006 5:03:45 PM PDT by AuH2ORepublican (http://auh2orepublican.blogspot.com/)
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To: Ben Chad

.....cooked well done to our liking!!!!


60 posted on 04/21/2006 5:17:35 PM PDT by jragan2001
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