Posted on 09/30/2007 5:45:50 AM PDT by decimon
TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party passed a resolution Sunday asserting the island's separate identity from rival China and calling for a referendum on Taiwan's sovereignty.
The resolution for a "normal country" — passed after heated debate at a boisterous party congress — calls for general use of "Taiwan" as the island's name, without specifically abolishing its current formal name, the Republic of China. It also calls for the enactment of a new constitution, but gives no specific deadline for either that or the referendum.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Is David taking on Goliath?
Oh, boy.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Maybe I can start some trouble by pinging someone.
Ping!
It certainly could force the issue between the Chinas.
Probably trying to get this out of the way before the Olympics. That is the very last thing the Chi-coms don’t want to mess up.
Pretty good timing.
There will be a war of words, however, plus threats, wild gesticulations and ominous naval movements from the ChiComs.
However, what can they do? My bets are on the wily Taiwanese who are pushing the pressure points slowly, gently, but incrementally.
Leni
Leni
And the timing...
#1 - They are making a shrewd political move associated with the coming Olympics, wanting to get this statement out in the open and public at a time when there is less chance of the PRC reacting militarily.
#2 - They are careful not to make any actual change, other than verbally referring to future, potential changes.
#3 - As far as I am concerned, it states the obvious. The island is a seperate and distinct entity from the mainland, politically, militarily, socially, and economically.
It will be interesting to watch the response by the communists (CCP).
Remarkably mild, so far:
"Wen said China stood ready work with Taiwanese for unification and stressed that Beijing wanted to accomplish that peacefully.
"We will continue to work with all the Taiwan compatriots to oppose and repulse separatist activities for 'Taiwan independence' and advance the great cause of China's peaceful reunification," Wen said in the speech, delivered with Communist Party leaders seated nearby, and addressed an audience of Chinese political elite and foreign diplomats in Beijing's Great Hall of the People.
Wen's remarks contrast with Beijing's recent alarmist rhetoric against Taiwan."
I tremble inside at the thought of this. I have many friends in Taipei (one of whom is a Captain in the Taiwan Navy). It’s a very bold move, and the timing is shrewd. But China holds huge hunks of American capital in its hands, and I fear that if we try to defend Taiwan, the PRC will pull the fiscal rug out from under us.
What they hold are IOUs.
I think they should declare independence, and we should recognize during the 2008 Olympics: The Chicoms would NOT dare do anything with the world-spotlight on them full-blast.. (The perfect strategy, it is..).
On the other hand I’ve not seen much sign of ball growing. There is some talk about development of cruise missiles, and some talk about name changing and UN membership. But it is all talk. They need to stand up for themselves and simply declare independance. They will not. Reading their press and talking with Taiwanese individually, I think they don’t know who they are, or they are too afraid of China to articulate it.
I was there just a few weeks ago when they (largely) shut down the north end of the island for a Typhoon. But It amounted to what we Americans would describe as a strong summer rain. A country that is afraid of a bit of water is not one, I think, that will take advantage of the olympics timing to declare independance.
I would like to be wrong about this. I find the Taiwanese much more friendly and less uptight, than say, Japanese or Koreans. I enjoy their company. Certainly they deserve the same recognition as those others as a free state.
C.W.
"First will be that the official name of the government will be changed from The Republic of China to The Republic of Taiwan.
Second will a formal announcement that the government of The Republic of Taiwan renounces any claim to be the legitimate government of China.
The Chicoms will be helpless to prevent this. They simply cannot take any military actions during the Olympics. By the time the Games are over, the announcements are fait accomplish." By Dr. Jack Wheeler
They need to declare independence from the USA rather than from China.
Prescient fellow, Dr. Wheeler.
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