Bush says does not support independence for Taiwan -(Bush Shafts Taiwan, mine)

Reuters ^ | 10-26-02

[tallhappy]

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush said on Friday the United States would use its influence to ensure China and Taiwan settle their differences peacefully and promised to make it clear to Taipei that Washington does not support independence.

In a news conference with Chinese President Jiang Zemin, Bush said the United States stood by the "one China" policy, which acknowledges that Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is only one China and that Taiwan is part of China.

"The 'one China' policy means that the issue ought to be resolved peacefully," Bush said.

"We've got influence with some in the region. We intend to make sure that the issue is resolved peacefully, and that includes making it clear that we do not support independence," Bush added.

Taiwan's president, Chen Shui-bian, has voiced support for a referendum on formal independence from China.

The move outraged Beijing, which views the island as a renegade province and a linchpin in Sino-U.S. relations.

Beijing had hoped Bush would repeat a pledge not to back independence for Taiwan, which China says must eventually be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary.

Nationalists headed by Chiang Kai-shek fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war to Mao Zedong's communists. Washington shifted diplomatic recognition to Beijing in 1979.

But the United States has offered Taiwan the biggest arms package in a decade and Bush has pledged to do "whatever it takes" to help the democratically governed island protect itself.

Bush did not repeat that pledge at Friday's news conference.

But during a visit to China earlier this year, he said, "When my country makes an agreement, we stick with it, and there is (something) called the Taiwan Relations Act and I honour that act, which says we will help Taiwan defend herself if provoked."

China says it is seriously concerned about the U.S. warming to Taiwan under Bush and has called on Washington to halt military contacts and arms sales to the island.

[ffrancone]

Tallhappy:

In the early seventies, the President of the United States signed an agreement with China stating that Taiwan and China were part of the same country. In return, the opening of China gave us an enormous strategic advantage over the then Soviet Union. This happened at a time of great weakness of the United Sates. Our economy was in shambles. Pacifists controlled the United States house and senate and were dismantling the CIA and our national defense.

Nixon's move to ally with China probably had a lot to do with containment working thru the dismal 70's until we got a real president and a real foreign policy.

As much as I would like to see Taiwan a separate country, do you really want our current president to say that the commitments of the United States are meaningless? Especially when we benefitted so richly from those committments?

W is doing as much as he can to help Taiwan, given the binding agreements of previous American presidents. Believe me, China is not happy with this President.

[BillCompton]

So now we cower beneath anyone with a nuclear weapon, huh? Don't grovel on my behalf.

Cower? Well, actually, yeah. Grovel, no. You have a right to be brave with your life. You do not have a right to be brave with my family's life.

If you and your son were out hunting and a man meets you in the woods carrying a gun and tells you to get off his land, do you walk up and slap the guy just because you know the police will come and punish him if he kills you both?

Recognizing Taiwan would be a slap in the face. Now maybe they wouldn't shoot, but why find out?

[BlackbirdSST]

BillCompton said.This is not a "sell-out" by Bush! Nixon. One China. Ford. One China. Carter. One Chine. Reagan. One China. Bush. One China. Bubba. One China. Bush. One China. Do you dim wits see a pattern here? What Bush did do as one of his first International pronouncements is that he would defend Taiwan. He later "clarified" it to be more diplomatic, but the message was clear to China. What other evidence do you people have that he has "sold-out"? Where did he say he would not defend Taiwan from China?

And since BillCompton didn't bother to read my post the first time around, Blackbird said:I don't really have a dog in this fight, meaning I really haven't an informed opinion on the one China policy, but I would be willing to wager that if China wanted Taiwan, they could have it intact within 72-96 hours.Too much time has passed, and China has made sure enough of "it's kind" have infiltrated, and Taiwan will fall from within. JMO...Blackbird.

Bill, I clearly stated I have an un-informed opinion. No dog in this fight. I didn't challenge W's policy, nor do I refer to anyone as "dimwit". I simply state that if China decides it want's Taiwan, Taiwan will crumble from within, and guess what dimwit, there isn't a damn thing you or W can do to stop it. Does this not match a "One China Policy"? It'll be over before CNN can setup a camera crew. Direct your diatribe somewhere else. Blackbird.

[philman_36]

Goodbye Taiwan, hello Formosa.

[LinnieBeth]

I'm confused- but then the whole "one China" policy has always confused me.

Are we going to defend Taiwan or are we going to let them become communist?

[BillCompton]

As much as I would like to see Taiwan a separate country, do you really want our current president to say that the commitments of the United States are meaningless? Especially when we benefitted so richly from those committments?

I agree completely. You know it seems that a lot of "armchair diplomats" confuse the power to do something with the wisdom of doing something. China is an emerging super-power. Their economy is second largest in the world, roughly half of our economy. Within 15 to 20 years, they will have a larger economy than ours. They are not, at least have not been, imperialistic and we don't want them to be. Yes we should make it clear that we would provide help for Taiwan if China should try to invade. When it gets to the point where China does have the military capacity to invade Taiwan, there will be a political solution. Power works that way.

[Glenn]

Of course we support "One China". Do you have any idea how many billions of dollars of American money are running around that country chasing a standard of living that is ever improving? Do you recall that GWB's dad was ambassador to China? Do you understand that in the coming economic war Taiwan won't make a tinker's dam in the bigger scheme of things? We are capitalists first.

[RLK]

In a news conference with Chinese President Jiang Zemin, Bush said the United States stood by the "one China" policy, which acknowledges that Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is only one China and that Taiwan is part of China.

----------------------------------

How I wish Bush would have stayed in Texas.

[BillCompton]

Hi Blackbird, I guess I responded to your post by accident. I meant to take no issue with your post.

I simply state that if China decides it want's Taiwan, Taiwan will crumble from within, and guess what dimwit, there isn't a damn thing you or W can do to stop it.

Man I love talk like that! I might suggest that you throw in a couple "sports", they work well too. Like "Listen, sport, if you had read my..."

[tm22721]

What Bush says, and what he does when the chips go down in defense of Taiwan, are two different things.

Those who cannot read between the lines in Beijing will suffer the consequences of any moves against Taiwan.

BUMP

[Dave S]

prediction by sean David Morton on the Bell show

Now isnt that our gold standard of proof. Did you check it with Dr. Doom?

[BlackbirdSST]

Like water under a bridge, "sport"!!! Blackbird.

[RLK]

Are we going to defend Taiwan or are we going to let them become communist?

-------------------------

We won't even defend California against invasion by Mexico.

[KDD]

The challenge comes because two of Eurasia’s greatest powers – China and Russia – are powers in transition. And it is difficult to know their intentions when they do not know their own futures. If they become America’s friends, that friendship will steady the world. But if not, the peace we seek may not be found.

China, in particular, has taken different shapes in different eyes at different times. An empire to be divided. A door to be opened. A model of collective conformity. A diplomatic card to be played. One year, it is said to be run by "the butchers of Beijing." A few years later, the same administration pronounces it a "strategic partner."

We must see China clearly -- not through the filters of posturing and partisanship. China is rising, and that is inevitable. Here, our interests are plain: We welcome a free and prosperous China. We predict no conflict. We intend no threat. And there are areas where we must try to cooperate: preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction… attaining peace on the Korean peninsula.

Yet the conduct of China’s government can be alarming abroad, and appalling at home. Beijing has been investing its growing wealth in strategic nuclear weapons... new ballistic missiles… a blue-water navy and a long-range airforce. It is an espionage threat to our country. Meanwhile, the State Department has reported that "all public dissent against the party and government [has been] effectively silenced" – a tragic achievement in a nation of 1.2 billion people. China’s government is an enemy of religious freedom and a sponsor of forced abortion – policies without reason and without mercy.

All of these facts must be squarely faced. China is a competitor, not a strategic partner. We must deal with China without ill-will – but without illusions.

By the same token, that regime must have no illusions about American power and purpose. As Dean Rusk observed during the Cold War, "It is not healthy for a regime ... to incur, by their lawlessness and aggressive conduct, the implacable opposition of the American people."

We must show American power and purpose in strong support for our Asian friends and allies – for democratic South Korea across the Yellow Sea... for democratic Japan and the Philippines across the China seas ... for democratic Australia and Thailand. This means keeping our pledge to deter aggression against the Republic of Korea, and strengthening security ties with Japan. This means expanding theater missile defenses among our allies.

And this means honoring our promises to the people of Taiwan. We do not deny there is one China. But we deny the right of Beijing to impose their rule on a free people. As I’ve said before, we will help Taiwan to defend itself.

The greatest threats to peace come when democratic forces are weak and disunited. Right now, America has many important bilateral alliances in Asia. We should work toward a day when the fellowship of free Pacific nations is as strong and united as our Atlantic Partnership. If I am president, China will find itself respected as a great power, but in a region of strong democratic alliances. It will be unthreatened, but not unchecked.

China will find in America a confident and willing trade partner. And with trade comes our standing invitation into the world of economic freedom. China’s entry into the World Trade Organization is welcome, and this should open the door for Taiwan as well. But given China’s poor record in honoring agreements, it will take a strong administration to hold them to their word.

If I am president, China will know that America’s values are always part of America’s agenda. Our advocacy of human freedom is not a formality of diplomacy, it is a fundamental commitment of our country. It is the source of our confidence that communism, in every form, has seen its day.

And I view free trade as an important ally in what Ronald Reagan called "a forward strategy for freedom." The case for trade is not just monetary, but moral. Economic freedom creates habits of liberty. And habits of liberty create expectations of democracy. There are no guarantees, but there are good examples, from Chile to Taiwan. Trade freely with China, and time is on our side.

Governor George W. Bush - 'A Distinctly American Internationalism'

Nov, 1999

He said nothing new yesterday.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Anything the President does is bad in your view. I suppose we should not allow them to try to work on a settlement? What would you do if you were President?

[Lion's Cub]

What Bush says, and what he does when the chips go down in defense of Taiwan, are two different things

On what do you base that? The way he apologized to Zemin when they took the EP3 and the crew hostage? Perhaps it's the way he vowed to fight terrorism but won't even take the basic step of protecting the borders? Or maybe it's the way he said he would pre-emptively attack Iraq and then is on the verge of agreeing to a senseless UN resolution which would delay the attack by a minimum of 75 days? Or maybe it's the way he is now insisting on recognizing a palestinian state by 2003? This president seems to have a different policy for every audience he speaks to. Who the hell knows what his real plans are anymore? They seem to change with the wind.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Well, it can be decided 30 years ago, but if GW doesn't do something about it now, he is obviously to blame.

The problem here is not what he does or does not do. The problem here is some people are just plain ol' anti-Bush, period.

BTW, why hasn't Bush provided me reparations for my ancestors 3000+ years ago when we were slaves in Egypt? Bush sucks.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

BTW, if you'll notice, it's another hit and run post. But thank you for replying to the original, I enjoyed what you wrote.

[billclintonwillrotinhell]

I saw this coming when the "Compassionate One" decided to be neutral on China's Summer Olympics bid, which indeed was awarded to Beijing several months ago. How can Bush, with a straight face, bash Cuba's Castro on one day and ignore China's voluminous human rights violations the next?

If it was Taiwan with veto power in the United Nations on the Iraq vote, I have a feeling Dubya would be kissing up to them instead of the commie baby-killers in Beijing.

[anniegetyourgun]

You nailed it....same diplo-speak the last several presidents have issued.