Free Republic

Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. believes that New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin is getting national attention because of his race, rather than his exceptional play. "Jeremy Lin is a good player but all the hype is because he's Asian. Black players do what he does every night and don't get the same praise," Mayweather wrote on his Twitter account on Monday afternoon. "Its OK for ESPN to give their opinion but I say something and everyone questions Floyd Mayweather," the boxer tweeted. "I'm speaking my mind on behalf of other NBA players. They are programmed to be politically correct...

Dear Mr President: As the presidents of organizations representing US citizens deeply concerned about the state of democracy in Taiwan, we write to you to express our collective disappointment with recent statements and actions by your administration that we feel represented lapses in the political neutrality of the US government with regard to the recently concluded national elections in Taiwan. On Jan. 14, 2012, Taiwanese went to the polls in only the fifth presidential election in that countryÂ’s history. Despite multiple assurances from the US Department of State that Washington would work with whoever is elected through a fair and...

U.S. should let Taiwan buy F-16 fighter jet Vice President Joe Biden is in Fort Worth today for two private fundraising events for President Barack Obama's re-election campaign. Given that Tarrant County ranks second only to Orange County, Calif., for its deep-red Republican hue, there probably wasn't a need to book the convention center. That's not to say this slice of Texas is devoid of elected Democrats. State Sen. Wendy Davis and state Reps. Marc Veasey and Lon Burnam have all garnered a headline now and then for their work in Austin. Of course, Veasey hopes to have an opportunity...

The resolution, set to be introduced Friday at the RNC’s annual winter meeting by Oklahoma committee member Carolyn McLarty, aims to shoot down what some see as an Obama administration trial balloon in the form of a recent opinion column in the New York Times by Paul V. Kane, a Marine Corps veteran and former international security fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government." Mr. Kane called on Mr. Obama to “enter into closed-door negotiations with Chinese leaders to write off the $1.14 trillion of American debt” currently held by China. Mr. Kane said the write-off would be “in...

How China is advancing its military reach As the US shifts its focus to Asia, Alexander Neill, head of the Asia Security Programme at the Royal United Services Institute, sets out the Chinese military advances challenging the regional balance. At the Pentagon recently, US President Barack Obama announced deep cuts to the US military and set out a shift in attention towards the Asia-Pacific region, in a thinly-veiled message to China. Despite a narrative of peaceful intent, China's leaders have struggled to reassure the US over the direction of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Both countries admit that their military...

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan's president won re-election Saturday, paving the way for a continuation of the China-friendly policies that have delighted Beijing and Washington, and caused consternation among some in Taiwan worried about the durability of their de facto independence. With about 99 percent of the vote counted, the official Central Election Commission said President Ma Ying-jeou had garnered 51.6 percent of the total against 45.6 percent for Tsai Ing-wen of the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party. A third candidate, James Soong, once a heavyweight with Ma's Nationalist Party, had 2.8 percent. Ma's Nationalist Party also retained control of...

China pans navy’s new attack boat SEA SHARKS:Although the domestic program for the stealth missile boats faced typical development issues, a defense reporter believes those have now been fixed By J. Michael Cole / Staff Reporter The Ministry of National Defense yesterday refused to comment on a report in the Chinese Communist Party-run Guangming Daily saying that the Kuang Hua VI (KH-6) fast attack missile boats that have been in service in the Taiwanese navy since 2010 were plagued by deficiencies and were a “fantasy.” Taiwan commissioned its first squadron of 11 KH-6 radar-evading fast-attack craft, produced by China Shipbuilding...

January 1st, 1912 was the first day of the Republic of China. Happy 100th birthday!

Another Asian Fukushima Imminent? Taiwan imports 99 percent of its energy, which is vital to its rapidly industrializing economy. The island nation's electricity demand was recently growing at almost 5 percent per year, but this is slowing to about 3.3 percent per annum to 2013. Nuclear power has been a significant part of the electricity supply for two decades and now provides 17 percent of the country's overall energy needs. But this has come at a potential cost. The country's three nuclear power plants (NPPs) comprise four General Electric boiling water reactors and two Westinghouse pressurized water reactors. Taiwan launched its nuclear power project...

Diocese may push for assassin’s canonization September 30, 2011 The Archdiocese of Seoul may launch a cause for the beatification of Thomas An Jung-geun, a Korean Catholic who assassinated the Japanese prime minister when Korea was under Japanese rule. The assassin “acted in righteous defense of the nation,” the late Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan said of the 1909 killing. “The Catholic Church does not regard killing committed to defend the nation from unjust aggression as a crime.” Source(s): these links will take you to other sites, in a new window. Committee pushes assassin’s sainthood (UCA News) An Jung-geun (Wikipedia)

Taiwan giving up on US subs, eyeing local plan: analyst By J. Michael Cole / Staff Reporter Thu, Dec 15, 2011 - Page 1 Taiwan has all but given up on acquiring diesel-electric submarines from the US and is expected to embark on a domestic program with assistance from abroad, a leading defense analyst told the Taipei Times. Longstanding plans to augment TaiwanÂ’s small and aging submarine fleet gained momentum in 2001, when the administration of US president George W. Bush offered to provide eight diesel-electric submarines to Taiwan for about US$12 billion. With efforts going nowhere, in 2003 the...

Chinese man arrested after paddling two miles to watch Taiwan elections A Chinese man has been detained for entering Taiwan illegally after paddling two miles from China's Fujian province to the offshore island of Kinmen, apparently to observe next month's Taiwanese elections, an official said Guo Jiyong, 35, will be repatriated to China, coast guard spokesman Shih Yi-nan said. The January 14 presidential and legislative elections have stirred great interest in authoritarian China, with last Saturday's televised debate among the three presidential candidates sparking thousands of Internet comments, many of them praising Taiwan's democratic system. "I want to see your...

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) -- A recent magazine survey in Taiwan says many young people would be unwilling to go to battle to fight for the island's self-rule if China attacked. The trend is in sharp contrast to the time before Taiwan and China began their process of detente.

CAIN’S VISION FOR FOREIGN POLICY & NATIONAL SECURITY The Americas Mexico: Friend and Partner Mexico is a friend in need. Our southern neighbor is struggling with drug-related violence that has claimed an estimated 40,000 lives over the past several years. By standing with Mexico now to help it solve its increasingly severe economic and security problems, we will help solve the problem of illegal immigration at home. Some 40% of Mexicans believe Mexico is a failed state. This helps explain why so many are seeking to emigrate. With declining oil reserves, a looming water shortage in Mexico City, and youth...

Eurofighter best option for Japan's ASDF David Warren / Special to The Yomiuri Shimbun The international security environment is evolving. Particularly in terms of air defence, new technology is constantly being developed, including fifth generation fighter aircraft with high stealth performance that prevents targets from being detected easily by a radar. The Japanese Air Self-Defence Force, therefore, needs to take measures to ensure it can meet any challenge in the future. Which aircraft to select as a successor of ASDF's F-4 fighter aircraft that has become obsolete will be a critical decision for Japan's air defence for the next 20...

Supernatural things are coming your way , The stuff dreams are made of but won't fade away \o/ , The supernatural exposed in and through you , Watch now as "I" come into view ! The Ancient of Days The I AM That "IS ONE" ! A Fullness , a Gladness , My Entire Kingdom , For when ever "I" show My Face , There in the midst you shall find "My" Grace , Abounding , Abiding , Sweet and True , The "ALL of ME " all over you ! Genesis 28:10-19 Amplified Bible (AMP) 10And Jacob left Beersheba...

WITH a single bold act, President Obama could correct the country’s course, help assure his re-election, and preserve our children’s future. He needs to redefine America’s mindset about national security away from the old defense mentality that American power derives predominantly from our military might, rather than from the strength, agility and competitiveness of our economy. He should make it clear that today American jobs and wealth matter more than military prowess. As Adm. Mike Mullen, then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, declared last year, “The most significant threat to our national security is our debt.” There are...

Although scholars of the history of the NY Times Op-Ed pages may be able to find a more vile Op-Ed, I dare them. From Paul Kane, a suggestion that the United States sell-out Taiwan to China in exchange for forgiveness of $1.14 trillion in debt, To Save Our Economy, Ditch Taiwan. http://legalinsurrection.com/2011/11/sell-out-taiwan-for-debt-foregiveness-possibly-the-most-vile-ny-times-op-ed-ever/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6uNWzzt-n3s

Don't take peaceful approach for granted Global Times | October 25, 2011 01:22 By Global Times Recently, both the Philippines and South Korean authorities have detained fishing boats from China, and some of those boats haven't been returned. China has been increasingly confronted with sea disputes and challenged by tough stances from the countries involved. These events have been promoting hawkish responses within China, asking the government to take action. China has emphasized its reluctance in solving disputes at sea via military means on many occasions. Peace is vital for its own economic development. But some of China's neighboring countries...

It happened about 30 minutes ago.

TAIPEI — The crew of a Taiwanese fishing vessel fought against armed Somali pirates to retake their ship after it was hijacked off East Africa, Taiwan authorities said Sunday. The 290-tonne Chin Yi Wen with a crew of 28, including nine Chinese, eight Filipinos, six Indonesians and five Vietnamese, had been out of contact since Friday, the foreign ministry said. But the crew managed to overwhelm the six armed pirates and retake control of their ship. ... The Somali pirates fell into the sea, Tsay said, quoting the fishing boat owner, adding that details of the saga and the fate...

China’s Maturing Fighter Force by Richard Fisher, Jr. Published on October 15th, 2011 REPORTS Introduction Following an intensive twenty year investment, which has included obtaining significant foreign help, the air forces of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have reached a number of milestones that point to the likelihood of an accelerating growth in capability through this decade. Perhaps one of the most jarring indicators of this rapid maturation is that within five years of the reported retiring of its last 2nd generation fighter unit of Shenyang J-6s in 2005, the PLA started testing prototypes of its 5th generation Chengdu “J-20”...

(THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Sin Chew Daily reported that a Taiwanese woman was shocked when a gynaecologist told her that she had testicles. The woman, 34, decided to consult a specialist after experiencing pain in her genital area. It was her first time seeking treatment from a gynaecologist although she had never experienced menstruation in her life. The check-up also showed that the woman did not have a uterus. When asked why she had not sought treatment or medical advice about her menstrual problem, the woman was lost for an answer.

Lamentable though it may be, news last week that Central Police University associate professor Wu Chang-yu (�彰裕) had been taken in on suspicion of passing information about dissidents to China was not shocking. However, this incident did bring into sharp contrast the dawn of a new era of Chinese “espionage” in Taiwan. There is nothing new to espionage operations by China targeting the Taiwanese military, security apparatus, political parties and high-tech sector. Over the years, a number of Taiwanese have been caught spying for Beijing. The arrest and sentencing this year of General Lo Hsien-che (羅賢哲) for providing military secrets...

Taiwan is an island of 23 million people facing many challenges, from economic transformation to its very national identity.A young democracy, it yearns to be a nation, but is not recognised as one by most of the world. Powerful China still claims it as its province and wants the island state to be reunified with the mainland. > At the same time, Taiwan's society is also changing. It is facing the worst wealth gap in history. Wage rises have not matched company profits and low-skilled workers have been left behind during decades of growth. Even many in the middle class...

As I write this column, my plane is taking off from Taiwan's Taoyuan Airport to bring me back home. It was a special visit to Taiwan -- one that helped put so many earlier visits into a larger perspective. My first visit to Taiwan occurred 40 years ago. The changes since then have been remarkable. When I first visited, U.S. foreign aid was still a mainstay of the Taiwan development pattern. Today Taiwan provides assistance to other nations. Back then, products made in Taiwan were certainly not high-quality -- the label "made in Taiwan" was something of a joke. Today...

Pentagon to recommend Taiwan buy F-35B, AV-8B fighters: report 2011/09/21 20:48:32 Washington, Sept. 20 (CNA) A U.S. Defense Department study has concluded that Taiwan should buy short-takeoff and vertical-landing jets such as the British-designed AV-8B Harrier jump jet or the new F-35B vertical-takeoff jet, the Washington Times reported Monday. The Pentagon will deliver the congressionally-mandated study on Taiwan's air power to Capitol Hill later this week, the newspaper said. Citing U.S. officials familiar with military aircraft, the report said the Pentagon conclusion was based on anticipated mainland Chinese missile strikes against Taiwan's airfields with cratering munitions that would thwart takeoffs...

U.S. moves to upgrade Taiwan's F-16 fighter fleet Reuters) - The Obama administration formally notified the U.S. Congress on Wednesday of a potential $5.3 billion upgrade of Taiwan's existing fleet of U.S.-built F-16 fighter jets despite China's opposition to such arms deals. The "retrofit" of 145 Lockheed Martin Corp F-16 A/B aircraft will give them essentially the same capabilities as late-model F-16 C/Ds that Taiwan has sought to deter any attack, U.S. officials told reporters ahead of the notification. Beijing deems Taiwan a renegade province subject to unification by force if necessary. It regards U.S. arms sales to the self-ruled...

Talk of the Day -- Taiwan mulling to build submarines 2011/09/19 21:58:20 Taiwan is studying the feasibility of building diesel-electric submarines itself after the United States shelved its procurement request for many years, a local newspaper reported Monday. The United Daily News cited unidentified military sources as saying that research on submarine building has been launched and that the military is trying to acquire production know-how from abroad. The following are excerpts from the local media coverage of the issue: United Daily News: The military has commissioned a local shipbuilder to contact a non-U.S. country capable of building submarines for...

Taiwan eying acquisition of F-35 fighters: deputy defense minister 2011/09/19 14:18:17 Richmond, Virginia, Sept. 18 (CNA) Taiwan would be pleased if the United States has indeed agreed to help upgrade its fleet of F-16 A/B jet fighters, and plans to move toward procuring the even more sophisticated F-35 model in the future, Taiwan's Deputy Defense Minister Andrew Yang said in Richmond Sunday. "The retrofit of the F-16 A/B fleet is part of Taiwan's national defense policy. It would be great if the U.S. approves the deal," said Yang on the sidelines of the 2011 U.S.-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference, at which...

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said the U.S. will make a decision on whether or not to accept a Taiwan letter of request for 66 new F-16 C/Ds. Analysts have tipped the U.S. to opt to upgrade Taiwan’s 146 aging F-16 A/Bs instead of providing 66 new F-16 C/D jets that Taiwan had requested. A person familiar with the matter told China Real Time that some in the Taiwan military don’t necessarily want the new F-16 C/Ds. The person said... diesel-electric submarines are more effective deterrents, particularly to China’s rising naval might. I do think the C/Ds and...

When the newly-appointed chief of the CIA offers to marry you in exchange to help him cash a few pay cheques he earned from the recent campaign that toppled the Gaddafi regime, who wouldn't jump at the chance? One Taiwanese engineer grasped the opportunity with both hands and as well as wiring her 'fiancé' $30,000, she also managed to get herself arrested. Liu Hsu-jen claims she was contacted by a man claiming to be the newly sworn-in Director of the Central Intelligence Agency David Petraeus on the Internet four months ago.

President Obama has decided to sell a new arms package to Taiwan that will likely include weapons and equipment to upgrade the island’s F-16 jets, according to administration and congressional officials. Congress will be briefed Friday on the arms package worth an estimated $4.2 billion, said officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. A formal announcement is expected soon. “All we’ve been told is the president has made a decision, and I assume it will be for the F-16 A/B upgrade package,” said a senior congressional aide close to the issue. The president decided against selling Taiwan 66 new advanced...

In mid-July, Taiwan published the 2011 edition of its defense white paper (“National Defense Report”). This was actually the third such document released in the last 38 months—the Ministry of National Defense (MND) having published a white paper in the final days of the Chen Shui-Bian Administration in May 2008, followed by a revised edition under the Ma Administration in October 2009 and the current report. The effort still appears largely intended for the domestic (or, at least, a Chinese-reading) audience, since the English version of the white paper continues to be an inadequately edited (and, at times, sub-par) translation...

Obama forfeits respect in Asia by letting Taiwan down – hard Vice President Biden is expected to apprise China of the US decision to deny F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan. The dire implications of this should not be played down. It leaves Taiwan vulnerable and the US underpowered in Asia, as Washington looks to be walking away from democratic values Andover, Mass. Over the past three decades, Taiwan has been in many tight spots in mounting a credible defense against the People’s Republic of China. Yet none has been as uncomfortable as now. The island republic is staring into a...

“We are disappointed in the United States.” That’s a sentiment we seem to hear all too often from our allies these days. A Taiwan Ministry of National Defense official uttered those words to Defense News with word that the Obama Administration will deny his country new F-16 fighters. As Defense News puts it, the Obama Administration’s decision came as a result of “bowing to Chinese pressure.” Instead of the 66 F-16C/Ds that were requested, the Pentagon is instead going to provide “upgrades” of the current Taiwanese system. And the Obama Administration’s decision also most a loss of American jobs. A...

TAIPEI (Reuters) - The United States has refused Taiwan's request for 66 new F-16C/D fighter jets that China warned Washington would risk inflaming tensions between the two big powers, Defense News reported, citing a Taiwan defence official. Taiwan has repeatedly asked Washington to agree to sell the advanced F-16 fighter jets, citing the need to counter the growing military strength of China, which deems the island an breakaway province that must eventually accept reunification, by force if necessary. Neither Washington nor Taipei has made any formal announcement about the latest call for the fighters, but Defesce News (http://www.defensenews.com) said on...

Radar upgrade for F-16s in doubt WAITING GAME:Adding to the uncertainty over the F-16C/D jets that have been requested, Taiwan must now wait for Washington to decide if it will get AESA radar By J. Michael Cole / Staff Reporter As Taiwan awaits Washington’s decision on whether it will sell the Lockheed Martin F-16C/D aircraft Taipei has been seeking since 2007, rumors are now emerging that Taipei’s request for preferred radar system for an upgrade program for its ageing F-16A/Bs might also be encountering difficulties. The US government is scheduled to announce on Oct. 1 — national day in the...

As China launches aircraft carrier, Taiwan presents 'aircraft carrier killer' On the same day China began sea trials of its first aircraft carrier, Taiwan hailed its most advance missile, dubbing it an "aircraft carrier killer". Taiwan's Hsiung Feng III missile is unveiled against the backdrop of a billboard depicting a missile-riddled aircraft carrier Photo: AP During the preview for a defence exhibition on Wednesday, Taiwan brandished the indigenous Hsiung Feng III missile against the backdrop of a billboard depicting a missile-riddled aircraft carrier. The billboard bore the words: "Aircraft carrier killer." The Hsiung Feng III has made two previous public...

Taiwan wins in war simulation: report COMPUTER SCENARIO:：A military spokesman said it had no comment on a ‘China Times’ report on the Han Kuang exercises that said Taiwan’s forces defeated the Chinese By Rich Chang / Staff Reporter Tue, Aug 02, 2011 - Page 2 The latest computerized scenario carried out by the military showed that in a war with China, Taiwan’s military was able to defeat enemy forces after they landed and tried to occupy the country, a local newspaper said yesterday. The Chinese-language China Times reported that the Han Kuang 27 computerized war games held from July 18...

Two Chinese warplanes intercepted an American spy plane over the tense Taiwan Strait last month in China’s most aggressive challenge to U.S. surveillance flights since a 2001 collision that touched off an international crisis. According to defense officials, the intercept took place June 29. The two Chinese jets flew from a base in China to head off an Air Force U-2 spy plane over the dividing line in the 100-mile wide Taiwan Strait. “In general, these reconnaissance flights are conducted in international airspace, as are the PRC [Chinese] intercepts, which happen fairly routinely,” said a Pentagon official familiar with the...

China has been demanding the U.S. halt all reconnaissance flights over international waters near its boarder. China’s Defense Ministry told the Global Times newspaper “We demand that the U.S. respect China’s sovereignty and security interests,and take concrete measures to boost a healthy and stable development of military relations.”The only problem is that the US surveillance flights have been operating outside of China’s sovereign territory. Tensions have increased after a pair of Chinese fighters attempted to intercept and American U-2 flying over the Taiwan Strait which is the waterway separating Taiwan from Mainland China. The U-2 was over international waters and...

Lockheed should get decision on selling F-16s to Taiwan Posted Wednesday, Jul. 27, 2011 By Bob Cox rcox@star-telegram.com Thanks to some political horse-trading by Texas Sen. John Cornyn, Lockheed Martin should finally get a decision from the Obama administration later this year about selling F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last week struck a deal with the Republican senator by agreeing to review Taiwan's requests to buy 66 new F-16s from Lockheed Martin as well as kits to upgrade its older-model fighter jets. Cornyn in turn agreed to release the hold he had placed blocking a...

Talk of the Day -- China's Su-27 crosses Taiwan Strait median line 2011/07/25 21:15:21 A Chinese Su-27 jet fighter crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait late last month while chasing a U.S. U-2S high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, a local newspaper reported Monday. It was the first time since President Ma Ying-jeou took office in May 2008 that a People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft had crossed the line down the middle of the Taiwan Strait, which separates Taiwan and mainland China, the United Daily News (UDN) said. The Chinese warplane did not circle back to China until after two Taiwanese...

China’s military advantage over Taiwan is increasing amid Beijing’s attempts to block foreign forces from intervening in a possible conflict, the island’s defense ministry said Tuesday. The military balance between Taiwan and China has become a sensitive issue in the United States, which remains Taiwan’s major security partner despite shifting its recognition from Taipei to Beijing 32 years ago.

China’s omnivorous energy requirements have been attracting increasing attention as of late, as Beijing attempts to secure any and all sources of power for its growing industrial base. Nowhere is this more noticeable than Beijing’s policies in the South China Sea, where Chinese assertions of sovereignty are unsettling the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei, all of whom have counter claims on the various shoals and islets. China’s landward neighbors are also feeling the hot breath of Beijing’s mandarins, however, most notably its economic rival India, with whom China fought a brief war in 1962 in the Himalayas over...

You're forgiven if you've forgetten what and where it is. After all, it's been out of the headlines for a long time. It's that island about 100 miles off the shore of China. It's the one the Obama State Department would just as soon see float out to sea, so that it would stop putting in those pesky requests for defensive arms that U.S. law calls for. It's been 32 years since Congress passed and then-President Carter signed the Taiwan Relations Act. It calls for us to sell sufficient arms to help Taiwan (formally known as the Republic of China)...

The over abundance of My Kingdom comes from the riches of your intimacy with Me(JESUS) in Glory , for I AM The Kingdom , The Glory and the Power and your Godhead ! So "BE" within My breath for My fullness to pour out of you and as you abide in "This" Holy Place I "shall" do the exceeding and manifest where you stand for I shall " BE " . For You can not practice what is "TRUE" , "ETERNAL" and "FLOWING" ! Matthew 6:13 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil...

Obama’s Taiwanese AF F-16 Debacle Friends and Enemies Reuben F. Johnson July 7, 2011 9:00 AM As Henry Kissinger used to say, at times it is more dangerous to be America’s friend than its enemy. Further confirmation of this sage observation came on June 24 when the Obama State Department blocked another request by Taiwan to purchase 66 Lockheed Martin F-16C/D fighter aircraft. These are badly needed by the Republic of China's air force to supplement an aging fleet of U.S., French and indigenously-built combat aircraft. The ROC's request for the F-16 purchase was officially been rejected three times between...

Taiwan 'tests sub-launched missile' (AFP) – 4 hours ago TAIPEI — Taiwan has testfired for the first time a locally developed submarine-launched missile designed to counter the threat of China's fast-expanding navy, a report Thursday. An unknown number of Hsiung Feng II (Brave Wind II) ship-to-ship missiles, developed by the military-run Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology, were launched during a drill late last month, the Liberty Times said. The drill was part of the navy's five-year project to enhance the capabilities of two Dutch-built Sword Dragon class submarines acquired in the late 1980s, it said, citing an unnamed military...