Well, it is very conveniant for US to do this Arm Sale to Taiwan just AFTER China helped defusing North Korea crisis. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6412081.stm The Chinese foreign ministry statement said Beijing had lodged a formal complaint with the US over the proposed missile sale. "We solemnly demand the leader of the United States... immediately cancel this weapons sale (and) avoid harming the peace and stability of the Taiwan Straits and Sino-US relations," ministry spokesman Qin Gang said. This is not a good sign for this year. Many experts agree the 2007-2008 is the best period for Taiwan's independance, and China is trying to avoid a war there but is preparing for one if they have to. Wait to see what China's retaliation comes from. Don't suprise is there is a big Arm Sale to Iran by China.
I'm still trying very hard to understand the motives behind the US move. Did they not appreciate what signals this weapon sell could send to the separatists? Or was the US not happy with China's help in defusing the North Korean issue? Otherwise that's a very strange way to say thank you.
Two factions. State of Department and Pentagon. Bush Admin always do this--get your help then stab on your back. Like he got Iran's help to settle the Afghan, and turns around called them "evil". The move is definately a boost for Taiwan separatists, but maybe also an informal appology to Japan.
There are no friends for someone who is trying to conquer the world, only obeying vassals. US attitude towards China will become worse and worse parallel to China growing as a global power. Taiwan is a way to contain China's expansion. Securing the ME into a US controlled region is a way to try to cut China out from rivaling US global leadership. A similar game is being played vs Russia (see Putin recent accusations and call for a multipolar world as the best world environment). China is a far more dangerous potential rival than Russia. Anyway, China's leaders are not fool and are not easy to get fooled either. I don't see how the USA can stop them from emerging as a real geopolitical superpower. They could try with warfare but it would mean a big disaster for everyone in the world. Time plays for China. Lots of worrying facts are happening and few see them. There's a chess game going on. See for example Russia building a russian navy base in Syria and selling them new top class weaponry. They are also discussing with Montenegro for something similar in the adriatic sea. Russia also sold 29 TOR-M1 antiaircraft to Iran.
No, you'll just focus on the negatives more. If anything, attitudes toward China have improved over the past 15 years even though their power has grown geometrically. Before you accuse me of being naive again, let me explain to you that exectuives at Wal-Mart and other mega-corporations that rely on China have a lot more clout than the quirky academics at think tanks that your read about on the internet. While there is a great deal of merit to your claim, how can an "enlightened" European (ha ha, right!) be anything but supportive of Taiwanese independence? Make no mistake, I would never risk a nuclear war over Taiwan and am convinced that the USA is ultimately powerless in this matter. But, geez.
LOL. China actually controled some of their rockets in weaponary market, so it doesn't fall on wrong hands to use it against Israel. One of reason why Israel is selling some good weapon technologis to China. Heck, even China's J-10 is based on Lavi's early research work. But as all Chinese generals are obessised with anti-aircraft warfare and China indeed is inventing some very neat weapons for that purpose (with some Israel's help ), it may try to use Iran as a beta test site. I don't think Iran can be a real threat to Israel, not because the intentions but because Israel's ability to defend herself and the ability to retailate.
My feeling is the mainstream media is doing this. Beside all American jobs are stealed by "Red China", the most stupid thing I saw is the comparing of China and India on an Evil vs. Angel perspective. Retails are on one side, so as movie industries, and software compaines, but labors, religious groups, most important--military-industry complex are on other side. We all know which group has most influence and power. Who really care Taiwan independant or not? Taiwan is just a pawn using to undermine China. I used to think that without Taiwan, USA may have no excuse to go to war against China. But I was wrong. There was a very probablity of war at 2003 in Burma.
The strongest words over this seem to be have been from these bigsoccer boards. I like the calm reaction we're seeing from Beijing. No need to shout.
About 23 million people with a great standard of living who don't need their lives f-ed up by any superpower.
I don't buy this China-US war inevitable theory. If anything the two countries have been a lot closer and more interdependent than before. But due to the lack of a successful PR operation from Beijing, and PR is the lifeblood of any publicly elected officials in a democracy, mainland China will continue to get treated in an unduly harsh manner whenever major elections are around the corner. Hillary had some tough words for China already. The Republicans can't be seen as weak on China so that may be part of the explanation of the stranger timing of this weapon sales.
And you shouldn't nor anyone else as a direct military confrontation would mean a global disaster. That's something which is to be avoided at all costs rather than inevitable. If you're talking about other kind of "conflicts", that's already going on and it is going to get worse directly proportional to China growing as a world power. One example is selling weapons to Taiwan. Another would be trying to buy India with the recent nuclear deal. Another would be SCO and the joint Russia-China military exercises or China's recent activity and investments in Africa. Why do you think Russia and China who have been for a long time not exactly in friendly terms are getting nearer and nearer if not to confront US post cold-war offensive?
Taiwan should accept the 1 nation/2 political systems (even though the democratic political system is 20 years old) offer similar to that involving Hong Kong. It's the wisest solution for anyone. I doubt that USA would favor that move at least at this point. It goes against its interests.
Taiwan is not a "normal" democracy as a Westerner used to know. It is kind of like Iraq where the Zhuqun (ethnic group)--"Taiwanese" and "Mainlanders", a term used to distingush your arriving time at 1945, matters most. Social justice, corruption, fair treatment, etc. are not important. Congress meeting is more like a Shalin martial art school weekly exam and every election remains people of China about their time during cultural revolution. But so far the disagreement only results to street fighting with sticks and stones, no suicide bomb yet--thank God, that is not a Chinese tradition. Basically don't know what went wrong, either by eduction or media brainwashing, most "Taiwanese" believe that Taiwan Relation Act is a security gurantee like US gives Japan. Another problem is China likes to hid its real ability--as a doctrine by Sun-Tze. You put these two factors together, you can see the boost of seperasts moral. So far, it is almost a 50-50 split on the issue. So without some drastic change, with such dividing society, that good living standard will go to toilet fast.
China is actually comprised of a very practical and opportunistic leadership (being driven by ideology is long gone even if rhetoric can still be used if deemed as useful), ie I don't view any big difference with the Hong Kong situation and the rhetoric would vanish once obtained what they want.
In 2003, right after Iraqi War, Pentagon was preparing a preemptive attack on Burma (Myanmar). The secret plan was abandoned when China massed 200K troops in the border area (suspect some already moved in) and will occupy the country when first bomb drop. Right after that, Burmaian military government relocated its capital from coast area to inland area. This year, USA/Britain also initiated a UN resolution under Chapter 7 (using military force) on Burma but voted by both China and Russia. China also signed a security pact with Khazakstan (not sure if some exited with other Stans), but if a war breaking out in Iran, Chinese troops will go to Turkmenistan to protect the natural resources. About the co-dependence economically, that is true. I saw both countries trying to resolve this issue. Inside China, many in high ranks feel that China gives too much attention (concessions) to USA. China is in a process to reduce its export market shares in USA by aggressively expanding on rest of world. Everyone knows what China is doing in Africa, but China also clean up the Mekong river and build fast highway link to Vietnam, Thailand, Lao and Chambodia, so Chinese merchandises (in emergency time, Chinese troops) can quickly move down to Southeast Asia. Qinghai-Tibetan railway and China-Pakistan highway will project same effects on South Asia. Also a lot of trades in South America. After that, you can see China starts to dump $$ reserves and reduce the economic dependance to USA market. Mainwhere, you will see a LOT of call on "punish" China in Congress and 2008 election. That is not aobut PR operations. Do you see Nazi Germany was allowed for a PR operation here? Or Stalin Soviet Union? Or 1980s Japan? Whoever challenging America's superpower status is an enemy and will be painted as an evil. Do you remeber "freedom" dog or "liberty" fries? China is NOT a superpower. More a semi-superpower due to combination of its cultural, political, diplomatic, economic, and human power. Put it short, China is strong on soft power but not on hard power. One reason that Western strategists are mad about China punches above its weight because they only use hard power as a measurement. Cultrually speaking, China's soft power has very strong influences on East Asia and South-East Asia. But its cultural system is only use as a counter-balance for Muslim, Africa, and Latin America as a weapon to fend off Western Cultrual Imperalism. I saw USA is losing on SE Asia already, and just signal the defeat on NE Asia by conclusion of 6-party talk. The effort to get support on South Asia, Central Asia failed and is losing influence on Mid East. What you do if you are losing on soft power conflict, but you still have extremly superiority in hard power? Someone may just result to use it.
Totally agree. There is no more bad feeling between Communists and Nationalists anymore. But Hong Kong is a different story than Taiwan. People in Hong Kong is much rational, and has much clear national identiy--like they normally will side with China when there is any issues raising with Japan or USA. Taiwan is eventually move to un-Chinese. But that will not last to long when its economy drops.
It is like a chess game now. One objective is cut off China's energy line. It is from Persian Gulf through Maraca canal. China has no blue water Navy to protect it. So far China has Angola, Saudi and Iran as top three oil resources. One way to resolve this is to build a seaport in Gawdar in Pakstan. It runs a coast line highway to Karachi that has a highway link and railway link to Kashgar. Iran's oil can use a land bridge to come in, and other oils can use very short sea distance which China can protect with shallow water Navy. China would avoid military confrontation because it is strong on soft power but weak on hard power, but if one of Pakistan, Burma, SCO small guys, Tailand, Vietnam, and North Korea gets attacked by hostile forces, you will see China going into the war. India nuclear gift is another Bush strategic blunder. By retaliation, China gave Pakistan same juicy goodies. Everybody knows that Pakistani doesn't do good on keeping the safeguild (A. Khan, remember?). Another reason is that even India supported Tibetan militaric independence movement (retaliated by China in 1962 War), but China NEVER promoted independence movements on Sikkim, Assam, etc. China can make half of India in chaos if it wants. Countering China's influence in Africa, Pentagon just announced to open a new command in Africa. Sudan's Dafur can be played as a chess game, but right now USA needs Sudan for its largest CIA headquaters outside USA to operate. But that can be change. Russia is doing two main things now--1) try to make SCO a military alliance. Putin's recommendation is to include Iran, then adding one chater so "any member state is attacked by external forces, all member states need to defend". 2) try to ask China joining CIS (Confederation of Independant States) that is actually a military alliance. Both proposals are rejected by China due to the fear to piss off EU members.
Three new news item: 1) China and Russia not convinced about more UN sanction on Iran 2) US sends aircraft carrier Ronald Reagon for a HK port call (show that with all troubles in ME, US still have enough power in Pacific?) 3) China sold $200-$300B US treasury bonds.