State Dept. Displeased With China's Taiwan Bill
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
STORIES
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WASHINGTON " The State Department criticized on Tuesday proposed legislation in China that would permit an attack on Taiwan (search) under certain circumstances.
Renewing the U.S. call for dialogue, spokesman Richard Boucher said, "passage of legislation is not going to help solve the problem" between China (search) and Taiwan.
Under a proposed anti-secession law, unveiled Tuesday in Beijing, China would have the right to attack Taiwan if the island took steps toward independence.
"In our contacts with both sides, we've made clear that we think that this kind of legislation is unhelpful," Boucher said.
If Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visits China later this month, as has been reported but not officially announced, it is expected that she would raise the issue with Chinese officials while in Beijing.
Boucher noted that it has been the long-standing U.S. position to oppose any attempt to determine the future of Taiwan (search) by other than peaceful means.
The White House said China should reconsider the proposed legislation.
"We oppose any attempts to determine the future of Taiwan by anything other than peaceful means," he said.
Taiwan denounced the legislation as a "blank check to invade" and announced war games aimed at repelling an attack.
The proposed anti-secession law, read out for the first time before the ceremonial National People's Congress (search), doesn't specify what actions might invite a Chinese attack.
So, when exactly is China gonna attack Taiwan? Think it will happen at all or not?
Would the US intervene with military operations or let it be...?
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"Error never shows itself in its naked reality in order not to be discovered. On the contrary, it dresses elegantly, so that the unwary may be led to believe that it is more truthful than truth itself."
-Irenaeus of Lyon
I'm not sure China will risk attacking Taiwan any time soon. China missed a golden opportunity to do so in the late 1990's, because that US administration would not have reacted. Right now China does not want to do anything that may involve the US because our current administration has shown backbone in dealing with things like this. The China/Taiwan situation has been going on for over 50 years, I don't see any real changes coming in the near future.
Ok, let's say that China does attack/invade/occupy Taiwan. Aside from some feel-good fuzzy "freedom" vibe, I'm not so sure what vital interest it serves for us to stop them.
China will wait until they have the advantage, i.e. we're fighting on too many fronts to assist Taiwan. They want that island badly, but the U.S. (and really the U.S. alone) has the military resources in the region to keep the reds at bay. While I see China as a threat to democracy and stability in the West Pacific, it's important to note their military is not all-powerful. They have plenty of boots on the ground, but their equipment and technologies are actually outdated when compared to Taiwan's military (of course Russia, North Korea, and Israel are currently selling military systems to China). We are the overwhelming deterrent against any funny business.
We should assist Taiwan. I'm not convinced that China could successfully invade and occupy them at this point, but you never know unless it happens. I'd prefer to remain pro-active against that. Beijing wants their "rogue provine" so bad they can taste it. Not only do I not want to see an advancement of communism, but I don't want the destabilization--that could start WW3.
Oh, and I do believe we would step in. Ties between Washington and Taipei are still very close.
I'm not sure China will risk attacking Taiwan any time soon
Not right this minute, but they will eventually when they're good and ready and have stuffed themselves with our jobs and money.
I hope when it does happen every American gives the finger to the white house and congress and tells them that since they set this up, they can go fight it.
So...when's the jump gonna happen?
