Where will it end? Here’s the latest outburst.
Calling the cross-strait situation grim, a senior Chinese official yesterday warned that China has made full preparations to thoroughly defeat Taiwanese separatist forces.
It is extremely dangerous and a mistake for the separatist forces to believe that China would tolerate them because of its desire to hold a successful Olympics and to develop the economy, Taiwan Affairs Office vice-director Wang Zaixi said.
Advertisement‘To resolutely attack and effectively contain Taiwan independence separatist activity relates to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, to our country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, to the future of peaceful unification, and has become the most urgent task of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait,’ he said.
He added that Taiwan independence forces and separatist activity were becoming the biggest threat to peace and stability of the strait.
Of course, Wang tempered it all by assuring us China will first seek a peaceful solution (which I believe is true — who the hell wants to go to war?). He also pointed out, correctly, that Taiwan is enjoying huge economic benefits from China’s boom, and that Taiwanese businessmen who support independence will be banned from doing business in China.
For all the bluster, it sounds as if China is still trying to appear reasonable. But there’s no negotiating on this issue, no rationalizing or bargaining. If it were up to me, Taiwan would have its independence. But looked at through the lens of realpolitik, I have to say the best Taiwan can hope for is to hold on to its current obscure status, accepting the fact that at some point unification is inevitable. Hopefully that time will be off in the distant future, when the motherland is a freer and more magnanimous place.
1
By The Taipei Kid
Right on!
July 28, 2004 @ 8:07 pm | Comment
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By jacky
Good and sensible analysis/recommendation, Richard. I would even go one further – at some point in the future, China and PRC may go the way of Czech and Slovakia, an amiable and brotherly separation or at least under some form of loose confederation. In teh emanwhile, both nations should strive to prosper.
July 28, 2004 @ 9:53 pm | Comment
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By richard
Understand, Jacky, that I would rather it be otherwise. I wish Taiwan could be independent. I am just trying to be pragmatic, knowing that sometimes there are other forces at play aside from what’s right.
July 28, 2004 @ 10:09 pm | Comment
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By David
I’d pretty much agree with you – I don’t really see the ‘status quo’ changing much in the near future.
However, one minor quibble … when you say “the best Taiwan can hope for is to hold on to its current obscure status, accepting the fact that at some point unification is inevitable” … isn’t that the best that *China* can hope for? I’d change the ‘unification’ word to something else for the best that Taiwan can hope for 🙂
July 28, 2004 @ 10:21 pm | Comment
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By Simon World
Asia by Blog
Swinging our way across Asia blogging again: Hong Kong, Taiwan and China Tom at DTL finds more proof that Hong Kong’s autonomy has been diminished by the central Government. He also says criticism of Google, Yahoo, Nortel and Cisco in “bowing to Chines…
July 28, 2004 @ 11:17 pm | Comment
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By jacky
Richard,
I do not disagree with you, nor am I insisting with that Taiwan must stay within China. Like you, I see the current situation as it would/will be. But unlike you, I don’t really have any opinion or preference whether Taiwan must stay within China or emerges as new nation. I wish her and China well.
But I worry the gungho-ism that prevails in some quarters may well lead to some unrealistic expectations – there just isn’t going to be a last minute arrival of the US calvary. Apart from living in the greater region around both China and Taiwan and not wanting to see war, as a Chinese I have some sentimental feelings for the land of my ancestors – there has been enough war in that country for centuries. I want to see both prosper and enjoy peace. If necessary and when ready, both can separate amicably like, as I mentioned, the Czech Rep and Slovakia.
July 29, 2004 @ 12:00 am | Comment
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By george
look how american officer treat chinese visiters, now i understand, why there are so many many people hate amcerican, only because they are arrigant animal, even 90% hate american, which they said every american like to use the word “I” so often, as if everything american said is correct, i wish more bomb and attack the white house and NY city. let more and more american die!!!!!!
July 29, 2004 @ 4:04 am | Comment
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By george
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-07/26/content_1648717.htm
look how american officer treat chinese visiters, now i understand, why there are so many many people hate amcerican, only because they are arrigant animal, even 90% hate american, which they said every american like to use the word “I” so often, as if everything american said is correct, i wish more bomb and attack the white house and NY city. let more and more american die!!!!!!
July 29, 2004 @ 4:28 am | Comment
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By jacky
George, whoever you are, please go away. But wait, maybe you are not so bad afterall – you only dislike 90% of Americans which makes you better than Osama – he dislikes 100% of Americans. I think there’s still hope for you.
An embarrassed Chinese.
July 29, 2004 @ 4:54 am | Comment
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By george
hey, stupid, i never said i hate all american, but i hate only those arrogant brutal, self-center amercian, also i very dislike a shameful america ass licker like you, Jacky!
July 29, 2004 @ 4:59 am | Comment
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By Martey
George,
It is difficult to respond to your hate-filled comments, not because of their quality or factual content, but because of their lack of logic. The second is an excellent example of “arrogant brutal self-center”ness, so I will not refer to it in depth.
In the first comment, you rightly complain that the isolated incident of an American official beating a Chinese woman as wrong. However, you conflate that official, currently under investigation by the American judicial system, with all Americans. Bringing the lack of logic in your comments to never-before-seen levels, you then suggest that more Americans should die, because they are “arrogant.” You also complain that Americans use the word “I” too often (because they think everything they say is correct, despite the fact that “I” is not an affirmative phrase in the English language, but an identifier, similar to “you” or “us”) when you yourself use it six times.
I simply hope that you will renounce the hate in your heart, as it does not contribute to thoughtful discourse.
July 29, 2004 @ 6:52 am | Comment
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By george
Conrad, go to hell, and get out of Hongkong, it is part of china now, you son of bitch, i did not see any main media report this in bloody US, get out!!! and go to hell, all of your family!!!
i am not following CCP government, i never said it is good, neither is US and aggragant, son of bitch american!
get out of china, Hongkong and Taiwan and Macau!
July 29, 2004 @ 9:11 am | Comment
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By george
CCP is devil,. so is american? look how american treat average chinese people, just you son of bitch expats in china, did you ever meet any chinese treat you so brutally like this??? if you ever treated like this, how would you aggragant american animal respond, look at the bitch Conrad, he used to work “bitch” on that poor persecuted woman, did he show any of his humanity, he is no good than the bloody CCP, go to hell,. all of your family, Conrad, also your offsprings!!!!
July 29, 2004 @ 9:18 am | Comment
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By george
don’t show how you care about human right, just look at what concrad wrote “Lucky bitch. If she was in China not only would not of the single things that I mentioned be true” , this is how he shows impathy to that woman!!!he is no differrence from the devil CCP, there is no famous medias in US reported this descrimination savage crime, not a piece on CNN, NYTIMES, WASHINGTONPOST ETC, you guys are such all the same, fake human rights protectors, actually i would say, you are all losers, then coming to poor asia, and pretend you are god to save people here. bitch~!
July 29, 2004 @ 9:39 am | Comment
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By right
Although he used my slogan “ass-licker”, make no mistake, I am not that “george” you see above.
July 29, 2004 @ 9:56 am | Comment
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By jacky
I shouldn’t really engage george like this, but can’t just let him get away with it.
george wrote “….. which they said every american like to use the word “I” so often, as if everything american said is correct, i wish more bomb and attack the white house and NY city. let more and more american die!!!!!!”
he continued “hey, stupid, i never said i hate all american, but i hate only those arrogant brutal, self-center amercian, also i very dislike a shameful america ass licker like you, Jacky!”
Make up your mind, geoge, and do mind your language.
BTW, did you know that ‘ass’ is one of those words from your hated America? Tsk, tsk, shame on you for using an American word! What does that make you, george?
July 29, 2004 @ 5:29 pm | Comment
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By Filthy Stinking No.9
This is great … does George have his own blog? I think it would become one of my regular reads … along with the KCNA, North Korean news … I’d highly recommend that one … the latest story I got there was about how the Americans (during the Korean War) were taking bones from North Korean prisoners to use as medical cures for injured GIs, and transporting thousands of them to islands for nuclear tests, putting them in trenches and pouring petrol over them and setting them alight … because as we know, Americans do that kind of thing all the time.
July 29, 2004 @ 7:42 pm | Comment
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By jacky
I feel awfully petty after teasing george on that ‘S’ word. I withdraw that immediately with an apology to all, yes, including george.
July 29, 2004 @ 10:39 pm | Comment
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By ProudTaiwan
I support America. They have proteted us from Mainlanders. We are a democracy and independant. Call me “ass licker” it is a complemet to be so hated by the freedom-hating communist in beijing.
August 29, 2004 @ 11:14 pm | Comment