China dials down Taiwan rhetoric; US, Canada transit strait

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By KEN MORITSUGU

BEIJING (AP) — China toned down its rhetoric on Taiwan on Wednesday, saying it is inevitable that the self-governing island will come under its control but that it would promote efforts to achieve that peacefully.

The comments followed recent remarks by President Joe Biden that the U.S. would defend Taiwan if China were to invade and came a day after U.S. and Canadian warships sailed through the Taiwan Strait.

They don’t appear to signal a change in policy as much as a broader attempt to calm the waters on multiple fronts in the runup to a major meeting of the ruling Communist Party next month.

“I would like to reiterate that … we are willing to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and utmost efforts,” Ma Xiaoguang, the government spokesperson on Taiwan, said when asked about growing concern that China might resort to force.



In this photo provided by U.S. Navy, The Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Vancouver (FFH 331) transits the Taiwan Strait with guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) while conducting a routine transit on Sept. 20, 2022. China toned down its rhetoric on Taiwan on Wednesday, Sept. 21, saying it is inevitable that the self-governing island comes under its control but that it would promote efforts to achieve that peacefully. The comments came one day after the U.S. and Canadian navies sailed through the strait between China and Taiwan. (Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Donavan K. Patubo/U.S.Navy via AP)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-canada-china-government-and-politics-f1b5f86cc8985c40e4c9c2f4f51cda05

[Alexander Of Assyria]

1. Get it yet American corporate war loving media? China does not want war, with anyone!

Are people really that dense to not open their eyes to the reality…China is taking over the world… with international development aid on a global, massive scale…the old Western colonization model is so passé! Corporate news not happy at all!

Meanwhile there’s still Iran and NK for you to warmonger over you guys!

[mathematic]

4. I have trouble believing this isn't satire.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

5. No, no,

this member is dead serious, we've tangled before but have come to an understanding that each of us have a differing view on this subject.

[geardaddy]

24. Me too.

Having lived in Taiwan, I know that both sides of the should Taiwan be independent - the DPP who are for independence and the KMT who want reunification, but only as the Republic of China, don't want to be reunited with the PRC.

[AZLD4Candidate]

8. North Korea isn't even a paper tiger. It's a paper kitten.

Iran. . .not even close to a paper kitten. They are a paper still in utero.

[oldsoftie]

11. That why we & the EU need to starve China of the cash they're using.

Without our money china would be the paper tiger that Russia has been revealed to be.

[Johnny2X2X]

23. Agree

China has a plan that prefers stability. The last thing they want is for chaos to upset the progress they’re making toward global economic dominance.

[OnlinePoker]

2. Nice to see one of the ships I sailed on in the picture. n/t

[ColinC]

3. This is what happens when the US inserts itself militarily

Even hypothetically. Aggressors will back off.

[oldsoftie]

12. Biden spoke with authority. China listened. And they see what's happening to RU

And thats just from us & our allies giving them SOME equipment. And a LOT of higher tech more modern weaponry has NOT been given to UKR; yet they're STILL kicking Russias ass

[ColinC]

19. Yep!!

[not fooled]

22. Yep, Thanks Joe!

No ass-kissing of Chinese dictator here.

[AZLD4Candidate]

6. I called this immediately. They are the thinnest of thin paper tigers.

Strut, make threats, bluster, bloviate, and bully. . .then shrink and melt like ice cream in the summer sun when no one buys it or listens.

People here told me I didn't know what I was talking about and China is "indeed a threat." I guess living there, being married to someone from China, speaking the language, knowing the culture, and understanding the system. . .

“I would like to reiterate that … we are willing to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and utmost efforts,” Ma Xiaoguang, the government spokesperson on Taiwan, said when asked about growing concern that China might resort to force.

Translation: We aren't giving up our One China Policy, but since our economy is literally collapsing around our heads with the Zero COVID Policy, the exposed Ponzi Scheme of the real estate market, which makes up 30% of our GDP which is leading to a near destruction of trust in our banking system, which is leveraged hard in the real estate market where we lowered the reserve percentages and now people have lost everything, as well as the defaulting of our Debt Trap economics in poor Asian, South American, and African countries, we literally can't afford blowing up Taiwan now.

. . .oh what am I saying? I know nothing about a country I've lived in for nearly 30% of my life.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

7. +100. nt

[Javaman]

9. yup, I remember when you posted on this. you were spot on...

anyone paying the very least amount of attention would see that any attack by China on Taiwan would collapse the Chinese economy in short order.

[oldsoftie]

13. I still can't believe they're sticking with the "zero covid" nonsense.

How can they not see that it just wont work?

[AZLD4Candidate]

16. Chinese culture is all about saving face and control

The CCP probably knows it isn't working, but admit mistake and change direction means you admit you're wrong. It's been to keep going down a rabbit hole head first than to admit a mistake and lose face.

The aspects of controlling people have been hallmarks of the society since the Xia Dynasty. As a Chinese friend always told me in Shijiazhuang: "Chinese people are only truly happy when they are making someone's life miserable." My MIL used to call every night always during dinner just to tell my wife to do things for her and we lived in other cities. Control starts at early age and it continues until death. And the CCP have used COVID19 to control every aspect of its citizens life. Probably the biggest example is the Chinese internet is actually an intranet that is monitored 24-7.

With the required green code app, they can control movement, track location, and restrict your ability to leave your apartment from changing it from green to yellow/red on a whim, even when you've tested negative.

However, if you know Chinese history, disease, recession, natural disasters, poverty, failure, and increased control are the hallmarks of a regime's fall from grace and the end of the Mandate of Heaven, something the CCP claimed in 1949.

[oldsoftie]

18. I thought of Putin & the same; simply cannot admit a screwup.

And just like Putin, can't accept admitting it was a mistake
And I guess just like trump too.

[geardaddy]

25. I studied Chinese history, language, and literature

in college in the 80s (it was an independent major) and spent my sophomore year in Beijing during Deng's regime. I also spent four years in Taiwan teaching English and was married to a Taiwanese (father Hokkien/mother Hakka) for 8 years and I can vouch for what you're saying.

My in-laws did not respect the idea of a self-actualized adult child. The control in every aspect of my life, even in "free" Taiwan was heavy.

[PortTack]

10. So President Biden makes a statement saying we will support Taiwan if China invades and China

Backs away. Okay

China is watching the Russians get their ass kicked in Ukraine…this couldn’t possibly have anything to do with it either.

[oldsoftie]

14. Both are true.

[elleng]

15. Significant, eh?

[Mr.Bill]

17. China backs down to Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi.

Two leaders many people think are too old to hold public office.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

29. Right, that must be it! China backs down...over some words! So easy!

[soryang]

20. The crow flies, a pear falls from a tree

까마귀 날자 배 떨어진다

[LudwigPastorius]

26. My hovercraft is full of eels.

[catsudon]

27. not buying this after what happened in hk.

China : "Please hold still, I don't want to rape you"

Only 12% support annexation, so it’s non consensual either way

China: “it’s my utmost preference to make this rape as peaceful as possible”

Also, willing to make a peaceful effort doesn't preclude war. This entire claim is just meaningless.

[Warpy]

28. Saner men than Xi concentrated on increasing trading and cultural ties with Taiwan

but even heavy handed Xi has got to see exactly what the military approach is costing Russia. They know damned full well it would cost them, too.