Taiwan to China: Stop interfering

[Shyriath]

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/east/11/19/taiwan.war/index.html

HONG KONG, China (CNN) -- Taiwan has hit back at threats by China to use force against its pro-independence moves, telling Beijing to "mind its own business".

In a statement release late Wednesday, the Taiwan government told China it had no right to interfere with the island's push for a new constitution and referendum bill.

"Taiwan is a democratic country. Only its 23 million people have the right to decide its future and what is best for them," a spokesman for Taiwan's cabinet, Lin Chia-lung, said in the statement.

"We can't tolerate interference with our internal affairs by any undemocratic countries," Reuters reports Lin saying.

And there's a verbal smack in the face from Taiwan! ...But, given that China has been making noises about using force against Taiwan in the event of a declaration of independence, should this response be considered brave, or stupid (so far as the two are distinct)? Assuming the Chinese leadership is serious in its threats, and that the Taiwanese leadership is serious in pushing for a consitution and referendum, the results could be pretty ugly if the Taiwanese decide they want to be free.

[el_gato]

1. seems like a new step in that relationship

open independence

[bemildred]

2. Well the question is, what is the PRC going to do about it?

Damn if I know, but give me a tub of popcorn.

It's probably worth keeping in mind that there are a couple
of other regions in China that have independent thoughts, and
any war with Taiwan will most likely stir things up in those
places too.

And it is probably worth keeping in mind that there are, no
doubt, a number of countries that would not mind hamstringing
the PRC a little.

[Shyriath]

3. Damn.

Hadn't though of that... Tibet, Inner Mongolia, the Uighurs have all been wanting independence... and doesn't India have a grudge about some territory that China claimed years back? And if India got involved, so could Pakistan, who's supposed to be relatively buddy-buddy with China...

*Whips out his own popcorn* We could be about to have a fair-sized war on our hands, in that case. Would we get involved, do you think? I remember hearing something about the US being supposed to be helping defend Taiwan...

[bemildred]

4. I think India and China are not hot for each other right now.

Joint naval exercises and such going on. Of course you never
know once the guns start firing.

China does hold a piece of Kashmir, and I believe they did
have a little war with India some time back.

I would hope we have the brains to sit on the sidelines, but
that doesn't seem to be the way to bet. Delusions of World
political and economic hegemony still seem to fill the minds of
our leaders.

[A Texas Democrat]

5. Remind our President about Taiwan

President Bush wants freedom for everyone and wants to end terror. People in a communist state live under a dictatorship just as those in a despotism. If Bush wants to meddle in one country's business, then he has to meddle in all of them...or admit that he bit off more than he could chew.

As for the Taiwan thing...
INDEPENDENCE

I wonder what would've happened if France decided to allow Britain to re-conquer us after we had declared independence.

[bemildred]

6. I'm sorry, Sir.

I have no idea what it is you are trying to say.

With regard to your last sentence, it was not in the power of
France at the time to decide that issue either way, but they
did support us in the Revolutionary War with the outcome that
you know, that is we kicked the Brits out. Is your point that
if the French has not supported us, then we would have lost the
Revolutionary War?

[A Texas Democrat]

7. Concerning France...

That's what I was trying to imply.

If a small country wants to break off from it's parent country, and has legitimate reasons for it, then why not help the country?

France would later benefit from our independence.

Wouldn't the same happen if we help Taiwan?
(Then again, there's the dreaded PLA of China)

China would declare war on us if we helped, but Taiwan should be independent.

[bemildred]

8. That seems a reasonable argument Sir.

Self-determination and all that is assumed to be
a good thing these days.

I am not sure what China will do when Taiwan declares
independence, although some others seem more assured,
and also seem confident of the outcome of that test
of arms.

I suppose the question then would be what level of
assistance should we provide to Taiwan in that eventuality.