A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

Kenneth Wills, Fairmont WV — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:44:53 GMT

The United States should take note. This is how you win a "war".

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

Bill — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:09:55 GMT

China's attempt to oppress the Taiwanese people is unforgivable. Taiwan has a democratically elected President, free press, uncensored internet, and the right to dissent. Taiwan deserves the support of the International community to make official its de facto independence by allowing the Country to join the U.N. In the past, the United States staunchly opposed the spread of communism (Korea, Vietnam) but with Taiwan, it allows the neighboring "Bully" to threaten and attempt to spread its communist rule to its peaceful democratic neighbor. If it weren't for the fact that the US needs to borrow Chinese money to bail out our economy, perhaps the situation would be different.

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

Mark Kram, Banbury, Oxford, UK — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:20:51 GMT

I know not why the opinions of Gordon Chang are continuously courted, let alone respected. This self-proclaimed China expert can hardly be said to be impartial. His views on the Chinese government are so one-sided as to lose him all credibility. To the extent that he had the "foresight", if such a term is appropriate, to declare, a few years back, that all major Chinese state banks would now be bankrupt, is evidence enough that he should retire from the position of the world's pre-eminent expat China-basher.

Mark, Oxford University

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

Ray Oaktie SC — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:37:58 GMT

Makes sense. Enough is Enough. Hope China becomes pals with South Korea. North Koreawill not attck if this happens.

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

raul izquierdo — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:40:29 GMT

china gains more to capture taiwan and leave its political structure in tact. such as with hong kong. i mean if i was communist country and leader thats what i would do. its sort of like controlled capitalism you keep your main society in check with some areas controlling your buissness and financial markets and keeping the other side happy yet allied with your general view.

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

Liang — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:29:55 GMT

This is definitely a road that leads to a very unknown destination.

We Taiwanese, need to point out that what we cherish the most is not what Chinese Government is known to embrace instead, quite opposite.

Regardless, China is bent on its Imperialistic move ever since it Invaded Tibet and fought against KMT.
Eversince those hardliners who actually rule the party, massacred countless students in Tienanmen protest.

And in 2009, not much has changed where it needs the Change, in the area of Democracy ! not Financial!, money comes and goes but what really matters is human values, that is where CCP has failed time and time again and does not show any sign of improvments

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

sekhar, Seattle, Wa — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:45:39 GMT

The lesson for the US is the the way that China has used its economic might, rahter than its military (which it has used mainly inside the country, and in Tibet. The US needs to become a self reliant nation which has a trade surplus, and not a deficit. How can it do this? First by convering entirely to alternative and Green energies. Second, by using Robotics to become the world leader in quality manufacturing. Third, by using some of the same policies adopted by China to boost exports. Our people have to wake up and smell the coffee......

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

Jason, SF — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:47:35 GMT

China long ago could have invaded and taken taiwan back by force and there would have been ABSOLUTELY NOTHING the US or any of its allies could have done about it.

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

Ray Manhattan, Kansas — Tue, 26 May 2009 17:22:20 GMT

There was a time when the United States would have fought to the death (with Mainland China) to protect Taiwan (which is really what is left over from Nationalist China/Changkaishek). But those days have gone. We no longer have our naval base at Subic Bay or Clark Air Base in The Philippines. Ironically an act of God (volcano) put us out of those two bases in the early 1990s. With that said, and since our stupid government (past and present administrations) have put us in hock to Beijing (I still like the spelling Peking) we will probably not bat an eyelash, or raise a finger, or make so much as a whimper when the People's Liberation Navy takes the place over.

But all this is probably history paying us back for trying to build an empire by making The Philippines a colony of the U.S. during the Spanish-American War of 1898 (and over the protest and dead bodies of Filipinos), and then sending all those missionaries and gunboats to China in the 1920s and 1930s. All that in the wake of the British/Chinese Opium Wars of the 19th Century. Maybe when we end all of our imperial overseas adventures (past, present, and future) then perhaps we will turn our full attention to the the terrible problems we have at home. If nothing else, the eventual "fate" of Taiwan will remind us that history is not kind to nations who try to build empires.

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

J Chiou, Taipei — Tue, 26 May 2009 17:26:57 GMT

Even I find Gordon Chang an idiot and I'm Taiwanese. Simple logic shows China has nothing to gain from "attacking" Taiwan. It would ruin our economy and because of the link to the mainland it would hurt China as well. In addition, the top priority of Beijing is economic growth which the communist party basis it's legitimacy on therefore attacking Taiwan only hurts their own interests.

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

Odumba — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:03:35 GMT

[The United States should take note. This is how you win a "war".]
Mr Wills should take note to learn his history. This war would have ended in 1947 if the United States [Truman] didn't make the ROC unilaterally cease its near destruction of the PROC. That US brokered attempt at a cease-fire, truce and end of hostilities, failed.
Again, this war would have ended in the 1950 if the United States [Truman] didn't send the 7th Fleet in to keep the PROC from obliterating the ROC and Taiwan.
If you want to avoid or end a war, the DNC playbook doesn't help. Review Johnson's attempts in the 1960's.
If you don't want the US to be in a Recession or Depression, don't let the DNC control Congress (eg Hoover years, Carter years, 1990-1995 & 2007-present).
Remember that the GOP fought to have blacks treated as humans. Today, the GOP fights to have unborn babies treated as humans. As in the 1800's, the DNC likes to distract us from the real issues.

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

David Toronto Canada — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:14:22 GMT

as a chinese, i am glad to hear that we are not threatening to attack each other. i hope some day we all understand, over 80% of the populations in the island move from mainland back in 60 years ago. we all have relatives on both side. China spent 3000 years in war , we only have peaceful time in the last 60. look how many stuffs we had accomplish. imagine if we have another 60 years......

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

Bill Gonzalez — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:48:02 GMT

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

stanley johnson,anderson,sc — Tue, 26 May 2009 20:11:02 GMT

Let's see, you complain about water boarding and it's ok for them to cut heads off.ok I understand, I understand that you need to go live in a third world country and then maybe you will be able to appreciate the good old USA.

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

Ryan, Nagoya, Japan — Tue, 26 May 2009 20:22:09 GMT

One of my business friends built a hotel in Taiwan 2 years back saying that they might re-unite, but you know what he said in contrast to his capital hopes. One China, 4 legal systems(HK, Maccau, Taiwan, Beijing) and Taipei is not going to like censorship and the means of keeping a vast country together. Good call Mark from Oxford this china "observer" knows less than a migrant worker about china.

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

Roger — Tue, 26 May 2009 21:28:42 GMT

Great, I hope Formosa/Taiwan re-merge, one less sore spot in the world for "US" to worry about. And I hope China becomes good friends with South Korea, another problem we don't need.

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

Otto — Tue, 26 May 2009 21:54:06 GMT

I agree with the others' comment on Gordon Chang. You have to know his history to know that he doesn't know what he's talking about.

He was working in China and had a bad relationship with his co-workers and customers and personal relationships. He was bitter and tried to attach himself to the independence movement in Taiwan. I don't even think they care or even consider him as a serious ally.

Basically, this guy is clueless and irrevelant.

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

Haav Bline — Wed, 27 May 2009 00:20:39 GMT

I agree with Mark Kram completely. Gordon Chang has zero credibility. Simplistic Americans think he knows China simply becasue he has a Chinese name. Every outlandish prediction he had about China has been ludicrous and proven wrong. Bashing China has proven to be a lucrative and effortless career for him though, because there are so many fools around.

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

Helmut Steinebrunner — Wed, 27 May 2009 00:43:34 GMT

Let's face it between Nixon and Carter including Bill Clinton, China got a super boost. If South America would've gotten so much support in everything, we would have stayed in the Americas all our know-how would have supported- the Americas .

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

John Wu — Wed, 27 May 2009 01:09:34 GMT

It 's good to see both Chinese on the Mainland and Taiwan getting a long. I hope nobody try to separate them.

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

toby, washington dc — Wed, 27 May 2009 02:17:43 GMT

Looks like a great development

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

Yuan Lee, Bellingham, WA — Wed, 27 May 2009 05:01:19 GMT

It is totally stupid to think that China will not use the economic bait to capture Taiwan without firing a single shot. China will never behave like USA or Germany today. One must remember that China is still a 100% communist dictatorship with horrible human right records and a 100% corrupt political system. The only way the communist party can keep its power is to please its population by acting like Nazi Germany, restoring the historical nationalist pride by claiming and eventually swallowing an increasingly democratic Taiwan the easy and inexpansive way. Remeber that Austria was swallowed by Nazi Germany before World War II. Wake up and watch out, world! It will be our turn next to be swallowed by the dragon. There is the 1 trillion dollar cash reserve, 1.3 billion people, nuclear submarine and .... and a long history of hating the imperialist west... etc.

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

Jason DIxon, Taipei, Taiwan — Wed, 27 May 2009 05:07:02 GMT

I agree with professor Yan that there is no correlation between economic integration and China taking over Taiwan. Mr Chang is way out in left field (pardon the pun)and living in a world of WW2 and post WW2 ideology and fear. If he would read Chairman Dung's writings about Taiwan, he would have seen that the Chinese have long been offering a good deal to Taiwan,including allowing Taiwan to run and keep its own military, run its own economics and even choose local leaders. This has been the plan offered for many years now. Taiwan, as a small nation, needs to parley with its very big neighbor if it wants to keep both a strategic and economically viable society. Japan can take care of itself, and for that matter, S Korea. Regionalism cooperation is the way of the futyre as the Ajmerican ifluence and domination of the world in both economics and in military power wane. Today you can read how Iran is courting both Afganistan and Pakistan, encouraging cooperation in solving regional troubles. This is the way of the future, and the current Taiwan leadership is very smart ot court China. People in the world need and want peace. It is the gateway to prosperity and joy. Mr Chang needs to bring his ranching up to date!!!

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

Cheeseball, Toronto, Ontario — Wed, 27 May 2009 05:39:01 GMT

China could be almost classified as a Compulsory Consumerist State. Ruled by a generally benevolent dictator party, but allows trade. This is how you would win a win, not like how the US does it. Look at the Us now. 2 wars Trillions spent on the war, Thousands of American Troops dead, the world hates them. Obviously Obama is a good start but much more needs to be done. I won't advocate withdrawing american troops from either afghanistan or iraq because they started this mess so they should finish it, but spare us any more "American Intervention in the name of Freedom". China seriously does not have a large military and knows how to play it smart. They don't need one. The world has changed you won't see any radical massive wars like World War 2 anymore. If the US attacked any major nation the rest of the world will combine and fight as a single unit agianst the perpetrator. China does not need to worry about being attacked and it does not need to have a policy of attacking other countries. Its a new world and the US is still stuck in the old cold war mentality. This is what happened to Britain in the early 1900s. The American Empire is not what it used to be. I won't say that China will be the next world leader because I believe that by the time the US is on the wane the World will become more unified with the world turning smaller every minute. Wars used to be fought because people did not know who their neighbours were and anyone could tell them they were the most vicious people alive and deserved to die. But now the world will gradually become more unified eventually in my opinion becoming only a few nations instead of the 190+ in the world today.

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

M CHEN, NY,NY — Wed, 27 May 2009 08:21:21 GMT

The international society should be aware of the fact that the recent interactions between China and Taiwan are NOT supported by Taiwanese. In fact, recent polls show that around 70% of Taiwanese, under any circumstance, want to have an indepedent country, instead of being part of China. The economic agreements signed between China and Taiwan have NEVER been presented or approved by the Legislation Yuan (the Congress of Taiwan). The international society should not be fooled by the press released by China and Ma Ying-Jeou's governments. The hard truth is that MOST TAIWANESE ARE AGAINST THE CURRENT POLICIES OF MA YING-JEOU. The only motivation of Ma YING-JEOU is to win a NOBEL PEACE PRIZE by sacrifying Taiwaneses freedom to decide their own future.

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

Susan Ticola — Wed, 27 May 2009 12:40:11 GMT

China has enough people and problems, even though there economy is much stronger than the United States and of course Uncle Sam owes them a ton of money.

Taiwan is better left alone.

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

David, Toronto Canada — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:09:02 GMT

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

arthur — Wed, 27 May 2009 21:00:28 GMT

Taiwan and mainland China - that's the proper term we use in China.

Like all problems, there was never a easy solution.
With love and patience. Hopefully the 2 sides will come together slowly

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

Jeffy Lew — Wed, 27 May 2009 22:52:30 GMT

Gordon Chang is a fool. He is nothing but a China-hater who predicted in his 2001 book "The Coming Collapse of China" that the Chinese financial system would collapse by 2008. Maybe if he had written the book on the US instead of China, he would be considered a genius, instead of a right-wing goof-ball.

I agree with Mark. Why is this man still considered an expert? I understand right-wing publications like Forbes and Wall Street Journal lapping up this man's China-bashing, but MSN too?

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

jesse — Thu, 28 May 2009 20:36:45 GMT

hope north korea doesnt attack it will be realy bad on their part

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

Frank Zhang — Sat, 30 May 2009 02:42:43 GMT

However, I think everyone should understand that China has a bottom line that no country/region wants to cross: Taiwan is part of China. China will not let Taiwan leave China and Taiwan's announcement independence will for sure get itself reclaimed by China faster. This indeed has nothing to do with democracy but China's Sovereignty.

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

jane doe — Sun, 31 May 2009 23:08:05 GMT

Taiwan needs China and even if it doesn't return as part of PRC, it should at least stay in its current state. Their economy relies heavily on Chinese resources and if they worsen it, they would be another social case for the US since the US has been so involved with China-TW relations.

The younger generation in TW should realize this, because a lot of ties seem to have been maintained by older generations who were once PRC nationals and escaped with the nationalists to TW.

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

Zhang Bo — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 05:52:15 GMT

why you think America have to be involved into Taiwan affairs to defend NK Japan or russia?? or why it has to defend instead of cooperation?? this communication is really nice for the future development to ease-asia anyway.

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

Patrick, Taipei, Taiwan — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 08:41:37 GMT

ROC/PRC is an old argument between long dead dictators whose devout followers are still trying to prove who was right. Unification will only lead to hurting the Taiwanese, and undermining the distinctive culture that exists on the island. The current leadership got into power because the people voted for change, hope they remember that or they will be voted out. Unless then ban elections again as they have already started the ban on public protesting against unification.

A warmer Taiwan-China embrace?

Peter Holin — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:56:17 GMT

Taiwan is the first democratic society in thousands of years of Chinese history,China's economic growth is the miracle of modern world history. It will be a blessing for the world if those two countries both respect their systems and keep peace and economic growth until Taiwan and China are reached a more civilized solution by people on both sides to settle their odds----peace is what we need,War is not the solution.