China threatens Taiwain
by Marcus Gee, Globe & Mail, Dec 5, 2003

Taiwan is arguably the most successful Asian nation in modern history. Yet, in the official view of most other countries, it simply does not exist. Just 27 of the world's 190-odd countries recognize Taiwan as a country, and most of those are tiny, poor, or both. Though Taiwan has had its own government for decades, it has no seat at the United Nations, a rare snub from a body so undiscriminating that even North Korea is a member. Though it's the world's 14th-biggest exporter, it was let into the World Trade Organization only last year. It is still shut out of the World Health Organization.

Not surprisingly, the 23 million people of Taiwan find all of this a little galling. Most pariah nations are pariahs for a reason. White-ruled South Africa was tossed out of the Commonwealth and denied voting rights at the UN because its government was racist. Saddam Hussein's Iraq faced UN sanctions because it refused to come clean about weapons of mass destruction. What, ask, the Taiwanese, have we done?

Taiwan's exclusion has it roots in the Chinese Revolution of 1949. When Mao Tsetung's Communists defeated Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists and took control in Beijing, Chiang retreated to Taiwan and set up a government in exile that claimed to be the legitimate ruler of all China. In time, most of the world rejected this fiction, recognized Mao's People's Republic and Taiwan was hurled into the void.

Fair enough. Chiang was a pretender, and a dictator to boot. But that was 30 years ago. Chiang died in 1975, and Taiwan began to change. With its economy growing at an average of 10 per cent a year through the sixties, seventies, and eighties, Taiwan became suddenly prosperous. Today, its per capita output stands at $22,155, not far short of Canada's. The UN ranks it 24th on its global development index, ahead of rivals Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea.

With prosperity came a thirst for freedom. Chiang's son lifted martial law in 1987, opposition parties sprang up, and a free presidential election was held in 1996. And with freedom came a thirst for recognition. In 2000, Taiwan elected Chen Shui-bian, an advocate of independence for Taiwan, as President. Mr. Chen is now making waves. Facing a re-election campaign next March, and trailing in the polls, he tried to push a law through parliament to allow a referendum on Taiwan's political status. Parliament balked, and watered down the law, but Mr. Chen says he still wants to go ahead with some kind of popular vote in March.

That makes China see red. On Wednesday, senior Chinese military officers reiterated that any such referendum could trigger a Chinese attack on Taiwan. Beijing considers Taiwan a renegade province and threatens to invade if it officially declares itself a separate country. Such a declaration would only be stating the obvious. Taiwan has been separate for more than 50 years. All it wants now is what every other country has: recognition that it is a country.

The world is far from ready to give it. In fact, most other countries have reacted to Mr. Chen's pro-independence murmurings with barely concealed horror. The United States, though Taiwan's biggest patron, doesn't want to upset China, Asia's booming goliath. As Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao prepares to visit Washington next week, U.S. officials are urging Mr. Chen to clam up. That, indeed, is the world's attitude to Taiwan: Keep quiet and don't rock the boat.

That's reasonable to a point. No one wants a war over Taiwan. Everyone hopes Mr. Chen won't needlessly provoke China. He himself has promised not to actually declare independence unless China attacks. But the world can't expect Taiwan to stay mum forever. Someone once said that a nation is a group of people who have achieved great things together in the past and hope to achieve great things in the future. Taiwan clearly fits the bill. Its people have achieved miracles over the past 20 years, transforming a small island into an economic dynamo and trading a grim authoritarian regime for a thriving democracy.

Whatever China may say, this is not a renegade province. This is a nation. Eventually, the world must recognize it.

Secret McCarthy papers released (investigated communist subversion). BBC, May 6, 2003. Go to COMMUNISTS COINED "MCCARTHYISM"
(excerpt: Then on November 3, 1950, Senator McCarthy explained, the American Armies were fighting in Korea when they were attacked by Chinese Communist troops. The American Government ordered the military commanders not to bomb Chinese bases or supply lines, even though American troops were in danger of destruction. The reason given: this might bring China into the war, and believe it or not, our country had turned down the Chinese anti-Communist forces offer of 33,000 troops to help defeat the Chinese and Korean Communists. Also, and I don't suppose you've read this in many history books, American forces were protecting the Communist-Chinese coasts. The American fleet was ordered to protect Red China against the anti-Communist Nationalist raid, and our seventh fleet was ordered to protect shipments of military supplies for the Red Chinese forces killing American boys.)

USA, China at odds over Taiwan Arms Deal. VOA, Jan 15, 2010
China is warning the United States that the recently announced sale of air defense missiles to Taiwan could damage trust between Washington and Beijing, and that further protests might follow. China has called on the United States to end all arms sales to the island, but the missile deal is one of several advanced weapons systems that are likely to be approved by the U.S. Congress in the coming months. The planned U.S. sale of Patriot air defense missiles to Taiwan is part of a larger package of high-end military hardware that originally was approved by former U.S. president George W. Bush.... Under the Taiwan Relations Act, the United States formally recognizes only the Beijing government. The act also obligates Washington to sell weapons to Taiwan to help it meet its defensive needs and to come to the aid of Taiwan, if it is attacked. China and Taiwan split in 1949 amid a civil war, and Beijing regards the self-ruled island to be part of its territory. China has at times threatened to use force to bring the island under its control, and it has an estimated 1,300 ballistic missiles positioned opposite the island along its eastern coast.... Even so, U.S. officials note...that the rise of a strong and prosperous [Communist] China can be a source of strength for the community of nations and they hope that differences can be resolved through dialogue....)

China threatens USA on weapons to Taiwan (will retaliate militarily if deal consummated). CNN, Jan 8, 2010

Reader Carl is keen to learn more findings of patriot McCarthy's committee investigating communist penetration of the USA government

MCCARTHY DEMAND CHINA FREE POWS

MCCARTHY ON CHINA & NORTH KOREA

Cheap Chinese goods pricey (costing USA economy & Taiwan freedom). NewYorkDaily, Dec 14, 2003. Go to 9.Keeping Masses Down & CHINESE TAKE-OVER

Go to 13.Weapons and 6.Super-States and ARMING OUR ENEMIES and CHINESE TAKE-OVER and FALKLAND PANAMA REVELATIONS and KOREA-VIETNAM-GULF WARS