12-31-2016, 11:03 PM
(This post was last modified: 01-01-2017, 08:43 AM by John J. Xenakis.)
*** 1-Jan-17 World View -- Taiwan's president responds to military threats from China
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
****
**** In New Year's address, Taiwan's president responds to military threats from China
****
![[Image: g161231b.jpg]](http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com/ww2010/g161231b.jpg)
Tsai Ing-wen at news conference on Saturday
In the aftermath of the 10-minute phone conversation with
president-elect Donald Trump and Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen,
tensions between Taiwan and China have been substantially increasing.
Reports indicate that China's military, the People's Liberation Army
(PLA), has become increasingly alarmed by this phone conversation,
since they feel that it threatens additional steps towards attempts by
Taiwan to become an independent nation, not a province of China.
Since then, China's military has been stepping up military drills near
Taiwan, in a show of military force. China sent its aircraft carrier
and a naval fleet into waters near Taiwan, and also sent military jets
to circle the airspace near Taiwan. Taiwan's defense minister has
warned that enemy threats were growing daily.
In a New Year press conference on Saturday, president Tsai addressed a
range of issue, including relations with China. She accused China of
threatening Taiwan, and said that "we will not bow to pressure":
> [indent]<QUOTE>"Since [we took office on] May 20, we have endeavored
> to maintain peaceful and stable relations across the Taiwan Strait
> in accordance with the people’s will and consensus in
> Taiwan. Driven by our respect for history and the spirit of
> seeking common ground while setting aside differences, we have
> continuously expressed goodwill towards the other side across the
> strait. We hope that the two sides can gradually reduce
> confrontations and differences through positive interactions.
>
> But in the past few months, it has been the general feeling of the
> Taiwanese people that the rational and calm position that both
> sides have worked hard to maintain has seen certain changes. Step
> by step, Beijing is going back to the old path of dividing,
> coercing, and even threatening and intimidating Taiwan. We hope
> this does not reflect a policy choice by Beijing, but must say
> that such conduct has hurt the feelings of the Taiwanese people
> and destabilized cross-strait relations.
>
> For the sake of safeguarding regional peace and prosperity, I want
> to once again reiterate that our commitments will not change, and
> our goodwill will not change. But we will not bow to pressure, and
> we will of course not revert to the old path of confrontation.
>
> Whether cross-strait ties can take a turn for the better in the
> coming year will depend on our patience and resolve. But it will
> also depend on how Beijing sees the future of cross-strait
> relations, and whether it is willing to assume its share of the
> responsibility for building new models for cross-strait
> interactions. This is necessary to answer the collective hope for
> peace from the people on both sides of the strait, as well as the
> different parties in the region."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
Tsai added, "In 2017, our society is going to face some turbulence and
face some uncertainties. It’s going to test our whole national
security team, as well as the whole government’s ability to handle
change. We need to face this matter calmly."
Reports indicate that China is planning retaliatory measures against
Taiwan, such as conducting war games near Taiwan or imposing trade
sanctions.
It never ceases to amaze me that China gets away with illegally
annexing huge regions in the South China Sea, in violation of
international law by the international tribunal in the Hague, but then
considers a ten-minute phone call an act of war. AFP and Office of Taiwan's President and Reuters
Related Articles
****
**** Did Taiwan's president say that Taiwan is 'an independent, sovereign country'?
****
The excerpt from Tsai's press conference quoted above is the official
translation of Tsai's statement from a Taiwan government web site.
However, other news reports say that Tsai also said the following:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"The Republic of China is an independent, sovereign
> country."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
This is a highly inflammatory statement by the president of Taiwan,
and so it's not surprising if it was removed from the official text.
(Republic of China is the full official name of Taiwan.)
In a press conference two weeks ago, President Obama said:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"China views Taiwan as part of China, but recognizes
> that it has to approach Taiwan as an entity that has its own ways
> of doing things.
>
> Taiwanese have agreed that as long as they’re able to continue to
> function with some degree of autonomy, that they won’t charge
> forward and declare independence."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
Obama's description of Taiwan as an "entity" has angered some Taiwanese
activists, saying "Taiwan is an independent state, not an entity."
Some activists claim that Taiwan is already a de facto
independent state, because "Taiwan has already cut through the mire of
its troubled history to become recognized by humanity, irrespective of
official diplomatic relations." In fact, these activists claim that
calling Taiwan an "independent nation" does not contradict the
One-China principle.
That may be the reason why President Tsai felt that it was OK to refer
to Taiwan as "an independent, sovereign country." Bloomberg and Reuters and Taipei Times and China Post (Taiwan)
Related Articles
****
**** Taiwan president's planned US visit angers China even more
****
Taiwan has confirmed that president Tsai Ing-wen will make a foreign
visit to Central America, and will visit Nicaragua, Guatemala, El
Salvador and Honduras between January 7-15.
The part of the trip that's further infuriating the Chinese is that
Tsai will make "transit stops" in the US before and after the trip to
Central America. She will make a stopover in Houston en route to
Central America and San Francisco on her return trip to Taiwan.
There has been media speculation that Tsai will meet with
representatives of Donald Trump during one of the stopovers, but
Tsai's office has refused to confirm or deny these speculations.
China has repeatedly demanded that Washington not permit Tsai to visit
the US during her trip. However, a Tsai spokesman says, "These
transit stops are undertaken out of consideration for the safety,
comfort, convenience and dignity of the traveler. President Tsai's
transits will be private and unofficial." China Post (Taiwan)
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, China,
Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
- In New Year's address, Taiwan's president responds to military threats from China
- Did Taiwan's president say that Taiwan is 'an independent, sovereign country'?
- Taiwan president's planned US visit angers China even more
****
**** In New Year's address, Taiwan's president responds to military threats from China
****
Tsai Ing-wen at news conference on Saturday
In the aftermath of the 10-minute phone conversation with
president-elect Donald Trump and Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen,
tensions between Taiwan and China have been substantially increasing.
Reports indicate that China's military, the People's Liberation Army
(PLA), has become increasingly alarmed by this phone conversation,
since they feel that it threatens additional steps towards attempts by
Taiwan to become an independent nation, not a province of China.
Since then, China's military has been stepping up military drills near
Taiwan, in a show of military force. China sent its aircraft carrier
and a naval fleet into waters near Taiwan, and also sent military jets
to circle the airspace near Taiwan. Taiwan's defense minister has
warned that enemy threats were growing daily.
In a New Year press conference on Saturday, president Tsai addressed a
range of issue, including relations with China. She accused China of
threatening Taiwan, and said that "we will not bow to pressure":
> [indent]<QUOTE>"Since [we took office on] May 20, we have endeavored
> to maintain peaceful and stable relations across the Taiwan Strait
> in accordance with the people’s will and consensus in
> Taiwan. Driven by our respect for history and the spirit of
> seeking common ground while setting aside differences, we have
> continuously expressed goodwill towards the other side across the
> strait. We hope that the two sides can gradually reduce
> confrontations and differences through positive interactions.
>
> But in the past few months, it has been the general feeling of the
> Taiwanese people that the rational and calm position that both
> sides have worked hard to maintain has seen certain changes. Step
> by step, Beijing is going back to the old path of dividing,
> coercing, and even threatening and intimidating Taiwan. We hope
> this does not reflect a policy choice by Beijing, but must say
> that such conduct has hurt the feelings of the Taiwanese people
> and destabilized cross-strait relations.
>
> For the sake of safeguarding regional peace and prosperity, I want
> to once again reiterate that our commitments will not change, and
> our goodwill will not change. But we will not bow to pressure, and
> we will of course not revert to the old path of confrontation.
>
> Whether cross-strait ties can take a turn for the better in the
> coming year will depend on our patience and resolve. But it will
> also depend on how Beijing sees the future of cross-strait
> relations, and whether it is willing to assume its share of the
> responsibility for building new models for cross-strait
> interactions. This is necessary to answer the collective hope for
> peace from the people on both sides of the strait, as well as the
> different parties in the region."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
Tsai added, "In 2017, our society is going to face some turbulence and
face some uncertainties. It’s going to test our whole national
security team, as well as the whole government’s ability to handle
change. We need to face this matter calmly."
Reports indicate that China is planning retaliatory measures against
Taiwan, such as conducting war games near Taiwan or imposing trade
sanctions.
It never ceases to amaze me that China gets away with illegally
annexing huge regions in the South China Sea, in violation of
international law by the international tribunal in the Hague, but then
considers a ten-minute phone call an act of war. AFP and Office of Taiwan's President and Reuters
Related Articles
- Chinese bombers circling Taiwan raise talk of war during Trump's first term (19-Dec-2016)
- No war erupted from Trump's ten minute phone call with Taiwan's Tsai Ing-wen (05-Dec-2016)
- New Taiwan poll shows overwhelming support for independence from China (02-Jun-2016)
****
**** Did Taiwan's president say that Taiwan is 'an independent, sovereign country'?
****
The excerpt from Tsai's press conference quoted above is the official
translation of Tsai's statement from a Taiwan government web site.
However, other news reports say that Tsai also said the following:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"The Republic of China is an independent, sovereign
> country."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
This is a highly inflammatory statement by the president of Taiwan,
and so it's not surprising if it was removed from the official text.
(Republic of China is the full official name of Taiwan.)
In a press conference two weeks ago, President Obama said:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"China views Taiwan as part of China, but recognizes
> that it has to approach Taiwan as an entity that has its own ways
> of doing things.
>
> Taiwanese have agreed that as long as they’re able to continue to
> function with some degree of autonomy, that they won’t charge
> forward and declare independence."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
Obama's description of Taiwan as an "entity" has angered some Taiwanese
activists, saying "Taiwan is an independent state, not an entity."
Some activists claim that Taiwan is already a de facto
independent state, because "Taiwan has already cut through the mire of
its troubled history to become recognized by humanity, irrespective of
official diplomatic relations." In fact, these activists claim that
calling Taiwan an "independent nation" does not contradict the
One-China principle.
That may be the reason why President Tsai felt that it was OK to refer
to Taiwan as "an independent, sovereign country." Bloomberg and Reuters and Taipei Times and China Post (Taiwan)
Related Articles
- China demands new Taiwan leader explicitly affirm that Taiwan is part of China (26-May-2016)
- Taiwan's pro-independence party wins historic presidential election (17-Jan-2016)
- China's 'Anti-secession law' provokes massive Taiwan riots (27-Mar-2005)
****
**** Taiwan president's planned US visit angers China even more
****
Taiwan has confirmed that president Tsai Ing-wen will make a foreign
visit to Central America, and will visit Nicaragua, Guatemala, El
Salvador and Honduras between January 7-15.
The part of the trip that's further infuriating the Chinese is that
Tsai will make "transit stops" in the US before and after the trip to
Central America. She will make a stopover in Houston en route to
Central America and San Francisco on her return trip to Taiwan.
There has been media speculation that Tsai will meet with
representatives of Donald Trump during one of the stopovers, but
Tsai's office has refused to confirm or deny these speculations.
China has repeatedly demanded that Washington not permit Tsai to visit
the US during her trip. However, a Tsai spokesman says, "These
transit stops are undertaken out of consideration for the safety,
comfort, convenience and dignity of the traveler. President Tsai's
transits will be private and unofficial." China Post (Taiwan)
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, China,
Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
