Prelude to war: China calls on U.S. to withdraw troops from Taiwan

[Counselor706]

Oct. 8 (UPI) — China called on the United States to withdraw troops from Taiwan on Friday in response to reports that a small presence of American troops have been training forces there for at least a year.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the United States should halt military contact with Taiwan and uphold its commitment to the 1979 One-China agreement. Under the pact, the United States agreed to recognize formal ties with China rather than the island of Taiwan.

"The One China principle is the political foundation of China and U.S. relations,” Zhao told reporters Friday. “The U.S. must sever diplomatic relations and abrogate its mutual defense treaty with Taiwan and U.S. forces must withdraw from Taiwan.”

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[pecksniff]

There is nothing to abrogate -- that mutual defense treaty expired in 1980.

 

[The_Trouvere]

History is moving in China's direction. China does not need military aggression to hasten the process.

Taiwan should announce its willingness to join the mainland, but only if the mainland adopts a democratic government with regular contested elections and open political debate. The Communist Party would continue to exist, but it would compete with other political parties on equal terms. The Communist dictatorship would not like that idea, but stating it would be good for world opinion. The Taiwan government should announce that it has no aggressive designs on the mainland, and only wants to be left alone.

 

[pecksniff]

Taiwan should announce its willingness to join the mainland, but only if the mainland adopts a democratic government with regular contested elections and open political debate.

I doubt that in Taiwanese politics, such an offer is possible even as a gesture.

 

[The_Trouvere]

I doubt that in Taiwanese politics, such an offer is possible even as a gesture.

What you say may be true. Nevertheless, it would be in Taiwan's advantage for a high placed government official to give a speech in the United Nations explaining that Taiwan poses no threat to the mainland, and only wants to be left alone. The speech should point out that Taiwan has less economic inequality than the mainland, and a per capita gross domestic product (GDP) that is several times higher.

 

[ll74]

You war hawks have been calling for war with them for a while....get out your party favors....

 

[pecksniff]

There won't be any war if Wal-mart doesn't want one.