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borgslayer
Rear Admiral
Joined: 27 Aug 2003
Posts: 2646
Location: Las Vegas
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 Sun Mar 13, 2005 12:39 am Taiwan warns China on attack law |
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| Quote: | TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) -- Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian on Saturday demanded that rival China withdraw a proposed anti-secession law that authorizes military attacks on Taiwan if it declares formal independence, saying already shaky ties between the two sides would deteriorate even further if the legislation is passed.
"The legislation enables China to unilaterally decide Taiwan's future and ignore that Taiwanese have the right to choose a democratic and free lifestyle," Chen told a gathering of his ruling Democratic Progressive Party.
"If they ignore the strong opposition of the international community and go ahead with the legislation, it risks raising tensions and setting off the crisis of a full-phase backtracking of relations," Chen said.
The two sides split amid civil war in 1949, but China claims self-ruled, democratic Taiwan as part of its territory. Beijing has repeatedly threatened to use force if the island seeks to make its de facto independence permanent.
Chen didn't elaborate on what he meant by a further deterioration of China-Taiwan ties. Taiwan and China don't have official relations, and have not held formal talks since September 1998.
However, economic ties between the two sides have flourished, and thousands of Taiwanese live and work in China. Many Taiwanese businessmen have lobbied the government to lift its 56-year ban on direct travel links with the mainland, after special direct charter flights were made during the Lunar New Year last month.
China is expected to approve on Monday the anti-secession law, which authorizes an attack on Taiwan if the island moves toward formal independence. However, the measure states an invasion will only be the last resort.
Chen also said Taiwan will stage a mass demonstration on March 26 if China passes the law, adding that he expected a million Taiwanese to take part in the rally.
"History has taught us that vicious powers often gain strength and become destructive forces because kindhearted people choose to remain silent," Chen said.
Chen urged the Chinese leaders to "make constructive contributions to improving relations" by withdrawing the law that "will only put people across the (Taiwan) Strait further apart."
"They must not attempt to use savage, unilateral legislation to establish the so-called legal foundation for a future invasion of Taiwan," Chen said.
Chen said Chinese leaders have "distorted our efforts to expand our democracy," misinterpreting them as efforts to push for the island's formal independence.
"If they really count on the Taiwanese people, they must not misjudge the situation. They should try to understand and respect the Taiwanese," he said.
But Chang Jung-kung, spokesman of the opposition Nationalist Party, said staging a mass demonstration is not the best way to deal with China, saying the island could just ignore it by rejecting Beijing's claim.
"We could simply declare that the anti-secession law does not have the power over Taiwan," Chang told the state radio.
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/03/12/taiwan.china.law.ap/index.html
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borgslayer
Rear Admiral
Joined: 27 Aug 2003
Posts: 2646
Location: Las Vegas
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| Sun Mar 13, 2005 12:56 am |
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In relation to this topic I am in total support of the Taiwanese President. I think that Taiwan should get its own independence if China decide to attack otherwise then Taiwan should defend itself. Other nations such as Japan, Philippines, Austrialia, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand, and the United States should then follow suit and defend Taiwan.
Democracy should reign supreme.
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