December 9, 2003 6:29 AM

So, we're bowing to pressure from China now?

Taiwan bluntly warned by Bush: No referendum on China urged

What you're seeing here is the dropping of the ambiguity for both sides because we cannot sort of imply to the Taiwan side that we're sort of agnostic towards moves toward Taiwan independence. But at the same time we've got to make it clear to the Chinese that this is not a green light for you to contemplate the use of force or coercion against Taiwan.

- an "unnamed senior Administration official"

My first thought when I heard this story was that it seemed horribly inconsistent, and indeed perhaps even hypocritical. Here we are, fighting a war in Iraq ("Operation Iraqi Freedom", no?) that ostensibly is to ensure Iraqis their right to independence and self-determination. So, how can we reasonably deny Taiwan the same independence- never mind the fact that they are a de facto independent country as it is?

The difference, of course, is that the People's Republic of China plays the 800-lb. gorilla in this scenario. The PRC's saber-rattling may or may not be a bluff, but it should not change the question at hand: Why shouldn't Taiwan have the right of self-determination? That's an easy answer: because it's not in the Bush Administration's self-interest. Remember the Bush Doctrine: "One war at a time, y'all...."

blog comments powered by Disqus

Technorati

Technorati search

» Blogs that link here

About this Entry

This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on December 9, 2003 6:29 AM.

Well, it sure as hell beats what we have to work with now was the previous entry in this blog.

Thank God for true American heroes like the Secret Service, eh? is the next entry in this blog.

Find recent content on the main index or look in the archives to find all content.

Contact Me

Powered by Movable Type 5.12