Transcript of AIT Press Conference:
While I disagree with some very small points in your analysis, I think it’s basically spot-on.
But as for wondering if anyone in Washington “gets” Taiwan, I think the question should be: “Does anyone in Taipei “get” Washington?” Unfortunately, the answer seems to be: “Maybe. Kind of. A little bit, perhaps.”
They should be thanking Young, not demonizing him – its about time these bozos pulled their heads out of their arses and got it into their thick arrogant skulls that Washington will have NO qualms about dropping Taiwan like a hot potato if it decides that’s the best course of action.
Ma moaning about wei wan is just knee jerk – he’s fucking SQUIRMING, and rightly so, because he knows perfectly well that Young is being candid because Young knows that otherwise, it just goes round and round in circles, which exactly how the Taiwanese like and want it. Young’s basically saying: “Listen up, you stupid doodyheads. Get something done. NOW. Or YOU’LL be the ones to regret it. We’re sick and tired of your schoolboy antics. Grow up.” And Ma knows it.
I think this just clearly reflects the AIT’s growing desperation over its lack of influence in Taiwanese policy. And no, that’s not a snipe at the US, that was meant to be a statement of fact.
Feiren, you captured this in your own discussion actually. The United States now feels a need to go directly to the Taiwanese people, because clearly the Taiwanese political class doesn’t care. The United States has made clear their displeasure over Chen’s policies in the past… and simply, Chen didn’t care very much. The United States has also made clear its displeasure over the arm budget (especially when Ma visited + more recently through the rejection of the F16 request)… and simply, Ma didn’t care very much. So, what’s left? The United States is taking a new tack, and now taking the issue directly to the “Taiwanese people”.
Now, let’s say for the sake of argument the Taiwanese people don’t care either… say the KMT still wins in Taipei comfortably (and perhaps even in Kaohsiung). Let’s say the pan-Blues continue to drag out the arms bill without a major hit in the legislative balloting. What then?
If that happens, the United States will be out of threats. It only has one decision to make at that point: pull out, or don’t pull out. So for all intent and purposes, we might only be a few months (perhaps a year) away from Taiwan falling outside the US sphere of influence. Ain’t democracy grand.
Yes, I agree that the US is bypassing Taiwan’s political classes–or at least the blues. It has indeed realized that it has no influence over the likes of Ma and Soong. Wang Jyn-ping and the Taiwanese people may be a different story. You don’t live here and you are a Chinese nationalist, so it is hard for you to understand that ordinary Taiwanese are very aware of who guarantees Taiwan’s security. The Taiwanese do not want to rock the boat with the US, and indeed, the claim that the Chen administration was messing up relations with the US was a potent weapon for the blues until Young’s ringing endorsement took it away.
You are correct: the Taiwanese people will decide. And that’s the way it should be. Although I don’t think KMT victories in the mayoral elections will say much about their views. We’ll have to wait for 2008.
Does anyone have a photo or clip of Stephen Young making that cut-your-throat gesture? That was priceless.
What then? Like every other pro-Blue, you just don’t get it. Steve Young just served the divorce papers on a half century of marriage. What then? It’s obvious.
Michael
from Taipeitimes:
"In her comments, Rice repeated that the US’ “one China” policy, the three joint US-China communiques and the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act remain the basis of cross-strait policy.
While the communiques “acknowledge” China’s position that Taiwan is part of China, the act commits the US to provide Taiwan with arms to defend itself, and pledges the US to maintain the capability to defend Taiwan against a Chinese military attack.
“I say to the Chinese all the time,” Rice told her audience, “Those are a package. They cannot be separated out.”
That means, she added, “we expect neither side, Taiwan or China, to engage in activities that would try to destabilize the status quo, unilaterally to change the status quo.”"
Can we consider reunification a destabilization of the status quo?
As for what Young said, after his comments on Soong’s and likes behaviour, he now completelly removed the carpet under the feet of the blues. Everyone knew it was only a matter of time until the US would be fed up with the KMT/PFP alliance over the delays. For those who thing that scrapping the NUC was an upset for the americans, here is the real and cruel truth…
I think it is going to back fire on the AIT. Throughout Asia USA sphere of influence is waning, due to USA own foreign policy. Giving 18 bn to the USA for arms, while Japan and S. Korea are showing signs of establishing their own interest in the region, doesn’t leave Taiwan with a lot of confidence, the military option against PRC requires both SK and Japan to be on board as well. Time may prove otherwise.
As for AIT, they shouldn’t have back CSB in 2004 during the critical election night, this is politics. If USA wanted Blue support when it counted, perhaps they should have back the Blues when it counted…
What then? Like every other pro-Blue, you just don’t get it. Steve Young just served the divorce papers on a half century of marriage. What then? It’s obvious.
Michael[/quote]
And divorce means not protecting/contributing to Taiwan’s defense anymore? The US would just give up that easily if the arms bill isn’t passed this one time? If that’s the case and the Taiwan people can’t depend on the US, they better hurry up and make friends with their enemy. Anyway, US policy is always in flux. Young is a representative of the Bush administration- when he is out, who knows what the approach will be.
When KMT was in power, didn’t the DPP complain about arms purchases and development too?
However, if the Greenies really want to purchase the arms, buy them through the normal defense budget (like the F16). Skip the special budget that requires LY approval. They would never do it, because they are playing politics and everybody knows it.
Anyway, ROC really needs to delevop their own indigenous weapons. The days of US being a major arms supplier are coming to an end.
The special budget was the result of Tang Fei’s decisions, when he was defense minister. Other US arms were put in the regular budget. Hint: which branch of the military’s systems were passed in the regular budget? Which branch of the military did Tang Fei come out of?
Vorkosigan
What then? Like every other pro-Blue, you just don’t get it. Steve Young just served the divorce papers on a half century of marriage. What then? It’s obvious.
Michael[/quote]
And divorce means not protecting/contributing to Taiwan’s defense anymore? The US would just give up that easily if the arms bill isn’t passed this one time? If that’s the case and the Taiwan people can’t depend on the US, they better hurry up and make friends with their enemy. Anyway, US policy is always in flux. Young is a representative of the Bush administration- when he is out, who knows what the approach will be.[/quote]
It’s not Taiwan that divorce papers were served on, V.
Vorkosigan
DPP is in charge. It’s time to stop blaming others for their incompetency. If they want to buy Patriot missiles, put them in the regular defense budget. There are always ways to accomplish it.
If they want to buy subs and sub hunters (make no sense from a military and economic stand point to me), put them in the regular budget too. Greenies won’t do it, because they are playing politics. 
Or maybe because this package is just too damn big to be in the simple budget…
Break it into three parts and buy them in piecemeal, Sherlock. 
Well, but then the US might say no.
Oh, then you mean that Young dude was just all talk and no action. In that case, don’t worry about it. :charliebrown:
Young was basically trying to extort money from the ROC coffers.
What then? Like every other pro-Blue, you just don’t get it. Steve Young just served the divorce papers on a half century of marriage. What then? It’s obvious.
Michael[/quote]
And divorce means not protecting/contributing to Taiwan’s defense anymore? The US would just give up that easily if the arms bill isn’t passed this one time? If that’s the case and the Taiwan people can’t depend on the US, they better hurry up and make friends with their enemy. Anyway, US policy is always in flux. Young is a representative of the Bush administration- when he is out, who knows what the approach will be.[/quote]
It’s not Taiwan that divorce papers were served on, V.
Vorkosigan[/quote]
I’m not pro-blue, but I don’t get it. They were served on the KMT? Work with me here. If I don’t get it, a lot of other people don’t either.
if you don’t get it, i guess you’ll have to be hit over the head with it like a brick.
“And divorce means not protecting/contributing to Taiwan’s defense anymore? The US would just give up that easily if the arms bill isn’t passed this one time? If that’s the case and the Taiwan people can’t depend on the US, they better hurry up and make friends with their enemy.”
If that’s what is wanted, then fine. we’re not talking one time here. it’s been years. young is making it clear there’s an end to the gravy train.
“As for AIT, they shouldn’t have back CSB in 2004 during the critical election night, this is politics. If USA wanted Blue support when it counted, perhaps they should have back the Blues when it counted…”
the us doesn’t want blue support, it just wants to know if the blues want us support, if they don’t fine, but don’t mince around about it, if they do they have to help pull their own weight.