I’m looking for a political action group (or event) that might be involved with getting out the expat vote for Obama in Taiwan. Anyone know of one? If not, anyone interesting in starting one up? There’s still time to get folks registered for primaries that haven’t happened yet…
Will he be a friend of Taiwan, or will he sell us out the way Bush and Clinton before him did?
I’d like to see a clear, unambiguous statement of his support for Taiwan, in terms of military sales, diplomatic support, and military support in case of blockade or attack by China, before deciding whether to back him.
And I’d like to see a return to the deliberate ambiguity of the wording of the original TRA. The US never used to recognize “One China”, they just acknowledged that others did. A slight difference, but one that’s important.
And how exactly did Clinton or Bush sell out Taiwan?
And how exactly did Clinton or Bush sell out Taiwan?[/quote]
Clinton started it. When Jiang Zemin made a state visit to Washington, Clinton voiced his support of the One China policy, something that the TRA deliberately skirted around by acknowledging that “both sides” (China and Taiwan) recognize only one China. Clinton changed the balance, and Bush probably never understood the nuance to begin with.
It’s in US short term interest to sell Taiwan down the river, exports to China are godo for the economy, and that’s at the end of the day what counts until the shit hits the fan out here.
BBC World TV mentioned this morning that Obama won the overseas American vote and got 2.5 convention delegates out of it.
As to the ‘Friend of Taiwan’ angle, no candidate is an obvious pro-Taiwan choice because the island is not an issue in these elections.
As usual, I would expect rightwing Republicans to be more pro-Taiwan because of their anti-communist feelings, but that’s not an absolute given.
WHAT overseas American vote? We don’t have absentee ballots until the presidential election in November, do we? 
Would you ALL please stop hijacking my post?! If you want to rehash these really fascinating arguments, by all means please do so on the “discussion” forums. This post is about information regarding existing Obama campaign organizations in Taiwan, or possibly to find out if anyone is interested in helping me start one. I guess there’s no reason you’d have to be an American citizen, but at least interested in convincing those living here to send in their absentee ballots.
Dragonbones, yes! You can and should vote in your state’s primary if it hasn’t happened yet (I’m registered in NC). Just go to your state’s board of elections website and there should be clear directions on how to do so. In NC, we just have to send in a hand signed letter requesting that our ballot be sent here, same as the general election.
Its not hijacking…its…change!
You already have a chance at doing that: this thread. I, like many others here, am a U.S. citizen, and I vote by absentee ballot.
As has been asked already: What has Obama said or done for Taiwan – or at least said or done against China’s belligerence – that would make those who care about Taiwan want to support him?
If you don’t know, then maybe you ought to find out before trying to get a bunch of U.S. expats in Taiwan to support him. Just a suggestion.
OK, fine, for the record, I’ll state my position. Enzo is essential correct in saying that no candidate is ever going to be expressly a friend of Taiwan. It’s not even close to the most important issues for 99% of the electorate. So even though it matters to me (a lot in fact, thank you), and I respect that it matters to you and other expats here, I just think you have to be living in a fantasy if you think any candidate, Democrat or Republican, is going to express a position that pressuring China into giving ground on cross strait relations is a good policy decision. I guess I’m hoping that more than a few expats are more realist in their views of the election process. Though I’ve lived in Taiwan for more than five years and love it a great deal, other issues like US education (I’d like to have a job in a public university in the US using my degree from a Taiwanese University and therefor sharing my sympathetic position for the island when I go back), health care (I wouldn’t mind having that when I get back either), and the US’s role in the Middle East are far more driving reasons for supporting Obama.
As for the correct position that I think the US should have on Taiwan/ China, that’s a much more complex discussion, one that ultimately matters quite a great deal. I’ll admit I’m at a loss for parsing the differences that McCain, Clinton, and Obama might or might not have on the issue. If you have any insights, do please enlighten me.
And another thing, Cranky Laowai. I’m really only looking for information at this stage! That’s why I posted in the “Events” forum and not the “Politics” forum. I’m not trying to convince you or anyone else to vote of Obama, yet. If someone on the street asked you where the nearest Chinese clinic was, would you insist that they convince you of the efficacy of Chinese medicine before you give them directions?
If anyone can suggest a better place for my original post, please do so! Thanks.
Your orginal post also included the question, “If not, anyone interesting in starting one up?”
So a closer analogy would be if someone asked me where the nearest Chinese clinic was and said that if there wasn’t one nearby already maybe we and some others should start one together.
But I’m not trying to be argumentative, so I’ll drop this now.
Thank you for the clarification in your penultimate mesage. If you find out additional information I hope you’ll post it.