Spy charges against "fellow countrymen"?

Politics Taiwan Politics
1

What would you think if you saw the following appear in your local newspaper??

[color=blue]United States confirms arrest of two Hawaiian spy suspects
(UPI)

Updated: 2006-11-15 15:15

United States has arrested two Hawaiian businessmen suspected of spying for Hawaii, a government spokesman said on Wednesday.

Replying to a question from a Hawaiian journalist, following a report in Hawaiian media, a spokesman for the Hawaiian Affairs Office of the National Security Council, in Washington D.C. confirmed the arrest.

The Association for Relations Across the Pacific Trench has informed the suspects’ families, Li said.
Hawaii’s local newspapers said on November 11 that the two had been arrested in central Texas state and in southern Alabama state respectively.

US authorities declared recently that another Hawaiian businessman, Geraldo Jabberwink, suspected of involvement in a Pearl Harbor secret fund case, was the subject of strict control measures on the mainland after his identity was exposed.

The spokesman denied the Hawaiian authority’s allegation about Geraldo, saying the Hawaiian media have already reported that he is free on the mainland.[/color]

You would think that is pretty wierd, right? After all, according to the US government, Hawaii is part of the USA !!!

… and yet, despite all the propaganda we hear that Taiwan is somehow part of the PRC, the following article was release by the Xinhua News Agency:

[ Source: chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006 … 734051.htm ]
[b]China confirms arrest of two Taiwan spy suspects/b

Updated: 2006-11-15 15:09

China has arrested two Taiwanese businessmen suspected of spying for Taiwan, a government spokesman said on Wednesday.

Replying to a question from a Taiwan journalist, following a report in Taiwan media, Li Weiyi, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, confirmed the arrest.

The Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait has informed the suspects’ families, Li said.

Taiwan’s United Daily News said on November 11 that the two had been arrested in central China’s Hunan Province and in southern Guangdong Province respectively.

The Taiwan authority declared recently that another Taiwan businessman, Gong Jinyuan, suspected of involvement in Taiwan authority leader Chen Shui-bian’s secret fund case, was the subject of strict control measures on the mainland after his identity was exposed.

Li denied the Taiwan authority’s allegation about Gong, saying the Taiwan media have already reported that Gong is free on the mainland.

Can anyone explain the logic of this to me?

2

There is no logic in the first, unless you think of states fighting one against the other…
On the second, is biz as usual… Maybe the ROC should arrest 1 or 2 good HK businessman in Taiwan on the charges of spying, in case they are making too much money…

3

What if they’re not spying for Hawaii… but rather the organization Al-Qaeda in Hawaii?

4

Hawaiians could be spying for Hawaii in the USA, just like it wouldn’t surprise me if Easter Islanders were arrested in Chile for spying in what is technically their own country. The fact remains Hawaii used to be an independent country and was taken over by the USA. Some Hawaiians wish it hadn’t happened; some may want to regain their independence. Even Clinton apologized for the US government’s taking over what was a sovereign nation.

5

Ha, the lines of fiction and reality are merged.

The fiction of Taiwan being a part of China is reflected in the article which acknowledges Taiwan as a state.

The reality that people understand this fiction that it may be reported so openly.

The reality, that Taiwan may never get international recognition? The fiction that China has legal rights to Taiwan?

6

It wouldn’t be surprising at all…how quickly we forget about the Puerto Rican Independence leaders that were thrown into federal prisons to rot only a few decades ago. I wonder why?

7

Well … I had assumed that it was just general spying charges, but your point is well taken.

8

[quote=“ac_dropout”]It wouldn’t be surprising at all…how quickly we forget about the Puerto Rican Independence leaders that were thrown into federal prisons to rot only a few decades ago. I wonder why?[/quote]ac -
Uhh…there was that little thing about bombs, bank robberies and weapons charges that contributed to their stay in the steel bar hotel… :unamused:

9

Theres no parallel with either Hawaii or PR. Taipei doesnt answer to Beijing, a sovereign government for all practical reasons. Despite the pretension thats the international law.

The analogy might work though if we re talking about Tibet. But then you would have to consider federalism vs central government.

And also notwithstanding racial discontent, most Hawaiians and Ricans love their US connection. Cant say the same thing about Tibetans though.

10

[quote=“TainanCowboy”][quote=“ac_dropout”]It wouldn’t be surprising at all…how quickly we forget about the Puerto Rican Independence leaders that were thrown into federal prisons to rot only a few decades ago. I wonder why?[/quote]ac -
Uhh…there was that little thing about bombs, bank robberies and weapons charges that contributed to their stay in the steel bar hotel… :unamused:[/quote]
Yeah that’s what the federal government’s official statement was. But I got my tin foil hat on to repel such propaganda.

11

[quote=“one man riot”]
And also notwithstanding racial discontent, most Hawaiians and Ricans love their US connection. [/quote]
I think most Puerto Ricans think their US connection is financially advantageous, and therefore tolerable - for now.

12

True, last I check US is still a profitable market for illicit drugs, but thats not just Puerto Ricans who’s benefiting from that. :slight_smile: