US Congress gives Taiwan 'unwavering commitment'

[Guest guest]

I've always felt the US had a flabby policy towards China, Taiwan, Cuba, and the

former Soviet Union.

If the Soviet Union was the " Evil Empire " by virtue of their Communism and

repression of freedom, and if Cuba is host to a " repressive Communist regime "

then Communist China, which is well known for their trouncing of civil rights,

their mass executions, and their squashing of religion, ought to be counted with

the other two countries as being " evil. "

Taiwan ought to be seen as a beacon of hope and favored by the US.

My belief is that we fear China because of their military might and the number

of people they are capable of mobilizing to military service.

That makes us cowards in my book.

So reaffirming a commitment to Taiwan is a step in the right direction -morally

speaking- in my opinion.

Politically we are playing with fire.

The time to annoy the Chinese is NOT when they are holding so much of our debt

and manufacturing a huge percentage of the goods we buy. Nor should we be

annoying them when we are gutting our military spending even as the Chinese beef

up their military buy expanding its budget.

Administrator

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/090325/world/us_taiwan_china_politics

US Congress gives Taiwan 'unwavering commitment'

47 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US Congress pledged " unwavering commitment " to ensuring

Taiwan's security, defying protests from China which claims the island.

Congress reaffirmed its stance 30 years after the United States broke off

relations with Taiwan, which recently has been reconciling with China but still

counts on US guarantees of protection.

The House of Representatives in a voice vote approved a resolution that pledged

an " unwavering commitment " to the Taiwan Relations Act and called it a

" cornerstone " of US policy.

The 1979 law requires the United States to maintain the capability to defend

Taiwan and to provide the island " arms of a defensive character. "

Representative Berkley, the chief sponsor of the 30th anniversary bill,

said the resolution sent an important signal as Taiwan " enters a new era of

cross-Strait relations. "

" Taiwan is an inspiring story of expanding freedom, a robust capitalist economy

and a strong trading partner of the United States, " Berkley, a member of

President Barack Obama's Democratic Party, said on the House floor.

" We must do everything in our power to continue protecting it and ensuring its

survival, " she said.

Congress pushed through the Taiwan Relations Act when then president Jimmy

shifted US recognition to Beijing from Taipei, where China's nationalists

fled 30 years earlier after losing the civil war to the communists.

Taiwan's de facto embassy in the absence of diplomatic relations, the Taipei

Economic and Cultural Representative Office, released a statement saying it

" deeply appreciates the bipartisan and uniform support of the US Congress. "

China had warned Congress not to reaffirm the Taiwan Relations Act, which it

views as a violation of US promises to recognize only Beijing as China's

legitimate government.

Foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu, in a statement carried by state media last

month, urged Congress and the administration to " prudently handle the Taiwan

issue so as to avoid any negative impact on Sino-US relations. "

China last year cut off military exchanges with the United States in anger over

the proposed 6.5-billion-dollar US arms package to Taiwan.

Tensions have been easing since Taiwan last year elected President Ma Ying-jeou,

who has focused on trade rather than confrontation with China.

But China has warned it will never compromise on its claims to Taiwan, which it

believes is awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.

The Obama administration has called for a strong partnership with Beijing,

saying it hopes to work on issues such as the global economic slowdown and

climate change despite differences such as human rights concerns.

The two nations engaged in a naval showdown earlier this month. The United

States said Chinese vessels harrassed one of its surveillance ships, which

Beijing said was engaged in illegal activities.

" This provocative action and many others like that should serve as a cause for

concern when dealing with that nation that regularly violates human rights, "

said Republican Congressman -Balart.

" That highlights the importance that the people of Taiwan know and that the

world know that the US Congress stands with a strong and proud democracy, " he

said.

But Republican Congressman Ed Royce, another co-sponsor of the resolution,

voiced disappointment that the resolution did not focus more on trade.

He called for movement on a long-mulled free-trade agreement with Taiwan,

although he doubted there would be enthusiasm by Obama -- who has called for the

United States to renegotiate key trade deals to better benefit US workers.

" Certainly if we throw up trade barriers, it would do much to destabilize

Taiwan's economy. We shouldn't give trade short shrift, " Royce said.