China warns of more action after military drills near Taiwan

[webfact]

China warns of more action after military drills near Taiwan

 

Taiwan's flag waves outside its Embassy to the Holy See, in Rome, Italy March 14, 2018. Picture taken March 14, 2018. REUTERS/Remo Casilli

 

BEIJING (Reuters) - A series of Chinese military drills near Taiwan were designed to send a clear message to the self-ruled island and China will take further steps if Taiwan independence forces persist in doing as they please, a government spokesman said on Wednesday.

 

Over the past year or so, China has ramped up military drills around democratic Taiwan, including flying bombers and other military aircraft around the island. Last week China drilled in the sensitive Taiwan Strait.

 

China claims Taiwan as its sacred territory, and its hostility towards the island has grown since the 2016 election as president of Tsai Ing-wen from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party.

 

China has been issuing increasingly strident calls for Taiwan to toe the line, even as Tsai has pledged to maintain the status quo and keep the peace.

 

Speaking at a regular news briefing, Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, said the message the People's Liberation Army was sending with its exercises was "extremely clear".

 

"We have the resolute will, full confidence and sufficient ability to foil any form of Taiwan independence separatist plots and moves and to defend the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Ma said.

 

"If Taiwan independence forces continue to do as they please, we will take further steps," he added, without giving details.

 

The military's drills are aimed at protecting peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the interests of people on both sides of it, Ma said.

 

Amid the growing tension with China, Taiwan's defence ministry said on Tuesday it will simulate repelling an invading force, emergency repairs of a major air base and using civilian-operated drones as part of military exercises starting next week.

 

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Michael Perry)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-04-25

[lannarebirth]

China and Trump very similar. They both like to link different issues. The message here is pretty clear. We can maybe deliver you North Korea but stop encouraging Taiwan's independence in return.

[ExpatOilWorker]

3 hours ago, lannarebirth said:

China and Trump very similar. They both like to link different issues. The message here is pretty clear. We can maybe deliver you North Korea but stop encouraging Taiwan's independence in return.

That sound like a deal western politicians that live from election to election would fully embrace, but even if China was handed over the keys to Taiwan today, would they stop there?

I think China have far bigger expansion plans beyond their own borders. 

[Yann55]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The military's drills are aimed at protecting peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the interests of people on both sides of it, Ma said.

 

The absurd hypocrisy of 'political talk' is often mind boggling, but this is downright surreal, and as far as China's aggressive stance is concerned, it's only the beginning. They now have the money, power, military equipment, all of that in the hands of a regime that knows no 'opposition'.

 

But most of all, the Chinese (and I mean everyone from Xi to the average worker in a factory) have the quiet inner conviction that China is above all other nations. They are imbued with the mother of all superiority syndroms, and that devil is now clearly out of the box. If the Chinese government decides to strike, wherever, invoking 'sacred territory' issues, 99% of the Chinese people will support the decision.

 

Run for cover is what we should be doing, because the Iranian, or ISIS, or North Korea threats, real as they are, are nothing compared to what's coming at us from China in the next decades.

 

 

Edited April 25, 2018 by Yann55

[ExpatOilWorker]

14 minutes ago, Yann55 said:

 

The absurd hypocrisy of 'political talk' is often mind boggling, but this is downright surreal, and as far as China's aggressive stance is concerned, it's only the beginning. They now have the money, power, military equipment, all of that in the hands of a regime that knows no 'opposition'.

 

But most of all, the Chinese (and I mean everyone from Xi to the average worker in a factory) have the quiet inner conviction that China is above all other nations. They are imbued with the mother of all superiority syndroms, and that devil is now clearly out of the box. If the Chinese government decides to strike, wherever, invoking 'sacred territory' issues, 99% of the Chinese people will support the decision.

 

Run for cover is what we should be doing, because the Iranian, or ISIS, or North Korea threats, real as they are, are nothing compared to what's coming at us from China in the next decades.

 

 

Totally agree. China condemn Taiwan for having a military drill, while China themself is having an even bigger drill.

 

A Chinese carrier group conducted a series of live-fire drills Sunday in the East China Sea, part of the communist nation’s latest show of military force in the region.

China’s only operational aircraft carrier — the Liaoning — and an unspecified number of ships conducted anti-aircraft and anti-submarine warfare training that included detecting enemy aircraft with radar and launching jets and anti-aircraft missiles, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported Tuesday.

The vessels “successfully detected and dodged an attack range from enemy submarines,” said the report, which added the exercise was the latest in a series of military drills that have taken place over the past 10 days in the Western Pacific, including the East and South China seas.

The People’s Liberation Army Navy, which marked its 69th anniversary this week, has been showcasing its military capabilities recently, beginning last month with a carrier-led formation of nearly 40 ships in the South China Sea.

China has laid claim to a huge swatch of the sea, and has spent the past several years building up tiny islets and building military facilities, including airstrips, on them.

Earlier this month, the Liaoning and six other warships conducted drills more than 200 miles south of Japan during which aircraft were launched, Japan’s Defense Ministry said.

Chinese activity in the East China Sea has been an issue for Japan. Tokyo protested to Beijing in January after a submarine, presumed to be Chinese, was detected near Okinawa and the disputed Senkaku Islands — an uninhabited chain surrounded by resource-rich waters between Okinawa and Taiwan — that is claimed by both countries but is administered by Japan.

Vice Foreign Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama expressed “great concern” over the issue and urged China not to repeat the incursion.

The Liaoning is about 60 percent lighter and 30 meters shorter than the USS Ronald Reagan — the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed carrier in the Pacific — and carries about 24 fixed-wing aircraft compared to the Reagan, which can handle more than 55, according to a Center for Strategic and International Studies analysis of the ship.

China’s second aircraft carrier — the Shandong — is being prepared for its first sea trial, the Global Times reported last month.

China’s first aircraft carrier was intended to be used primarily for training and collecting data, while the second is “made for combat missions,” an unidentified military expert told the Global Times in the report.

 

https://www.stripes.com/news/chinese-aircraft-carrier-leads-live-fire-drills-in-east-china-sea-1.523642

[car720]

4 hours ago, Yann55 said:

 

The absurd hypocrisy of 'political talk' is often mind boggling, but this is downright surreal, and as far as China's aggressive stance is concerned, it's only the beginning. They now have the money, power, military equipment, all of that in the hands of a regime that knows no 'opposition'.

 

But most of all, the Chinese (and I mean everyone from Xi to the average worker in a factory) have the quiet inner conviction that China is above all other nations. They are imbued with the mother of all superiority syndroms, and that devil is now clearly out of the box. If the Chinese government decides to strike, wherever, invoking 'sacred territory' issues, 99% of the Chinese people will support the decision.

 

Run for cover is what we should be doing, because the Iranian, or ISIS, or North Korea threats, real as they are, are nothing compared to what's coming at us from China in the next decades.

 

 

I agree with you summation of the giant superiority complex.  It comes from 5,000 years of tradition.  However, their military is not in a position at the moment to strike.  Their men are ill trained and ill equipped and they are aware of it.  The Chinese layman is also in awe of the USA.  (poor fools).

[boomerangutang]

Giving Xi president-for-life status, .....what could go wrong with that?    ha ha ha, chortle, ha, snort, ha.

[boomerangutang]

I watched some English-language news on TV. The station is based in Beijing.  Not surprisingly, it's 100% rah-rah-rah! for China.  They don't call themselves, "The Middle Kingdom" for nothing.  

 

It's inevitable that the US and China will lock horns in the near future.  I don't say that in a cynical vein.  If there's a military clash, neither side will lose, because a complete victory by either side will be almost as bad as losing.  I think there needs to be some periods of letting off steam - similar to a pressure cooker.  Much will depend on whose side Russia takes in a near-future military conflict.  More likely, it will take China's side.   

 

For its part, Europe (except Britain) will take pains to try to stay out of any military conflict, while concurrently shouting about the need for a cease-fire.

[Kiwiken]

Sadly I think that China does have expansionist ideas. History teaches us that when Nations have internal debate to strike out is a good way to refocus Public attention away from the issues at home.

[Yann55]

1 hour ago, car720 said:

I agree with you summation of the giant superiority complex.  It comes from 5,000 years of tradition.  However, their military is not in a position at the moment to strike.  Their men are ill trained and ill equipped and they are aware of it.  The Chinese layman is also in awe of the USA.  (poor fools).

 

Interesting input, thanks. Two more points :

 

1/ When you say 'strike' I believe you are thinking in Western terms. But the West plays Chess while the Chinese play Go. Both games are based on strategy, albeit with two radically different approaches. To understand how and why a player wins or looses in the game of Go is to start deciphering the Chinese way of thinking and how they envisage war. The Chinese policy in Africa is a perfect example. It's not war in a Donald T. sense, for sure, but it is most definitely war in a Chinese sense. Defined by the end, not the means.

 

2/ For anyone who wishes to understand more about China at this point in time , I would recommend three very different books :

 

- When China Rules the World by Martin Jacques

- Mao: The Unknown Story by Jung Chang and Jon Halliday

- No Wall Too High by Xu Hongci

 

 

Edited April 25, 2018 by Yann55

[lannarebirth]

10 hours ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

That sound like a deal western politicians that live from election to election would fully embrace, but even if China was handed over the keys to Taiwan today, would they stop there?

I think China have far bigger expansion plans beyond their own borders. 

 

Trump clearly likes to link foreign policy and military outcomes. It's a method that really hasn't been used much since Nixon. It has some benefits as you win some and you lose some, rather than losing aall the time as the US has become accustomed to.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linkage_(policy)

[Somtamnication]

Nothing new here. They plan to invade by 2020, anyway. Not a darn thing USA can do about it.

[bartender100]

China will soon be churning out aircraft carriers quicker than Ford do cars

[tonbridgebrit]

All this talk of China having expansionist plans is silly and ridiculous. Has China threatened to invade places like Thailand and Burma ? Off-course not.


The stuff that Beijing is doing towards Taiwan is being done, because Beijing simply does not want Taiwan to declare independence. The present government of Taiwan has certain people in it, people who want to move closer to declaring independence. The previous government of Taiwan was not interested in declaring independence, and this meant far better relations between main-land China and Taiwan.

Okay, the important thing is this. A load of Chinese in the Peoples' Republic of China might fight against a load of Chinese in the Republic of China, Taiwan. If they do fight, let them get on wih it. Let the Chinese have their fight. The point is this, the rest of the world must not get involved. It's their civil war, our soldiers must not be put at risk, fighting somebody else's civil war.

Edited April 26, 2018 by tonbridgebrit

[car720]

10 hours ago, Yann55 said:

 

Interesting input, thanks. Two more points :

 

1/ When you say 'strike' I believe you are thinking in Western terms. But the West plays Chess while the Chinese play Go. Both games are based on strategy, albeit with two radically different approaches. To understand how and why a player wins or looses in the game of Go is to start deciphering the Chinese way of thinking and how they envisage war. The Chinese policy in Africa is a perfect example. It's not war in a Donald T. sense, for sure, but it is most definitely war in a Chinese sense. Defined by the end, not the means.

 

2/ For anyone who wishes to understand more about China at this point in time , I would recommend three very different books :

 

- When China Rules the World by Martin Jacques

- Mao: The Unknown Story by Jung Chang and Jon Halliday

- No Wall Too High by Xu Hongci

 

 

All good points and books.

For myself though, living here every day and having to explain the differences to my wife, the one thing that becomes glaringly obvious is their misunderstanding of the effects of time.   Time waits for no man let alone any man's ideology.  They are a very unimaginative lot with the same outlook as a worker ant.  Hence the ever present complaint about the west having all the technology.  They invented printing but now are no longer capable of more than mimicry.  Anyway I rant.  Sorry.  This is a topic that can go on forever but to no real end.

[car720]

1 minute ago, tonbridgebrit said:

All his talk of China having expansionist plans is silly and ridiculous. Has China threatened to invade places like Thailand and Burma ? Off-course not.


The stuff that Beijing is doing towards Taiwan is being done, because Beijing simply does not want Taiwan to declare independence. The present government of Taiwan has people in it, people who want to move closer to declaring independence. The previous government of Taiwan was not interested in decaring independence, and this meant far better relations between main-land China and Taiwan.

Okay, the important thing is this. A load of Chinese in the Peoples' Republic of China might fight against a load of Chinese in the Republic of China, Taiwan. If they do fight, let them get on wih it. Let the Chinese have their fight. The point is this, the rest of the world must not get involved. It's their civil war, our soldiers must not be put at risk, fighting somebody else's civil war.

Here here.

But remember who is selling the guns and bullets.

[tonbridgebrit]

10 hours ago, Yann55 said:

 

Interesting input, thanks. Two more points :

 

1/ When you say 'strike' I believe you are thinking in Western terms. But the West plays Chess while the Chinese play Go. Both games are based on strategy, albeit with two radically different approaches. To understand how and why a player wins or looses in the game of Go is to start deciphering the Chinese way of thinking and how they envisage war. The Chinese policy in Africa is a perfect example. It's not war in a Donald T. sense, for sure, but it is most definitely war in a Chinese sense. Defined by the end, not the means.

 

2/ For anyone who wishes to understand more about China at this point in time , I would recommend three very different books :

 

- When China Rules the World by Martin Jacques

- Mao: The Unknown Story by Jung Chang and Jon Halliday

- No Wall Too High by Xu Hongci

 

 

The West plays chess, whilst China plays Go ??  And the Chinese policy in Africa ? 

So, chess and Go have different approaches ?  How about the aim (goal/point) of chess and Go are the same ? Raising the issue of Africa is a bit funny. China is doing stuff in Africa, but it's no way near as bad as what Europe previously did in Africa. Beijing simply wants natural resources, and Beijing is not conquering any African nations.
Europe used military conquest, China is not the same. China is talking to African countries, and building infra-structure in return for natural resources. Beijing is certainly not forcing any deals onto anybody.

And the books that you've chosen.
Just because some people have written those books, that doesn't mean to say that lots of Chinese believe in taking over the world, using military or non-military means. I mean, I can easily pick out a few Muslim speakers who go on and on about how they're going to convert the whole of planet earth into Islam. Does this mean Islam is a threat, and must be dealt with ? Off-course not. There's a few people in Europe who still believe that Europeans are superior to other people, and that the whole point of Latin America, Africa and Asia is to provide naural resources and cheap labour for Europe. Does this mean that Europe is a threat to planet earth ? Off-course not.

[tonbridgebrit]

11 hours ago, boomerangutang said:

It's inevitable that the US and China will lock horns in the near future.  I don't say that in a cynical vein.  If there's a military clash, neither side will lose, because a complete victory by either side will be almost as bad as losing.  I think there needs to be some periods of letting off steam - similar to a pressure cooker.  Much will depend on whose side Russia takes in a near-future military conflict.  More likely, it will take China's side.   

 

In the event of a war between America and China, Russia will certainly be on China's side.

The real confrontation is between Washington and Russia. Washington knows that China is harmless, that's why Washington hasn't got a problem with importing a stack of cheap Chinese goods.

And this problem that we're seeing with the Republic of China, Taiwan. What's really going on ? It's because Washington has said that it will defend the Republic of China if the Peoples' Republic of China invades, well, that's why the Republic of China might declare independence. If Washington was to tell Taiwan "don't declare independence, we're not going to save you (Taiwan) if Beijing invades you", then, Taiwan would certainly not be hinting or implying that they might declare independence. Taiwan will simply carry on being a de facto independent place.

Edited April 26, 2018 by tonbridgebrit

[Guest]

22 minutes ago, car720 said:

They are a very unimaginative lot with the same outlook as a worker ant.  Hence the ever present complaint about the west having all the technology.  They invented printing but now are no longer capable of more than mimicry.  Anyway I rant.  Sorry.  This is a topic that can go on forever but to no real end.

I doubt that is true anymore. Whenever there is a scientific paper published in the west, half of the names are Chinese. Some of those folks will return to China to develop the country further.

 

China has fast tracked their development by learning from the west. They took over the manufacturing business and are quite advanced in the field of technology. Quite like Taiwan as well.

 

 

[lannarebirth]

1 hour ago, tonbridgebrit said:

The West plays chess, whilst China plays Go ??  And the Chinese policy in Africa ? 

So, chess and Go have different approaches ?  How about the aim (goal/point) of chess and Go are the same ? Raising the issue of Africa is a bit funny. China is doing stuff in Africa, but it's no way near as bad as what Europe previously did in Africa. Beijing simply wants natural resources, and Beijing is not conquering any African nations.
Europe used military conquest, China is not the same. China is talking to African countries, and building infra-structure in return for natural resources. Beijing is certainly not forcing any deals onto anybody.
 

 

This is a page out of the Chinese play book. Hang debt everywhere and wait to use it as leverage to promote strategic interests.

 

https://thediplomat.com/2018/01/does-debt-pay-china-and-the-politics-of-investment-in-sri-lanka/

 

If that sounds familiar, it's because the US has done the same thing in the past but less so today:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confessions_of_an_Economic_Hit_Man

Edited April 26, 2018 by lannarebirth

[boomerangutang]

4 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

Nothing new here. They plan to invade by 2020, anyway. Not a darn thing USA can do about it.

 

2 hours ago, tonbridgebrit said:

All this talk of China having expansionist plans is silly and ridiculous. Has China threatened to invade places like Thailand and Burma ? Off-course not.


The stuff that Beijing is doing towards Taiwan is being done, because Beijing simply does not want Taiwan to declare independence. The present government of Taiwan has certain people in it, people who want to move closer to declaring independence. The previous government of Taiwan was not interested in declaring independence, and this meant far better relations between main-land China and Taiwan.

Okay, the important thing is this. A load of Chinese in the Peoples' Republic of China might fight against a load of Chinese in the Republic of China, Taiwan. If they do fight, let them get on wih it. Let the Chinese have their fight. The point is this, the rest of the world must not get involved. It's their civil war, our soldiers must not be put at risk, fighting somebody else's civil war.

China's policy and Trump have some interesting things in common:

They sit down and discuss policies, and sometimes appear to be flexible in their intentions, .....but they remain stuck in their ways.  

 

re; contentious issues: Chinese leaders will sometimes say: "Let's discuss it. Let's find a solution that suits both sides, etc."   But what they're thinking (and what actually happens) is China moves not 1 degree in their stance.    Trump did the same about DACA and gun laws in the US.

 

Taiwan leaders sometimes appear conciliatory towards China, but all Taiwanese privately want China to mind its own business and quit breathing down their necks.

 

The US will come to Taiwan's aid if Taiwan in attacked.  If Trump is at the helm, the US will do so somewhat reluctantly (because Trump is a coward at his core), ....but if/when the US has a decent president, there will be no hesitation to stand by its Taiwanese friends.

 

[Guest]

5 minutes ago, boomerangutang said:

Taiwan leaders sometimes appear conciliatory towards China, but all Taiwanese privately want China to mind its own business and quit breathing down their necks.

 

The US will come to Taiwan's aid if Taiwan in attacked.  If Trump is at the helm, the US will do so somewhat reluctantly (because Trump is a coward at his core), ....but if/when the US has a decent president, there will be no hesitation to stand by its Taiwanese friends.

 

Could this thought in reverse. In case California or Texas would declare full separation and independence from the union and would have backing by China or Russia, how would USA think and act?

 

I'll all for Taiwan's full independence, but this thought experience is simply to give a bit of understanding how China might think of the Taiwan situation.

 

[tonbridgebrit]

17 hours ago, lannarebirth said:

 

This is a page out of the Chinese play book. Hang debt everywhere and wait to use it as leverage to promote strategic interests.

 

https://thediplomat.com/2018/01/does-debt-pay-china-and-the-politics-of-investment-in-sri-lanka/

 

If that sounds familiar, it's because the US has done the same thing in the past but less so today:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confessions_of_an_Economic_Hit_Man

I'm trying to say that, China in Africa today is a massively diluted version of what Europe previously did in Africa. Europe turned up in Africa, and conquered the place. China has not used it's army to take over Africa.

The issue of the US giving loans to other countries, and then using the debt to control them, yes, it's true. I think it's a case of China repeating this stategy, and that basically, China is slowly replacing America on the world stage, when it comes to this sort of thing. So, America previously did it, and China is now replacing America ? Does this mean that China is wrong ? And how is China able to replace America ? Is it because Beijing is offering loans that are more generous ?

By the way, back in 2003, Washington invaded Iraq. Surely, that was a case of "we are not going to bother to give you loans and put you in debt, and control you in that way, no, we are simply going to invade you, and control your oil". 
Beijing has not invaded whatever country to get natural resources.

[tonbridgebrit]

17 hours ago, boomerangutang said:

Taiwan leaders sometimes appear conciliatory towards China, but all Taiwanese privately want China to mind its own business and quit breathing down their necks.

 

Boomer, you wrote "Taiwan leaders sometimes appear conciliatory towards China, but all Taiwanese privately want China to mind its own business and quit breathing down their necks."

Okay, the previous Taiwan government was not interested in declaring independence, and this meant good relations between China and Taiwan. It's only because the present Taiwan government is talking about moving towards declaring independence, well, that's why China is "breathing down their necks".


People talk as if the Taiwanese hate China, as if Taiwan would love to have a big wall built, a wall between China and Taiwan. People talk as if Taiwan would love to be physically re-located to a new bit of the Pacific, hundreds or thousands of miles away from China. It's not true.
Taiwan is a defacto independent place, their government chooses whatever policies. Taiwan is being flooded by the mainland Chinese tourists, they're not exactly drafting in legislation to reduce this flood. Why ? Because they want the tourism revenue. Taiwan's shops are packed with cheap goods from China. Yes, shops in America (Walmart) are packed with goods from China too. Taiwan is allowed to export it's goods to China with minimal or zero taxes, notice how America and Europe have serious taxes slapped on their goods, when the goods enter China. This gives Taiwan a generous benefit, Taiwan's economy benefits enormously from this. Throw in Taiwan having a very low birth-rate, and how men from Taiwan turn up in China, marry a lady, then take her to Taiwan, and the lady gives birth to a baby in Taiwan. 

I'm trying to say, Taiwan is far more reliant on China than Britain is reliant on the rest of Europe. And Britain being seperated from Europe (we're talking trade here) is going to hurt Britain more than it hurts Europe. We know that.  

Edited April 26, 2018 by tonbridgebrit

[ExpatOilWorker]

9 hours ago, tonbridgebrit said:

I'm trying to say that, China in Africa today is a massively diluted version of what Europe previously did in Africa. Europe turned up in Africa, and conquered the place. China has not used it's army to take over Africa.

The issue of the US giving loans to other countries, and then using the debt to control them, yes, it's true. I think it's a case of China repeating this stategy, and that basically, China is slowly replacing America on the world stage, when it comes to this sort of thing. So, America previously did it, and China is now replacing America ? Does this mean that China is wrong ? And how is China able to replace America ? Is it because Beijing is offering loans that are more generous ?

By the way, back in 2003, Washington invaded Iraq. Surely, that was a case of "we are not going to bother to give you loans and put you in debt, and control you in that way, no, we are simply going to invade you, and control your oil". 
Beijing has not invaded whatever country to get natural resources.

I think China is in for a very steep learning curve when it comes to dealing with Africa. Every single of the old colonial powers that stuck there nose a little too deep or long time into Africa got a bloody nose.

Sooner or later China will be facing a Robert Mugabe kind of leader taking over their mines, rail roads, ports, dams, oil fields, etc. A China man losing a dollar is a very upset China man.

There is an estimated 1 million Chinese farming in Africa, but with a growing population of close to 4% annually, eventually there will be tension and the locals want that land for themselves.

 

China have Venezuela by the cahones, with their oil for loan deals, but will China sit on their hands if Maduro close the taps and default on their $100 billion sovereign debt?

[zydeco]

On 4/26/2018 at 8:52 AM, oilinki said:

China has fast tracked their development by learning from the west.

"Understanding why plagiarism and a lack of academic integrity are embedded in the Chinese higher education system is important for understanding why China will find it difficult to take its economic growth to the next level." https://www.forbes.com/2010/05/26/china-cheating-innovation-markets-economy-plagiarism.html#4022d35878ea

[Guest]

I would see plagiarism has and probably still is a problem. But that article is from 8 years ago. It's a long time in a fast moving developing country. 

 

When I was young, Made in Hong Kong was a mark for low quality product. I'm not sure if that's the case anymore. 

 

 

[mrwebb8825]

I reread the OP to make sure I didn't miss it and guess what? President Trump and the US are NOT mentioned. Since some of you have to satisfy your fetishes When it comes to President Trump no matter what or who the story is really about, how about this; Wouldn't this be an opportune time for the US Navy to give their sailors some R&R by rotating 1/4 of the fleet roaming around the Korean peninsula to Taiwan for a week at a time? Could be interesting to see if Xi has the balls to go head-to-head with a real navy.

Edited April 28, 2018 by mrwebb8825

[tonbridgebrit]

On 28/04/2018 at 1:17 PM, mrwebb8825 said:

I reread the OP to make sure I didn't miss it and guess what? President Trump and the US are NOT mentioned. Since some of you have to satisfy your fetishes When it comes to President Trump no matter what or who the story is really about, how about this; Wouldn't this be an opportune time for the US Navy to give their sailors some R&R by rotating 1/4 of the fleet roaming around the Korean peninsula to Taiwan for a week at a time? Could be interesting to see if Xi has the balls to go head-to-head with a real navy.

Has Xi got the balls to go head-to-head with a real navy ?
How about, has Washington got the balls to start World War Three because a load of Chinese in the Republic of China reckon that they are the real China and want to declare independence ?

[mrwebb8825]

On 4/30/2018 at 10:59 AM, tonbridgebrit said:

Has Xi got the balls to go head-to-head with a real navy ?
How about, has Washington got the balls to start World War Three because a load of Chinese in the Republic of China reckon that they are the real China and want to declare independence ?

First, get your facts straight; they are NOT a "load of Chinese" they are Taiwanese. They have a different life style and government preference. 2nd, they don't want to be "The Real China", they want to be Taiwan and live free and run their own lives and country.

Brings to mind another country that was under the rule of a dictatorship that got sick of it and fought back. That was 238 years ago. They too sought assistance from others and succeeded. 

They've been nothing but a war pawn for a long time and are probably just sick of it.

"Following the First Sino-Japanese War in 1895, Taiwan was ceded by Qing government to the Empire of Japan via the Treaty of Shimonoseki. At the end of World War II in 1945, Taiwan was taken over by the ROC, which was widely recognized as China."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_independence_movement