Growing Pro-China/Anti-Taiwan Slant in US GOV

[I can't think of a name]

From Bill Gertz Inside the Ring

http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080104/NATION04/410150204/0/COMMENTARY06&template=nextpage



The Pentagon's latest estimate of Chinese missile deployment opposite Taiwan is that there are now more than 1,000 missiles aimed at Taiwan.

"China has deployed roughly 1,000 mobile CSS-6 and CSS-7 short-range ballistic missiles to garrisons opposite Taiwan," said one knowledgeable defense official.

The official declined to comment on a Tuesday speech by Chen Shui-bian, president of the Republic of China (Taiwan), who stated that Taiwanese military intelligence now counts 1,328 Chinese missiles deployed within range of Taiwan, an increase of more than 300 from earlier estimates.

The China missile buildup has drawn no criticism from the Bush administration, which appears to have shifted its policy away from supporting Taiwan to backing communist-ruled mainland China.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice last month echoed Beijing in calling Taiwan's plan for a vote on United Nations membership as "provocative." By contrast, Miss Rice and other administration officials have said nothing about the missile buildup, which the Pentagon says is designed for a massive "decapitation" strike against Taiwan in any future conflict.

Defense officials said the policy tilt toward Beijing is due to the growing power of pro-China and anti-Taiwan policy and intelligence officials located at key posts within the National Security Council staff, the State Department, Treasury Department and within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
No presidential Candidate has taken a strong stance on China. Bush is continuing the "goldman-sachs policy" and Clinton has a lot of funding from the PRC community and let them get away with a lot of broken contracts under Bill's time in office. Some people on this board feel that elements of our government, like the state department, are "balanced" on this issue. But I have said before and this article reaffirms that they are panda lickers.

Mitt Romney's Bain Capital Group is trying to buy 3COM with a PLA front companies money (Huawei). Wall Street is not helping our security or other nations in the regions.


Huawei was linked in the past to violations of United Nations sanctions on Iraq by supplying fiber optic communications gear to the Iraqi military under Saddam Hussein. The company, which has close ties to the Chinese military, also was involved in industrial espionage against U.S. and Japanese firms."Potential Market Access" has been a business buzz word for years. What it means is that companies who move their manufacturing are hoping to gain access to the Chinese market, but the PRC will never let them. They want Chinese companies to copy the stuff and sell it inside the country. The PRC marks up foreign stuff in violation of free trade. So these greedy Wall Street types have been kissing up the the PRC all these years and still are not even making money.

Except maybe for Thompson I don't see any of the candidates changing this course with China and Taiwan.

[Shadowstorm]

I know, it's really getting ridiculous how they treat Taiwan while China gets a free ride.

[Hippo]

I think its utterly ridiculous that China gets away with pointing all those missiles at Taiwan but the international community does not even utter a single word. Its godd*mn upsetting

[LaoSexMachine]

as long as china is america?s sweatshop tawain will always be sucking hind tit

[budgie]

I don't know exactly what the 'international community' is supposed to do here. Threaten war? America's done her share of saber-rattling in the region and it is doubtful China would risk war over what is essentially a matter of pride. IMO the US should have switched to back independdence the moment Taiwan embraced democracy, instead of pandering to business interests in China. Now that ship has sailed the only smart course of action is the current one: try to accomodate each party while keeping them from squabbling too much.

[Ordie]

What about the pro-PRC Taiwanese investors in Southern China?

[Andrew Chalmers]

I think its utterly ridiculous that China gets away with pointing all those missiles at Taiwan but the international community does not even utter a single word. Its godd*mn upsetting

The international community's position is a rational calculus. Many perceive that supporting Taiwan may encourage Taiwanese independence & therefore threaten the status quo of "Taiwan is a part of China" (which everyone knows is a fiction).

The missile threat has been around for over a decade - I've never felt threatened in Taiwan to pursue my business (and ultimately that's all that really matters).

[Bohemoth]

It can be interpreted differently:

It's not the U.S. but Taiwan that changed their policy.
The U.S. always supported the Status Quo idea of not declaring independence of Taiwan. The current Taiwanese government is pushing very hard for a lot of things that make the island appear independent from China and that upsets both China and the U.S.

[Lambert58]

It can be interpreted differently:

It's not the U.S. but Taiwan that changed their policy.
The U.S. always supported the Status Quo idea of not declaring independence of Taiwan. The current Taiwanese government is pushing very hard for a lot of things that make the island appear independent from China and that upsets both China and the U.S.

The scumbag socialist/communists in the State Dept will always support a communist regime over a democratic one.

[gaijinsamurai]

The scumbag socialist/communists in the State Dept will always support a communist regime over a democratic one.

Give me a break.

[SOG]

I don't know exactly what the 'international community' is supposed to do here. Threaten war? America's done her share of saber-rattling in the region and it is doubtful China would risk war over what is essentially a matter of pride. IMO the US should have switched to back independdence the moment Taiwan embraced democracy, instead of pandering to business interests in China. Now that ship has sailed the only smart course of action is the current one: try to accomodate each party while keeping them from squabbling too much.

well the national community sure likes to bitch about america. they sure has hell don't do nearly the same amount of bitching when it comes to china and its human rights records. i think that was the point. the marvelous double standard.


The scumbag socialist/communists in the State Dept will always support a communist regime over a democratic one.

i am so confused by this statement.

on with the next caller!

[Shadowstorm]

Well I know Taiwanese people and politicians are watching the 2008 United States presidential elections really closely.

[JJC]

The scumbag socialist/communists in the State Dept will always support a communist regime over a democratic one.

Sate Dept is a very puzzling place, because they always went with their way not the way of any president. I've read some articles discussing how the state department employees have hijacked and politicized the intelligence community after DNI was established, especially with the recent NIE reports.

[gaijinsamurai]

Oooooo...we need a new House Committee on Un-American Activities! Who'll replace the late Joe McCarthy?

[JJC]

Oooooo...we need a new House Committee on Un-American Activities! Who'll replace the late Joe McCarthy?

John Bolton DUHHH!!! :roll:rofl

[asch]

The scumbag socialist/communists in the State Dept will always support a communist regime over a democratic one.

p-)
it's a konspiracy!!

[Andrew Chalmers]

Sate Dept is a very puzzling place, because they always went with their way not the way of any president. I've read some articles discussing how the state department employees have hijacked and politicized the intelligence community after DNI was established, especially with the recent NIE reports.

All government agencies have its own institutional interests and bureaucratic culture/momentum. The intelligence community has always been politicized - analysts have always been "encouraged" to reach a certain conclusion about information gathered in the field by their superiors, the institutional culture, and their training biases.

The State Department is not any different - it is just more prominent and therefore catches more of the flak.

[I can't think of a name]

Oooooo...we need a new House Committee on Un-American Activities! Who'll replace the late Joe McCarthy?

He was right

[timetraveller]

The scumbag socialist/communists in the State Dept will always support a communist regime over a democratic one.


That kind of Attitude towards those that live a different way of life ..is very negative and Pathetic,

[Jaegermeister + Red Bull]

Politically...

The scale has been tilting towards the PRC since the 70s. Most of you's here can say that the international community is only paying lip service to the PRC but hey do they (the PRC and ROC that is) care and how much?

Economically...

Same story as above, and also encouraged by PRC political moves aimed at turning the Taiwanese business/corporate sector into pro KMT "blue" camp (I wont go as far as saying they are pro PRC but...)

Militarily...

Same as above, all things being equal, between the PLA and the ROCA.

Socially...

This is the only remaining conundrum...many Taiwanese business people have ties to the mainland, some have moved there, others have second wifes etc there. There are many mainland Chinese whom have moved to Taiwan over the last 10-15 years, mainly through marriage. The 2-3 million KMT troops, supporters, business community that fled to Taiwan in 1949 and their families still maintain very strong pro China (read China, not CCP) world views. With the exception of maybe 10-20% of the population, almost all Taiwanese can trace their lineage back to the province of Fujian across the strait (even Chen Shu-Bian himself).

The continued attempt to portray the Taiwan issue as merely an expansionist Communist dictatorship bullying a small fledgling democractic island aspiring for statehood is both sad and misleading.

But hey to those whose views I offend I am simply a scumbag socialist/communists that will always support a communist regime over a democratic one.

[Ordie]

The mission of the State Department is to
"Create a more secure, democratic, and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the international community."

With exception to executive level staff, State Department employees are public servants who are selected not by political appointments but by merit. FSO testing and selection process is long, but it's one of the few government jobs that does not require a college degree. This is done on the premise of hiring FSO who mirror American society.

The majority of FSO's work on non-political projects and tasks. This may be as mundane as selecting and managing embassy employees, tending funeral arriagnment of an Ex-Pat, overseeing aid projects, assisting an American in jail or issuing visas.

The State Department encourages its staff to 'mingle' as much as possible to project a positive image of the US.

FSO generally serve in Taiwan for a couple of years before being assigned to the PRC. Chinese classical language, caligraphy, culture and arts in Taiwan is superior to that of the PRC. Therefore FSO are better equipped and trained for China duty.

If anything, the FSO spend much more face to face contact with the locals than any other governmental employees. They are more keen on the day to day ocurrances from the price of bread to traffic jams, or local gossip. Therefore any information they provide is valued and not to be dismissed.

If anything, the FSO I've met are very patriotic, smart, pragmatic, and motivated.

[gaijinsamurai]

Well said (as always!), Ordie.

And, I'd like to add that Communist party membership is NOT a requirement to become a foreign service officer, nor is sporting a "Che" t-shirt an automatic ten-point bonus on the FSO exam!

[mi35d]

Taiwan getting hind tit? Does anyone living on the island believe that if it wasn't for US involvement that they would even exist as a free nation?

Please. More US bashing. China is a huge factor. To ignore the country politically and economically all over not wanting to piss Taiwan off would be foolish.

[Ordie]

Taiwan getting hind tit? Does anyone living on the island believe that if it wasn't for US involvement that they would even exist as a free nation?.

True up to a point. Mao had plans to invade Taiwan but it was postponed because of the KMT resistance on Kinmen, and Matsu island off the coast of China. The Korean War changed things and the US 7th Fleet was in the way.

The KMT were equally repressive as the Communist. Ironically enough both shared the same Soviet party based form of governance. It wasn't until the late 1980's when political reforms happened on Taiwan around the same time as China initiated economic reforms.

By default, the ROC in Taiwan is independent, but not recognized in the family of nations.

[Lambert58]

That kind of Attitude towards those that live a different way of life ..is very negative and Pathetic,

I disagree with that particular way of life. This IS the rants form, yes? Note that I was referring to the US State Department. The US is a representative democracy, not a socialist/communist state. If people want to be socialists/communists there are plenty of other places they can live.

[Lambert58]

p-)
it's a konspiracy!!


Heh. A touch of paranoia has saved my butt more than once. p-)

[Lambert58]

The mission of the State Department is to
"Create a more secure, democratic, and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the international community."

With exception to executive level staff, State Department employees are public servants who are selected not by political appointments but by merit. FSO testing and selection process is long, but it's one of the few government jobs that does not require a college degree. This is done on the premise of hiring FSO who mirror American society.

The majority of FSO's work on non-political projects and tasks. This may be as mundane as selecting and managing embassy employees, tending funeral arriagnment of an Ex-Pat, overseeing aid projects, assisting an American in jail or issuing visas.

The State Department encourages its staff to 'mingle' as much as possible to project a positive image of the US.

FSO generally serve in Taiwan for a couple of years before being assigned to the PRC. Chinese classical language, caligraphy, culture and arts in Taiwan is superior to that of the PRC. Therefore FSO are better equipped and trained for China duty.

If anything, the FSO spend much more face to face contact with the locals than any other governmental employees. They are more keen on the day to day ocurrances from the price of bread to traffic jams, or local gossip. Therefore any information they provide is valued and not to be dismissed.

If anything, the FSO I've met are very patriotic, smart, pragmatic, and motivated.

Ordie, it's encouraging that you say that. And I sincerely hope that the current FSOs and their bosses back here understand that they don't make policy, they're responsible for exporting it.

[RallyPointCebu]

God Bless America.