Reply With QuoteSoutheast Asia beg to differ.Originally Posted by Flamming_Python
Subic is now Junglejim's playground, so **** off! **** off to hell!They do still go there you know and it is being offered as a play where they can fixe the US NAvy ships, but as an American base under American rule haha, no.
Southeast Asia beg to differ.
Russia is free to be chummy with the PRC, it seems Southeast Asia is at least more realistic than Russia policy heads it seems.
MiddlePath...lol, you're thinking and looking at it so short term, not surprised. How do you want to bet Taiwan's status at the 2020 mark? 2050? 2100?
Taiwan was always about the long haul
I hope the U.S will lift the arms embargo on Viet Nam. Viet Nam does not necessarily need to spend billion dollar on U.S weaponry; just the option of being able to buy from the U.S will give us more leverage when dealing with the Russian. The Russian, afterall, have been taking us for granted anytime we buy their weapons.
Actually, if you have any idea what is happening, all Asian nations are weary of Taiwan and long term it's the PRC that will own them not the other way around. Hence, other claimants see Taiwan's claim as = to PRC.
There is a reason why Taiwan hasn't dropped their land claims. And while certain government folks diplomatic wranglings on the South Seas is worrisome, overall I think its harmless talk in the long run. Its mainly the Blue's who try to keep this line of reasoning going. But remember...the Blues are mainly the older generation. They are growing less and less everyday. A solidly Green Taiwan would make this position clear.
http://the-diplomat.com/2012/04/25/t...omment-page-1/
Taiwan’s 1947 Constitution, written while Chiang Kai-sheik still had a Chinese capital, makes territorial land claims in all or part of 10 countries, including independent Mongolia, Tibet, and parts of India, Burma, Russia, Afghanistan and Pakistan. But those claims are never prosecuted by Taipei, and are only still enshrined in the Constitution because Beijing views any amendment to Taiwan’s territorial claims as a step towards independence and away from its “One China Policy.”
However unlike those other lands mentioned in their constitution, the ones in the SCS are actually being pursed by Taiwan. Seeing the ties being built between PRC and Taiwan, most countries in Asia see it as just a matter of time before Taiwan becomes a part of the PRC.
This particular question has gone through my mind as well, given that a number of Vietnam War vets are members of this board.
I cant speak for them (although my father and uncle are both Vietnam War vets), but judging from what I have read there is very little lingering animosity on either side. I think both countries can view future cooperation as win-win.
Would be interesting to here from MP.Net's vets.
Personally, I think its because the Blue's/KMT goal is still to regain the mainland. However, as I mentioned, the current and new generations coming are less and less tied to the PRC, even if the buisness and poli links are building. This is perhaps the crest of their relations, or close to it - from there its downhill. Basically, now is the best chance the Blues/KMT have to join the PRC. The identity of being Taiwanese as opposed to Chinese in Taiwan is growing, and fast. The current generation of leaders is the last chance KMT and Blues have.
And I highly think a Taiwan vying for independence is not going to try to pursue some of the absurd land claims. They will need all the help they can get
Last edited by IconOfEvi; 06-04-2012 at 06:15 PM.
I would also be interested in the feelings and thoughts of Vietnamese vets as well for a comparison.
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What's funny is I can guarantee you no American liberals will have any problem whatsoever with the US making an alliance with the dictatorial and repressive Vietnamese government.
And what about non-liberal Americans, are they opposing an expanded military relationship between Washington and Hanoi?
Time is not on Taiwan side. Taiwan IS in the process of integration with the mainland. Just look at what has happened and whats happening now.
You already have the economic integration. Millions living in Taiwan and traveling across the straits. Travel links especially the high speed boats that gets you to and from the mainland within just 2hrs. There are now more and more mainland students and tourists in Taiwan. Ancient religious links (Mazu Goddess which Taiwanese and Fujianese fisherman pray to) is now a regular event. You already have Taiwanese singers and actors performing in China (If you can name me one top Taiwan celebrity that is not performing in China). Now even Mainland singers are performing in Taiwan. I was very supprise that Song Zhu Yi held a corcert in Taiwan. Do you know what songs she normally sings ? Yes, patrotic songs.
Now they are talking about finiancial links and allowing Mainland banks in Taiwan. Nothing is impossible. Even militray talks is being talked about. A peace treaty is not far away.
The southern part of Taiwan is the Min Jin Dang (DPP) stronghold. Mostly farmers.... which now depends on the mainland to sell their fruits. I already know of one villiage leader from the south already defected to KMT.
Recent announcments by DPP says they have no problems if their members visit the Mainland. Wow!
Bottomline is this. Once Taiwan is fully integrated and that the entire world already says Taiwan is part of China, what is left of Taiwan independence ? Only the old and dying half Japanese population.
There was a documentation about the nowadays situation in South-East Asia, including Vietnam, on Phoenix. They showed American Tourists, iirc one of them a vet, visiting both urban and rural parts of the country. They also asked the local NVA-vets about what they think about the Americans, and the answers were surprisingly positive. Not just neutral, but they really looked forward to get into friendly contact with those tourists. May not have been representative of course, but nonetheless interesting.
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