Blogging the democratic revolution
Mad Minerva posts a little bit of Asia democracy news regarding the creation of a 26 member Democratic Pacific Union. Taiwan’s President Chen said that the DPU should be used to bring the last 15 and the 39 Pacific rim countries into its democratic arc. Especially China. President Chen Shui-bian (????????????????????) yesterday called upon the political leaders of 26 Pacific Rim nations to help bring democracy to China — something he sees as a key mission of the newly-founded Democratic Pacific Union (DPU). Chen made the remarks while addressing the inaugural meeting of the DPU, a non-governmental organization with representatives…
Nearly two weeks ago after China passed its anti-secession law, Taiwan called on its population to protest en masse today. It is being called the 326 protest, and it hoping to pull over one million people. It is early in Taiwan right now, but over the past week, people have already started voicing out their discontent with China. One sign of this were 400 cab drivers lining up in an aerial view that spells “peace”. Some 400 drivers line up their taxis to form the word ???????peace??????? during a protest denouncing Beijing????????s recent approving an anti-secession law aimed at Taiwan…
The huge protest looking to obtain 1 million protestors is scheduled for Saturday, but some people are getting involved a little early. The story I’m going to link to has to do with the EU arms embargo, but the picture and caption is about Taiwan Some 400 drivers line up their taxis to form the word “peace” during a protest denouncing Beijing’s recent approving an anti-secession law aimed at Taiwan Tuesday, March 22, 2005, in Taipei, Taiwan. The protest leads up to Saturday’s planned protest to gather one million Taiwanese to show public disapproval to the anti-secession law that give…
Bruce Chang recently conducted a survey among Taiwanese-Americans living in Southern California and asked them to answer a few questions regarding Taiwan, China, and the new anti-secession law. They seemed pretty calm about it, which is reassuring to those of us on the outside. UPDATE: Last week you may remember something I said regarding the countries supporting China’s anti-secession law. And has anyone noticed that all the countries supporting China????????s anti-secession law have secession problems themselves? Looks like that support is paying off for Azerbaijan, who has just received total support for China on its territorial integrity.
There were some reports earlier that the China-Russia joint military exercises were changed to prepare for an invasion of Taiwan. The Russian army chief categorically denied this. BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhuanet) — Visiting Russian army chief said here Thursday that the preparing Russian and Chinese joint military exercise is not targeted at any third country. “The first joint military exercise is a new way of cooperation between the two militaries,” said Yury Baluyevsky, Russian chief of general staff, who is on his first trip abroad since he took upthe post last July. Instead of being targeted at any third country,…
**Update 3/16** Things are quickly speeding up in east Asia. Just last week, China unveiled a law that would enable it to attack Taiwan if it tries to secede. And I have to hand it to the Taiwanese. Given their position, it may just be smarter for them to remain “part of China” and still retain their democratic, free-market society… but they won’t settle for less. Taiwan is now pursuing a counter anti-secession law that would allow Taiwan to pre-empt an attack by the Chinese mainland. Stepping up its opposition to China’s “anti-secession” law, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is…
Just about the time that democracies start sprouting all over, Red China would like to remind everybody not to feel too good: BEIJING — China unveiled a law Tuesday authorizing an attack if Taiwan moves toward formal independence, increasing pressure on the self-ruled island while warning other countries not to interfere. The United States said Beijing should reconsider. Taiwan denounced the legislation as a “blank check to invade” and announced war games aimed at repelling an attack. “If possibilities for a peaceful reunification should be completely exhausted, the state shall employ nonpeaceful means and other necessary measures to protect China’s…
Rather unprecedented: President Chen Shui-bian yesterday reiterated that he will not seek Taiwan’s independence, as he and opposition leader James Soong issued a rare joint statement agreeing to put aside partisan interest in pursuit of cross-strait peace. The head of state and the People First Party chief issued the joint statement after meeting behind closed doors for more than two hours in the first fence-mending talks in four politically tumultuous years. They said in order to protect Taiwan’s interests, it is vital to “find viable solutions to the issues of importance, that being: permanent peace across the Taiwan Strait, and…
Bill Rice thinks that the joint declaration on Taiwan by the United States and Japan was timed just right. What is amazing about the event, is its timing. US Diplomacy of old would have kept such a meeting until after China had given the message of displeasure to the North Koreans. On another level, the announcement comes on the 60th anniversary (good post from Michelle Malkin here) of the Marines taking of Iwo Jima. I give both Pacific democracies credit for supporting freedom by making a strong public stance together in word and in treaty. This puts teeth to President…
In a sweeping post, The Faces of G comments on the new alignments: Several key anti-U.S. states have been more public in their movements and alignments. A week ago, North Korea boasted of its nuclear weapons. Syria and Iran get together to build a ‘common front’ Änothing new, just a PR stunt reallyÅ. Today, Russia stated it would continue to help Iran’s “peaceful” nuclear program. On Wednesday, CIA director Porter Goss warned that a Chinese military build-up could tip the cross-strait military balance with Taiwan. China didn’t like those remarks, but must at the same time walk a diplomatic tightrope,…
It looks like Taiwan’s trade to China took up 36% of its exports. As the article suggests, this is a 28% increase in trade volume from 2003, making China as Taiwan’s biggest market. It will be hard for Taiwan to achieve its national identity apart of China if it becomes too dependant. China is willing to use military force, by all means necessary, to keep Taiwan as part of the greater nation. Given the governmen’t high regards for human rights, I wouldn’t be surprised if they just cut off all trade with Taiwan if they tried to secede. It would…