Taiwanrocks! Tâi-ôan-chio♿h!

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

http://taiwanrox.blogspot.com/2008/12/message-to-taiwan-love-america.html

America, a sign of democracy, power, peace, hope, and greatness. Yet, in the past years, dislike for the only superpower in the world has grown. Americans have been looked upon with hatred, for their interference with Iraq, and overall, their democratic ways and virtues. I for one, love America. America is still a great country, and not everyone is a fat uneducated person in America. America has done many good things to Taiwan, such as send the 7th fleet to protect Taiwan from the communists, sell weapons to Taiwan, and more importantly, establish the Taiwan Relations Act, an important tool for supporting Taiwan independence. I would like to remind you of the things America did that year to help Taiwan. In 1945, ROC (Republic of China, democratic China, free China) retook Taiwan from the Japanese on "Retrocession Day." In 1949, ROC lost control of the mainland to the Russian supported CPC, now CCP, or the Chinese Communist Party. In the Battle of Kuningtou, the ROC army stopped the advancing PLA with USA made tanks, and Kinmen remains in ROC hands to this day. Chiang, the leader of the ROC, then proclaimed Taipei capital of China, ROC China that is. USA realized that a total communist takeover of China and Taiwan would be dangerous, so President Truman sent the 7th fleet into the Taiwan strait. Most historians agree without the 7th fleet, Taiwan would've been doomed. Trumans stated

"The attack upon Korea makes it plain beyond all doubt that communism has passed beyond the use of subversion to conquer independent nations and will now use armed invasion and war. It has defied the orders of the Security Council of the United Nations issued to preserve international peace and security. In these circumstances the occupation of Formosa by Communist forces would be a direct threat to the security of the Pacific area and to United States forces performing their lawful and necessary functions in that area. Accordingly I have ordered the 7th Fleet to prevent any attack on Formosa. As a corollary of this action I am calling upon the Chinese Government on Formosa to cease all air and sea operations against the mainland. The 7th Fleet will see that this is done. The determination of the future status of Formosa must await the restoration of security in the Pacific, a peace settlement with Japan, or consideration by the United Nations." (http://www.geocities.com/taiwanstatus/taiwanstatus)

However, that was not the end. Fighting broke out in the First Taiwan Strait Crisis. Eisenhower, who succeeded Truman, allowed the ROC to attempt to retake the mainland. ROC first put troops on Matsu and Quemoy, which were then rained upon by Chinese missiles. Luckily, again, USA saved Taiwan with the Formosa Resolution, which allowed Eisenhower to dispatch troops to protect Taiwan. In the second Taiwan strait crisis, the USA built useful aircraft for Taiwan, and the battle ended out in a tie.

Not only did the USA help Taiwan militarily, but also politically.

One very important document is the Taiwan Relations Act, which passed in 1979.

The document states: "It is the policy of the United States--

to preserve and promote extensive, close, and friendly commercial, cultural, and other relations between the people of the United States and the people on Taiwan, as well as the people on the China mainland and all other peoples of the Western Pacific area;

to declare that peace and stability in the area are in the political, security, and economic interests of the United States, and are matters of international concern;

to make clear that the United States decision to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China rests upon the expectation that the future of Taiwan will be determined by peaceful means;

to consider any effort to determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means, including by boycotts or embargoes, a threat to the peace and security of the Western Pacific area and of grave concern to the United States;

to provide Taiwan with arms of a defensive character; and

to maintain the capacity of the United States to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic system, of the people on Taiwan." (American Institute Taiwan)

Also, "Whenever the laws of the United States refer or relate to foreign countries, nations, states, governments, or similar entities, such terms shall include and such laws shall apply with such respect to Taiwan.  Whenever authorized by or pursuant to the laws of the United States to conduct or carry out programs, transactions, or other relations with respect to foreign countries, nations, states, governments, or similar entities, the President or any agency of the United States Government is authorized to conduct and carry out, in accordance with section 6 of this Act, such programs, transactions, and other relations with respect to Taiwan (including, but not limited to, the performance of services for the United States through contracts with commercial entities on Taiwan), in accordance with the applicable laws of the United States."

This act is very promising, as it promises weapons, which USA supplies to Taiwan, if not directly, through other countries.

In conclusion, the USA is still a preserver of democracy, hopefully willing to support Taiwan's official separation from China. Hopefully, Americans not willing to help Taiwan will realize that Taiwan is not just some small country, but a place full of people, people that are threatened by the constant threat of China. China continues to point over 900 missiles at Taiwan at the very moment, and while tensions have been thawed by the recent Taiwanese president's friendliness with China, including the recent gift panda's Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, soon, USA will have to choose whether to help Taiwan or not. I advise the American people not to give up on Taiwan, as Dell, Microsoft, and other technology related companies rely on Taiwan's semiconductors.

"Free nations of the world cannot allow Taiwan, a beacon of democracy, to be subdued by an authoritarian China. "

Nick Lampson

3 COMMENTS:

Michael Turton said...

Dude, the TRA explicitly DOES NOT REQUIRE anything. Read it carefully. It merely says that the President decides whether Taiwan should get weapons. Taiwan itself is not included in the process.

Also, the US screwed Taiwan hard -- it brought over Chiang Kai-shek, who set up a police state that killed and imprisoned tens of thousands, create a faux Chinese culture to suppress local cultures, and claimed that Taiwan was part of China. The resultant absurd diplomatic situation with the false Chinese claim to the island, and the corrupt political system of the island with its developmentalist construction state, are a direct result of our idiotic decision to let Chiang come over.

Michael

JANUARY 1, 2009 2:34 AM

Jas said...

I have been to Taipei too last March and cannot wait to go back again! I look forward to more of your post about Taiwan. HA, thanks for sharing!

JANUARY 8, 2009 11:16 PM

Taiwanrox said...

To Michael:

The TRA specifically states:

In furtherance of the policy set forth in section 3301 of this title, the United States will make available to Taiwan such defense articles and defense services in such quantity as may be necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability.

This is good stuff for my family and friends in Taiwan. It more clearly labels that USA might help Taiwan. Even if it is a bit vague, it is a good sign: someones at least partially on Taiwan's side.

Chiang Kai Shek was already in Taiwan before 1949...In 1945, after the Japanese were defeated in WW2, they surrendered Taiwan to ROC. Chiang Kai Shek did screw a lot of people. However, thanks to his ROC troops, the Communists were defeated at Kinmen and other islands. Getting invaded by Chiang Kai Shek was better than getting invaded by communists. Look at now: Taiwan is a democracy, and I would say a nicely functioning one, while China still remains a dictatorship, and look at Tibet, that could've been Taiwan. It could have been worse.

JANUARY 9, 2009 9:32 PM