from MicroWave@lemmy.world to world@lemmy.world on 30 Mar 12:32
https://lemmy.world/post/44941399
Cheng Li-wun’s visit to China, expected to take place in April, would be the first by a sitting leader of Taiwan’s main opposition party in a decade.
The leader of Taiwan’s largest opposition party is set to visit China in April after accepting an invite from Chinese President Xi Jinping.
In a statement on Monday, Kuomintang (KMT) said its chairperson, Cheng Li-wun, was “grateful” for the invitation and had “gladly” accepted it.
Cheng “expressed hope that the two parties (the KMT and China’s Communist Party) would work together to promote the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, strengthen cross-strait exchanges and cooperation, secure peace in the Taiwan Strait, and enhance the well-being of the people,” her party said.
#world
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I would really love if China and Taiwan could coexist without hostilities.
Currently it is one of my main objections to the Chinese regime, that they persist with the 1 China policy as they do.
It’s one thing for China to welcome Taiwan back as part of mainland China, it’s another to threaten to force it with military force.
I have the deepest respect for both China and Taiwan for what they have accomplished. Now they need to accomplish mutual respect on both sides.
Also I don’t think Taiwan can count of USA to help them in case of a major conflict anymore. That ship sailed a decade ago, when Trump was elected the first time.
Please just go read Chinese government statements and policy.
The CPC has literally never threatened to use military force to achieve reunification. It reserves the use of military force for only 2 cases - 1) foreign military threats using Taiwan as a base become too dire and 2) a separatist group on Taiwan declares independence and attempts to secede from China. This has been repeatedly stated for over 50 years at this point. At no point has the CPC ever said anything remotely resembling a threat of violence to force the issue. You can compare both rhetoric and official policy from the US, UK, France, Germany, and Russia to understand what it means when a country threatens violence. The CPC has made no equivalent statements or policies.
In the case of number 1, the CPC has demonstrated incredible restraint. There are currently US soldiers stationed but 4 miles from the mainland because the province of Taiwan covers the main island and all the island chain as well. There are US HIMARS and ATACMS in the province. The CPC doesn’t consider this enough of a threat to act. Consider that the US will literally lie about threats to go to war while China is staring at long range high precision missile batteries on its coast and doesn’t think that’s dangerous enough yet to take action.
In the case of number 2, secession is unpopular in Taiwan, and will continue to get less popular over time as the conditions for remaining as US protectorate deteriorate. It is expected that if a secessionary movement does gain steam that it is likely due to US covert operations, since the US has demonstrated it is willing and able to foment literal civil war in countries around the world to advance its megalomaniacal goals.
Declares independence?
Isn’t that a threat of military violence today?
How do you figure? Taiwan has never had a politically significant independence movement.
If you read US statements and policy they generally seem like good / competent people in government as well. I swear it’s almost like people lie about themselves and try to inflate their public Image.
I’d suggest relying more on what their neighbors and the people that have to deal with them on a daily basis think of them. You know like the ones in the South China sea that are being bullied by the Chinese government. Or the ones in Taiwan watching as China threateningly postures and parades military around them. Or the ones in Hong Kong that are being jailed, imprisoned, and repressed. Or the ones in Tibet. Or the ones in Xinjiang that are having their lands taken and culture erased. Oops but I forgot, all critique of the Chinese government is a CIA psyop. They are perfect, blameless, never over reacted or responded poorly. It’s always everyone else’s fault. Totally believable.
China’s about to get a reminder that Taiwan is notoriously hard to get along with. They’ve got a bunch of Taipei personalities.
listen here u little shit
It’s not unprecedented, a KMT leader has visited the mainland at least once before, about 10 years ago.
But the sad reality under this move currently seems to be: Trump has shown that the current US administration is not only unwilling to defend allies based on principle (mostly dumping Ukraine), but also fairly incapable of defending allies (Arab countries), and certainly not effective at defending a place on the doorstep of the PRC, against the PRC.
Taiwan has poor options: dependence on imported energy (vulnerability to blockade), limited distance from China (within drone swarm reach), no strategic deterrent (no nuclear weapons).
The PRC views gaining control over Taiwan as an important thing to do - to the point of building a replica of the Taiwanese presidential compound for special forces to practise in, holding air force trainings with over a hundred of planes in a threatening flight pattern, and practising a naval blockade. It continues to build up military capabilities, and some of these are really convincing, even if sea introduces a factor of luck (seas have ruined invasions before).
In such conditions, Taiwanese politicians will likely view it as reasonable to start up diplomacy with the PRC to reduce tensions and also buy time to adapt - in the hope that their strategic ally recovers (e.g. gets a sane president and reliable foreign policy) and independence can be retained against pressure and threats.
If the US does not get over Trump and develop sane administration practises and predictable principles soon, Taiwan may find itself negotiating favourable terms of surrender. Currently, it’s not so bad yet - they will be negotiating to normalize relations.
It’s really sad. The US population was manipulated to elect an insane president, and this individual has already caused irreversible global damage to long-standing alliances and partnerships.
Just to note that not only is it in the article, it’s in the bolded top sentence of the submission. :)