tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post8849626634934649342..comments2023-10-22T18:25:39.688+08:00Comments on The View from Taiwan: ____ integration will lead to ____ integrationMichael Turtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-77007117597426529072009-02-25T00:32:00.000+08:002009-02-25T00:32:00.000+08:00On the issue of the KTM / GMD's aims, do you suppo...<B>On the issue of the KTM / GMD's aims, do you suppose that they expect to be allowed to compete in pan-Chinese elections? Or do they merely hope to receive appointment to the National People's Assembly, or some such? Surely they can't *all* be as stupid as Lian Chan...?</B><BR/><BR/>You just don't get it. There'll be no democractic elections between CCP and KMT. Just a new republic, one without "people" in its name. The aim is to overthrow the CCP (if the people don't do it ahead of time) and replace it with a new authoritarian government (and I'll bet you there'll be lots of former CCPers who'll switch sides)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-48876796998751003042009-02-23T16:17:00.000+08:002009-02-23T16:17:00.000+08:00I wonder if the real thrust of a CECA is to someho...I wonder if the real thrust of a CECA is to somehow include Taiwan's NT$ in some type of new Asian reserve currency/system since the US$ is on its last legs.<BR/><BR/>I've read a few articles here and there on this topic over the years. Most recently from <A HREF="http://financialsense.com/fsu/editorials/willie/2009/0219.html" REL="nofollow">Jim Willie</A>.<BR/><BR/><I>An Exchange Platform will cut out the banks altogether… [Chinese Premier] Wen delivered his speech in Davos and went straight to Berlin where they put the final touch on the new world currency basket, sponsored by Berlin-Moscow-Beijing-Tokyo-Riyadh. Moscow and Berlin already have a massive counter trade / barter trade agreement in place, and Beijing was eager to joint that platform as well.” The new global currencies are planned for launch in January 2010. They will be launched amidst growing chaos. Events up to that time will be tumultuous.</I><BR/><BR/>Here is another recent one from Bloomberg: <A HREF="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aJZn8gBQUMJY&refer=home" REL="nofollow">Asia Agrees on $120 Billion Currency Pool Amid Crisis</A><BR/><BR/>In the Bloomberg article it mentions that Korea already burned through about 1/4 of their FX reserves to keep the Won competitive.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-12458766965516598422009-02-21T14:03:00.000+08:002009-02-21T14:03:00.000+08:00Yes DA you left out that dictatorships require ene...Yes DA you left out that dictatorships require enemies. The image of the enemy fuels the energy and spirit of the Party. It works as a tool for enforcing Party discipline and unity too. And it gives moral justification for cracking down on dissent. Just identify dissenters as part of the enemies of the moment (Falun Gong.) Or clasify all dissent as criminal with sweeping laws like giving away state secrets and threatening social social stability. Then step on the enemy. Then declare a glorious triumph. And endlessly repeat the process for as many decades as you can.<BR/><BR/>The KMT understands and uses the psychology and tools of political manipulation well. This doesn't show that they understand psychology and human nature. They can't see, analyze, and understand beyond what previous experience has shown them. If they could, wouldn't a lot of them who aren't at the center of power be thinking twice about the direction things are going?<BR/><BR/>They're going to end up worse off under CCP masters just like most others in Taiwan will. They just don't realize this. They've never been at the business end of dictatorship's stick. Their wallets and freedom will suffer like most other's will. Its not sheep leading sheep to the slaughter, but most are headed for a much tighter pen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-78836767420984086442009-02-20T10:23:00.000+08:002009-02-20T10:23:00.000+08:00I wonder if the devil could be prevailed upon the ...I wonder if the devil could be prevailed upon the explain why unification would be expected to benefit Taiwan, Japan, and Korea economically? More likely, any business for which they do not enjoy a comparative advantage would, absent protectionist measures, migrate to cheaper regions of Greater China, as Taiwan comes to resemble coastal China in terms of living standards and social inequality. <BR/><BR/>As for peace, it already "prevails" (for now). Unification would just move borders around, and make surrounding countries that much more vulnerable to Chinese pressure. <BR/><BR/>On the issue of the KTM / GMD's aims, do you suppose that they expect to be allowed to compete in pan-Chinese elections? Or do they merely hope to receive appointment to the National People's Assembly, or some such? Surely they can't *all* be as stupid as Lian Chan...?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-36953403024290092282009-02-20T09:44:00.000+08:002009-02-20T09:44:00.000+08:00"In ten years, while the rest of the world is stil..."In ten years, while the rest of the world is still exhausted from the recession, the greater China region thrives."<BR/><BR/>Wow! You've thought of it all! Except you have forgotten to consider the wishes of the people who actually live in Taiwan. <BR/><BR/>My 2c: Being the devil's advocate requires more than presenting an unpopular opinion. It involves having your readers evaluate a situation from a previously unconsidered angle by taking the opposite opinion. All you have done is taken an establishment position, and, in doing so, left a key factor out of your argument.Tommyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13552370490869601403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-58201513046274761442009-02-19T14:34:00.000+08:002009-02-19T14:34:00.000+08:00Do they keep saying that if Taiwan "gets out of th...Do they keep saying that if Taiwan "gets out of the way", there will be peace in the region? It is not only encouraging the bully, the lack of legitimacy of the PRC government cannot be justified by the "when Taiwan comes back, we Chinese will be powerful and no one will bully us again", if the CCP cannot fulfill its people's needs. They are the real bullies, and they will seek another "enemy" or "target for distraction" to be precise. And whwther this target is inside or outside, that will be irrelevant, as long as it fits their needs.<BR/><BR/>It will be the beginning of the end, in other words.TicoExpathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09924420017053186115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-65109072599821866532009-02-19T12:40:00.000+08:002009-02-19T12:40:00.000+08:00Agree with the first Anon. I was at Ikea last week...Agree with the first Anon. I was at Ikea last weekend and there were more people measuring, browsing and buying than I've ever seen in the store before.cfimageshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17311764476271044148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-23967669388373931432009-02-19T11:35:00.000+08:002009-02-19T11:35:00.000+08:00If I may address the elephant in the room:The KMT ...If I may address the elephant in the room:<BR/><BR/>The KMT has every intention of reclaiming greater China (If we are to believe what Ma said in an interview in Japan last year). I truly believe there are operatives on both sides of the straits working on the return of the republic (not people's), and this cannot occur until there's been a integration that puts KMT back on the mainland. Taiwan is not an "issue" for these people. Sorry, but for most KMT, Taiwan is a turd.<BR/><BR/>The news reported today that there are a long list of donors implcated in the moneylaunderering of the Chens, and which comprise many of the island's industrial and business leaders. I'll bet you they're all DPP -- knowing that business here is fiercely divided poltically from the exchanges, to the banks, to the hospitals. The KMT needs to break the back of all this power. <BR/><BR/>I'm sure that some of us are wondering if this the DPP or TI attempt to create a huge reserve to battle the KMT's (mostly ill-gotten) fortune, or can it be that ALL of Taiwan's business leaders corrupt? <BR/><BR/>In any case, the KMT cannot allow there to be any rivals to their cause, and they will bring them down, Freedom House be damned.<BR/><BR/>Now to be the devil's advocate (at the expense of all TI supporters): Taiwan is rejoined to the mainland and their economies and fortunes married. Peace reigns in the region. North Korea is quelled. Japan and South Korea indirectly benefit from signing trade treaties that beneft them economically. In ten years, while the rest of the world is still exhausted from the recession, the greater China region thrives.<BR/><BR/>NON-NATIVE SPEAKERS -- Please look up "devil's advocate" in your dictionary before you flame me)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-75172604200726108202009-02-19T04:44:00.000+08:002009-02-19T04:44:00.000+08:00Why would the KMT (GMD) give Taiwan away to China?...Why would the KMT (GMD) give Taiwan away to China? What's in it for them? The way I read it is, they've calculated that Taiwan's demographics do not favor a mainlander-dominated party...and so they're trying to change the demographics. The idea being that as Taiwan and China integrate, the swelling population of mainland Chinese--and locals with family or business connections to them--will tip the balance in their favor. Or perhaps they're aiming for a situation where citizens who would normally oppose them, do not dare to vote against them...?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-14496807070173984292009-02-18T23:57:00.000+08:002009-02-18T23:57:00.000+08:00Unfortunately, Ma's approach seems entirely focuse...Unfortunately, Ma's approach seems entirely focused on making the most out of claiming that Taiwan and China are both part of one country, even while maintaining to Taiwanese that they are separate.<BR/><BR/>This makes me genuinely curious as to what a "consensus" between both sides on a CECA would look like. If Chiang Ping-kun says no consensus has been reached, he might mean that the KMT has not yet been able to come up with a formulation of a CECA that would pass the obfuscation test within Taiwan yet would still please their Chinese masters.<BR/><BR/>I keep my fingers crossed that the few recent meetings of the DPP to establish policy directions are actually a sign of real direction and purpose in the DPP. <BR/><BR/>In terms of the CECA, it might be a good thing that Tsai and the DPP are putting their feet down now. If the upcoming deal signing with the PRC will not discuss a CECA, that gives the greens about seven or eight months to really organise some opposition and spell out a case. And as it seems we are not in for a real recovery in 2009 according to the IMF, this might dovetail nicely with low popular sentiment, especially if the vouchers don't lift Taiwan out of the doldrums and the direct shipping doesn't seem to be doing a great deal.<BR/><BR/>So watching the battle over a CECA might give us a mini prelude to the larger battle over a peace treaty, which Hu has already indicated China will not sign if it implies Taiwan is anything but a part of the PRC.<BR/><BR/>Of course, Ma will probably seek to justify his success entirely on winning one-time observer status at the WHA :-P He and the KMT old guard make me sick.Tommyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13552370490869601403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-26497838060738469762009-02-18T22:49:00.000+08:002009-02-18T22:49:00.000+08:00Speaking of recession... you wouldn't know it by t...Speaking of recession... you wouldn't know it by the way people are shopping. I was at Mitsukoshi tonight and it was packed. Everyone was carrying a shopping bag. On Saturday it was a mad house. Either people are charging their way through the recession or it isn't hitting the consumer sector.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com