Taiwan's ruling party managed to get a $11 billion U.S. arms package, which it sees as key to keeping the balance of power with China, on to parliament's agenda on Tuesday after being stalled by the opposition 41 times.[Taiwan]
Many security analysts see the Taiwan Strait, which separates China and Taiwan, as one of Asia's most dangerous flashpoints.
The United States, which recognises China and not Taiwan, offered the package of advanced weapons in 2001. Taiwan has since cut its budget for the arms from $18 billion to $11 billion
Lawmakers from Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and their allies voted 12 to 5 in a sub-committee responsible for setting parliament agenda while many opposition lawmakers were in a separate meeting. But the victory could be short-lived as the opposition Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang (KMT), which once ruled all China, and People First Party control a slim parliamentary majority and vowed to overturn the decision on Friday.
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Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Arms Package on Agenda!
This just in! Reuters is reporting that after 41 failed attempts, the legislature will consider the arms package.
Michael, I hope this brings some progress on the budget (though I doubt it will), but check out some of the propaganda within that article.
ReplyDeleteReuters:
...the opposition Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang (KMT), which once ruled all China...
Does that sound as unnecessary to you as it sounds to me?
Reuters again:
Many security analysts see the Taiwan Strait, which separates China and Taiwan, as one of Asia's most dangerous flashpoints.
Notice how they mention "Taiwan" twice, "China" once, and China's "missiles" and "'anti-secession' law" exactly zero times each.
I wish they'd put bylines on articles like that so readers could identify the pushers of such propaganda.
Not to mention the comment that the US recognizes China, not Taiwan. The core info is correct, but the article is laden with propaganda. I need to update this tomorrow with apropriate remarks. Good spot, Tim! The more I look at articles like this, the more I realize your suggestion about the media thing was correct.
ReplyDeleteMichael
For others who may not know which "media thing" Michael is talking about in the comment above, it's something I've discussed with him via e-mail about how Taiwan needs something like MediaMatters.org.
ReplyDeleteI have also mentioned this idea on my own blog here and here.