The Christian Science Monitor has an article on Taiwan's now-you-see-it, now-you-don't missile development program. In it Taiwan's missiles are (of course) regarded as "troublesome" and "destabilizing"........
Next troublesome missile test: Taiwan?
Taiwan may be preparing to test-fire a missile in September capable of striking – and angering – China.
By Simon Montlake | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor
TAIPEI, TAIWAN – As Asia grapples with the fallout from North Korea's projectile posturing, another military flashpoint in the region - the Taiwan Strait - is in the midst of missile tensions as well..
Chinese missiles meanwhile are just a fact of life -- no loaded political judgments are given about them:
Taiwan is currently targeted by around 800 Chinese-built missiles that would reach the island within seven minutes of being launched. In March, Taiwanese officials warned that China was expanding its arsenal and could deploy as many as 1,800 missiles within four years.
And of course, Mad Chen must make an appearance:
Such attitudes present a dilemma for the US, which is reportedly urging Taiwan to back off its missile program. US diplomacy in the region is a balancing act between deterring China from invading Taiwan and restraining President Chen Shui-bian on the issue of Taiwanese sovereignty. In this context, a homegrown missile primed to strike the mainland could be a red flag to China.
Fortunately the missile program that is so destabilizing and dangerous actually doesn't exist:
There may also be less to Taiwan's missile program than meets the eye, says Andrew Yang of the Chinese Council of Advanced Policy Studies, a security think tank in Taipei. The designs are mostly unproven, and researchers have few resources. "The program isn't dead, it's alive and kicking, but it lacks funding," he says.
What's really great is the last paragraph, where Mad Chen might incite China...
One wild card is the run-up to Taiwan's 2008 presidential election, when Chen is expected to turn up the rhetoric on Taiwanese sovereignty to rally his base. That could provoke China into the kind of saber rattling that erupted in 1996 when it test-fired missiles off the coast. But analysts say China is now taking a more nuanced approach.
The reporter didn't even bother to find out whether Chen would be running in 2008 (he can't). Nor is the "base" his. And China's test-firing a missile in 1996 was an attempt to influence the democratic elections held at the time, not saber-rattling "provoked" by something Taiwan did. Bad, bad Taiwan, provoking China with democratic elections like that.
Looks like our reporter received a lot of guidance from the pro-China side in producing this piece.
[Taiwan] [Chen Shui-bian] [Democracy] [DPP] [KMT] [US] [China]
Unfortunately, this kind of reporting seems quite prevalent in the online news I read. They all portrayed Chen and Taiwanese independence as the troublemakers, while passing off Chinese aggression and missle buildup as something matter of factly, without causing concern. So independence is problematic, but unification is natural and desired? Why are both choices available to decide Taiwan's future treated with such different attitudes? In the end, which side is actually going to start a war in the first place?
ReplyDeleteAmen to what was said above by anonymous. I would only add that reporters should add something, "And the rest of the world hypocritically agreed with China that Taiwan is the troublemaker because it (perish and forbid) as a free democracy wants to exercise its right of choice."
ReplyDeleteSo interesting how the world freely trades with and makes money off Taiwan (and both sides of the Strait) but only wants to pressure Taiwan to be quiet.
As I always say, when you have a democracy, you already are independent. Its time the rest of the world told the Chinese Emperor he has no clothes.
Montlake referred to Chen Shui-bian as a "lame-duck president" as recently as June 29, 2006, so I would assume that his portrayal is purposely deceitful and that they've merely changed memes.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous wrote:
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Why are both choices available to decide Taiwan's future treated with such different attitudes?
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Where do you think the media gets their memes? They obviously get them straight from KMT headquarters. Note also that in the article behind my first link above, Montlake talks about "pav[ing] the way" for the KMT's "return to power." It sounds like that's what he's trying to do.
Tim Maddog