It's so obvious that it almost doesn't need blogging on, but the new KMT Chairman, Wu Po-hsiung, is going to visit China at the end of the month."It is extremely likely that he will visit in late April," Kuan told The Associated Press during a visit to the eastern resort city of Hangzhou.
Wu, 67, won easily after the former chairman of the party, Ma Ying-jeou, resigned following his indictment on corruption charges. But Wu's election was also seen as a sign of support for Ma, who is still expected to be the party's candidate in next year's presidential race.
Kuan said Wu would hope to hold "substantive talks" with his Communist counterparts when he visits.
He said the Nationalists would like to hammer out a more concrete version of an agreement that paved the way for 1992 talks that were the first formal contact between Taiwan and China since they separated amid civil war in 1949.
Substantive talks! I get arguments that the KMT isn't cooperating with China because they used to be enemies, because "so many have died." Yet the first thing Wu does as Chairman is visit China for "substantive talks." The symbolism of the leader from abroad who visits China after being selected leader isn't lost on anyone here or in China: he goes to pay tribute to the masters in Beijing. If it isn't blindingly obvious that the KMT and the CCP are cooperating......no need to finish that sentence.
Media moment: note that the article still repeats the error that China and Taiwan were "separated" amid civil war ( formal sovereignty over the island in 1949 was actualy held by Japan, not China). The KMT and the CCP were separated, not Taiwan and China. The AP reporter's name is misspelled in article as Boodeen, not Boden.
Meanwhile the recent Council on Foreign Relations report says that the antisatellite missile test actually increased the threat to our fair island.
The antisatellite missile test China conducted in January increased the country's military threat to Taiwan by demonstrating a limited ability to blind U.S. satellites that would be deployed in defense of the island, according to a report released Tuesday."The test is a vivid example of how China's emerging military capabilities will complicate the strategic environment confronting U.S. forces for decades to come," the study said.
The report was sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations, an independent private research group based in New York. It is titled "U.S.-China Relations: An Affirmative Agenda, A Responsible Course."
The CFR is a hugely important elite US Establishment think tank, and its commentary reflects what US elites would like to see.
[Taiwan] [US] [China]
Michael,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the link you posted in response to my post on Life Academy. The article sums up exactly what those three days were about. I especially like this, "Being surrounded by many others in search of the Promised Land serves to energize participants and to give them hope. Ultimately, the main product being sold by human potential gurus is hope itself."
>http://www.skepdic.com/lgsap.html
Emily
I find it particularly interesting that a democratically unelected party's chairman is allowed to travel to a foreign country - especially an aggressive foreign country and hold any form of meeting with the rival government. And no one really says anything otherwise about it. After 8 years of being out of power, the KMT still hasn't come to terms that they are not in complete control of an island supressed by martial law.
ReplyDeleteMichael Turton: 國民黨魁訪中國，中國飛彈打台灣
ReplyDelete@ anti-media:國民黨魁訪中國，中國飛彈打台灣
Hi, Michael:
ReplyDeleteAccording to Wikipedia, Japan signed Peace Treaty of San Francisco in 1951. This treaty, in effect on April 28, 1952, was the foraml document which Japan renounced its sovereignty over Taiwan. So, formally, Taiwan's sovereignty belonged to Japan before April 28,1952.
Max
Yes, the DPP complained a lot but didnt' want to do anything about it. Perhaps they don't want to be seen as being too heavy handed, perhaps they are interested to see what China will offer the KMT, perhaps they figure the visits will only hurt the KMT in the long run.
ReplyDeleteAnd Michael, we do have to get together sometime for a beer.
Hi Michael,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your continuous effort in writing down the political thoughts and dialogue with anyone around. I am Ilya, we met yesterday :) Nice to meet you after hearing from Kerim about you for a longtime! :P
I agree with about the observation of separation of Chniese bloggers and English bloggers. I hope there should more bridges like you connecting us!
In commenting Mr. Wu's visiting China, I think they strategically taking China as their main strength, significant difference between DPP and them. Maybe they might have risk for this strategy, but comparing to other substantial steps, they might have won in 2008 on this step (supported by the vice tactic of corruption & impotence accusation of DPP). So they emphasizing it straight forwardly.
Selected memory of KMT people, and they choose not to respond to anything controversial and left it to DPP, which then is a feast coming to (temporal?) end that everyone is getting up seeking for his/her own future. I think if KMT people have to say anything, they are just like Mr. Chou choose to show his solidary with people of special interest (even under the name of public interest).
Of course DPP people are not that different, with this kind of hidden agenda. But just like yesterday TW Blogger BoF special guest DPP Legislator Kuo Cheng-Liang had mentioned, projects like Sunlight Foundation's "Congresspedia" is a very powerful voters' allied action in collecting information about and of legislators. And, he is supporting it.
For people like my generation (was born between late 1960s and early 1970s), with a little bit involvement in student movements toward KMT, it's very difficult to believe today they are not the same after giving up the ruling power for 7 years, if our memory are not selective, enough.
:)
best, ilya
Just out of curiosity, what do you all think of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Syria, Saudi Arabia, etc? She's of the rival party, and the Democrats currently control the House and Senate, just not the Presidency. It sort of coincides with Taiwan's situation, and Syria is by no remote means a US ally.
ReplyDeleteChanning,
ReplyDeleteNancy Pelosi's visit is absolutely fine with me. However, I am a democrate. And I also believe that "keep your friends close, and keep your enemies closer!" Also, I don't see what's a big deal to go and talk to your enemies. In theory, China is still USA's either number 1 imaginary enemies, and yet, we talk to China very often these days.
channing: Just out of curiosity, what do you all think of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Syria, Saudi Arabia, etc? She's of the rival party, and the Democrats currently control the House and Senate, just not the Presidency. It sort of coincides with Taiwan's situation
ReplyDeleteIn contrary to arty's comment, my wife and I were stunned by Pelosi's visit when we saw it on TV. To our knowledge, a speaker speaks for his/her boss, that's it. She is not even a leader of some power or any where close to any decision making. At that time we didn't make any comparision between her visit and KMT's visit to China. Simply the fact of "a visit to foreign countries as a speaker of opposition party" shocked us.
But when comparing it to the visit of KMT elites to China, the latter stands out as an even more rediculous move --- they are going to sign agreements with China government, as a self-claimed representive from Taiwan !!! WHAT THE F******CK DO THEY THINK THEY ARE ?