In the light of the US request that development of structures by claimants in the South China Sea be frozen at its 2002 level, the ROC reiterated its claims to the South China Sea. The KMT news organ reports:
In a reply to a press query, the Foreign Ministry of the Republic of China (ROC) yesterday reiterated that judging from perspectives of history, geography, and international law, various groups of islands, including the Spratly Islands (Nansha Islands), the Paracel Islands (Xisha Islands), the Macclesfield Bank (Zhongsha Islands), and the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands) and their surrounding waters were undoubtedly an inherent part of Republic of China territory.The Australian reports:
Taiwan — previously a lower key player — announced that its plans to complete a pier on the largest of the Spratly Islands are ahead of schedule, while restating its claim of sovereignty over that and three other island groups in the South China Sea.Yeah, what's that sequence of events?
Meanwhile, new military exercises were announced between Russia and India in the Sea of Japan.
And a senior US State Department official said that while “no claimant is solely responsible for the state of tensions … a pattern of provocative and unilateral behaviour by China has raised serious concerns about China’s intentions and willingness to adhere to international law and standards.”
- The US asks everyone to calm down and lower tensions, and criticizes China. Asks for freeze on new construction.
- Taipei announces it is completing its infrastructure on Taiping island ahead of schedule (middle finger to freeze).
- Taipei reiterates ROC claim to whole of South China Sea (middle finger to calmness).
Wouldn't it have been great if Washington had supported the party more willing to be quiet on these issues and more willing to work with Washington?
REF: For a critique of the Chinese position, see this post.
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"It is hard to resist the conclusion that the Ma government's South China Sea policy is designed to make it difficult for the US to work with Taipei on these issues, and to help Beijing by preventing the US from working with Taipei and forming a multilateral response to China's aggressive posture in the South China Sea."
ReplyDeleteThere is no need to resist the conclusion. It has been an on-going fact since 2000 and became more apparent since mid 2005 when Ma, as chairman, commanded KMT legislator troop to repeatedly block Taiwan's military budget whenever the US pretended to be willing to sell. In turn, Ma's KMT pretends to request for weapon sale from the US whenever the US signals their unwillingness to sell.
It is the camouflage tactic of the Chinese (CCP + KMT). A part of the US main streamers are playing along holding high the placard of "Peace, Make No Troubles". The combined lobby war chests of CCP and KMT is hard to resist for many US players.
The Ma-KMT has been acting as a camouflage double-agent for China to do the dirty little jobs whenever it's inconvenient for China to do so.
The infrastructure construction of the Itu Aba Island ("Taiping" island) is but an example.
Another example is Ma's systematic and methodical demolition of Taiwan's military; e.g. he's doing away with mandatory military service and pretending to introduce a completely volunteer-based force without allocating any budget or providing any viable sourcing plan. His sole goal is the castration of Taiwan's armed force.
Ma has disarmed Taiwan's international diplomatic force under the pretense slogan of "diplomatic ceasefire" and now is about to completely disarm Taiwan.
Camouflage instinct is the sole essence of the Chinese soul. Their smile is hard to read. Beware.
Good points Sy. Add to that the death bed promise everyone knows Ma made to his father...
ReplyDeleteIts fait accompli that free Taiwan is coming to an end.
This is what annoys me the most about the bluetards. They want this to happen. They want to be part of China. They say they don't, but deep down they do.
Good thing they are upper class mainlanders (!)... hah. They will be slaves like all the rest of the Taiwanese. Short sighted idiots.