The German government, it was said, was ready to negotiate just agreements. But it must be on a basis of equality, the government added, and rather than continue to endure the humiliations of the past the government and the nation preferred to bear any oppression or hardships.This week US airlines caved to Chinese demands and began listing Taiwan as part of China on their websites. Says the news:
It was this that the government asked the nation to indorse.
In line with the temperate tone of all the German pronouncements, officials made it plain to the United Press that they planned to leave the league smoothly and in friendly manner, as righteous protestants and not as rebels.
Beijing had demanded that American Airlines (AAL), Delta (DAL) and United (UAL) change how they refer to Taiwan by Wednesday, or risk sanctions in one of the world's biggest markets for air travel.Beijing is reaching for total humiliation of the US. Ben Bland of the Financial Times tweeted that:
American Airlines and Delta updated their websites on Wednesday to show they fly to Taipei, with no mention of Taiwan. A few hours earlier, both websites offered flights to "Taipei, Taiwan."
United also removed references to "TW" — short for Taiwan — from its website, dropping country designations for all cities in Taiwan and China.
China's aviation regulator say that US airlines' "rectification" is "incomplete". Suggests that just putting "Taipei" as a destination on website isn't enough. Should be "Taiwan, China", as other international airlines now say.It's easy to see why the airlines caved, since they need the profitable routes. Reporting on what the State Department said is contradictory, complicated by the fact that if you ask the State Department what it wants, you get that idiotic word salad about the Communiques and so forth that no longer helps anyone (me on that). The State Department is basically useless on the Taiwan issue, though John Pomfret reported this week that at least (at last) junior members are becoming fed up with the pro-China atmosphere at State. State, though, needs guidance and support from the top...
...but when you clear away the fog, what happened is really simple: given the opportunity to stand up to China in a situation of clear bullying and abuse, the GOP Administration decided to totally cave and do nothing. Holding all the cards, it folded. Asked to lead, it scurried off with its tail between its legs.
There is nothing more to say. It's not yet Munich, but here in East Asia the
The avalanche has already started. It's too late for the pebbles to vote.
On the home front, China also compelled the East Asian Olympic Committee to withdraw the right of Taichung to host the Youth Games (Focus Taiwan)....
Taiwan's government accused China on Tuesday of exerting pressure on the East Asian Olympic Committee (EAOC) to cancel the first East Asian Youth Games in Taichung in 2019 and said its interference was irrational and politically motivated.Emily Wu tweeted that The EAOC is chaired by Liu Peng, who had served as director of China's State General Administration of Sports and is a member of the CCP Central Committee. South Korea and Mongolia voted against Taichung, spinelessly (Mongolia's service to China reminds one forcibly of Poland's between-wars foreign policy), along with China, Hong Kong, Macau, and North Korea. Japan abstained.
Taichung is in the midst of a battle for the mayoral spot and this will likely affect current DPP Mayor Lin Chia-lung's prospects, as local media were already speculating this week. China probably knew this when it made the decision.
China even went after the Gay Games in Paris. There can be no "Taiwan" anywhere...
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Look on the bright side, KMT and pro-unification people take a hit whenever China decide to put pressure on Taiwan. Let's see how this election turns out.
ReplyDeleteWhat I found interesting is how Korea voted in the East Asian Olympic Committee. John Mearsheimer went to Korea in March and told them specifically what will happen when China becomes a hegemon in Asia. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJLovvQUQxs at 42:38) I think Korea already knows this and still vote as China dictate is a big warning. John Mearsheimer also indicated during this talk that the US will give more support to Taiwan as time go on,
Another good news indicates that China is running out of money to sustain their belt and road. The local news reported that China did not deliver what they promise to Philippine. I hope this is the end of the road for China in regard to regional hegemony.
It would seem that the foreign government policy of 'deliberate ambiguity' is under attack. https://www.revolvy.com/page/Political-status-of-Taiwan
ReplyDeleteThings will get worse before it starts to get better.
ReplyDeleteThe few Pan-Blue mouth pieces on talk shows are getting people’s blood boiling in regard to the KMT. As China continues its assault, (apparently an aboriginal choir group just got their invitation to Vienna withdrawn), KMT will get weaker and weaker. The key is unity. If the pan-Blues collapses, and Taiwan is unified, the birth of our new nation will finally be within reach.
If anyone has any doubt regarding which International Relationship theory that Donald Trump administration is following, I would like to present this evidence:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXSkY4QKDlA
This is Peter Navarro interviewing John Mearsheimer and spell out what needs to be done to China
Hi Michael,
ReplyDeleteKudos for the heart you’ve put into your blog during all these years.
No, it seems there can be no ‘Taiwan’ anywhere. But here’s my two cents.
Taiwan is divided along partisan lines. And that’s an understatement, I know.
Everything seems drenched in politics. Blue, Green, either side no longer sees ‘a Taiwanese’ on the other part of the spectrum. Blue perceives troublemakers, Green sees traitors. If one were to show a degree of empathy toward the other party’s opinion, that sympathy would hardly prove reciprocal. Also, the writing would be on the wall for that person’s political future with either party.
The old KMT defined Taiwanese-ness in a way that doesn’t match the world youngsters are exploring right now. I believe in the saying that identity is one of the most difficult things for any human to define. But I’ve never come across anyone worse than your average Taiwanese in doing so. Do you know of any other community or nation that doesn’t want - or cannot - say who they are, Michael?
It’s correct to blame China for many of Taiwan’s woes. Only, China is also as predictable Kaohsiung’s winter air pollution. Take Taiwan’s latest setback, for example: Taichung losing the Youth Games. The support of DPP lawmakers for the Olympic name referendum gave China the perfect opportunity for yet another round of bullying. Both sides of the Strait openly declare that politics should not interfere in sports, although both do so. Isn’t it telling that even Japan did not see it fit to support Taiwan? They aren’t exactly known as a nation that’s easily bullied by China.
I’m relieved the Taiwan public can propose democratic changes through referenda. But that public’s response rate is, at best, lukewarm. Isn’t it baffling that so few of Taiwan’s 23 million souls seem willing to support any democratic effort if it even has the slightest chance to upset China?
Many here seem to believe that the “status quo” can be maintained indefinitely. In the face of China’s blatant nationalistic rhetoric, isn’t that one of the most unrealistic aspirations?
When someone here is perceived as stirring Taiwan’s democratic values too eagerly (e.g. through a referendum), most of the public retreat to what they know best. And that, to put it rather cynically, equals moneymaking, bargaining for 888-numberplates and avoiding 4th Floor apartments to keep out any bad luck.
I am grateful, indeed to my grandparents who raised me during the apartheid era. They explained and repeatedly demonstrated one thing: if you have a plea for the world to come to your help, you need to show that world some balls first.
What Taiwan tends to do recently is the opposite. There are some brave individuals out there, but the larger public seems too preoccupied. Not easy when you have over a million Taiwanese being financially dependent on China, of course.
After May 2016, hope turned to disappointment for many, and later yet to apathy. Sometimes I wonder whether the continuing demise of the KMT is really such a good thing. It seems the Taiwanese (and the DPP) know all to well who they are fighting against, but have forgotten what they are fighting for.
I’ve been here for 23 years as a teacher. And I can’t help but notice the change in my students’ attitudes towards politics: a growing apathy. I don’t blame them, really. But in a time young people, in particular, should show at least some courage, they also start to shrug their shoulders to China’s increasing arrogance. We shouldn’t have too many illusions as to the value of opinion polls asking people whether they’d be willing to “fight” for their freedom.
Haven’t we, parents and teachers, led youngsters in adopting an attitude of apathy towards their identity, their ‘Taiwanese-ness? No, they don’t accept being bullied or annexed by China. But they are hugely influenced by our uninvolved and lazy attitude towards Taiwan’s identity. South Africans have a most fitting expression for this: a slapgat attitude.
Johan
What did you expect? That China will let its territory go without a fight?
ReplyDeleteChina is stronger than it was 10 years. Its more than 4 times stronger than it was 20 years ago. This is an irresistible trend of China regaining its natural state as the biggest and most powerful country in the world. Last 200 years were an anomaly. A period of unusual weakness. But that period is over.
Another laughable wumao. But at least his grammar is coherent.
ReplyDeleteP.S. The PRC isn't the Tang Empire, and Taiwan was never a territory of either.