tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post8455071200725733552..comments2023-10-22T18:25:39.688+08:00Comments on The View from Taiwan: How to win friends and influence people, Beijing-styleMichael Turtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-21930298936504334632010-05-09T17:38:27.147+08:002010-05-09T17:38:27.147+08:00Koxinga threw the Dutch out of Tainan, but the VOC...Koxinga threw the Dutch out of Tainan, but the VOC stayed in Keelung until 1668. Then they left of their own accord, due to the station being unprofitable. "In despair"? Perhaps.Steven Crook...https://www.blogger.com/profile/08789982069395991375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-31071556723291569752010-05-08T22:58:49.421+08:002010-05-08T22:58:49.421+08:00It appears Taiwan might be trying to crash the par...It appears Taiwan might be trying to crash the party:<br />http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/taiwan-ship-spotted-sailing-in-japans-eez-without-advance-approvalKaminogehttp://kaminoge.livejournal.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-49103685728837424552010-05-08T17:22:44.840+08:002010-05-08T17:22:44.840+08:00Well, I guess it's good you're not on thei...Well, I guess it's good you're not on their short list for foreign policy tsar....Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-20890488591206208562010-05-08T16:52:40.985+08:002010-05-08T16:52:40.985+08:00Yeah, I agree with much of that, D. But I think di...Yeah, I agree with much of that, D. But I think disentangling Japan from the US to the extent possible would be a prime goal of my foreign policy, if the CCP made me foreign policy tsar. And attacking Japanese vessels at sea just doesn't further that goal, even if it creates awe and makes the domestic audience feel good.<br /><br />But yes, i certainly thank Hu for reminding everyone what's really going on.Michael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-91662064683339944712010-05-08T16:22:50.500+08:002010-05-08T16:22:50.500+08:00This is surprising?
But I suggest two modificatio...This is surprising?<br /><br />But I suggest two modifications. First, politics. Getting articles with titles like "Get Used to PLA Navy" is exactly what they want, on the foreign front, increasing "awe" of the PRC, and on the domestic, building pride in the CCP's stewardship of a national strength. Second, let's replace "friends and potential friends" at the end of your post with "adversaries". An adversary is not the same as an enemy, of course. It just means other players in the game, with whom you will be competing. Japan is a Chinese adversary. Taiwan is too, and will continue to be, ECFA or no ECFA, whether Beijing likes it or not.<br /><br />Thus reformulated, we see China as a relatively rational actor ("rational" in terms of their pursuit of what they want, not necessarily in terms of what it is they want). Their interests are just different than ours. So the real question is how do we thwart them, or, better put, push them towards a resolution advantageous to us? Covering our ears and pretending the bell isn't ringing isn't going to do any good. In this sense, we really can thank Beijing for reminding everyone what's going on. Maybe Old Hu was really doing everyone a favor.<br /><br />But cheers for the nice wrap-up of an important group of recent events.Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-74597767960197754672010-05-08T08:46:11.685+08:002010-05-08T08:46:11.685+08:00Now Japanese know how Daiwanese fishermen and peo...Now Japanese know how Daiwanese fishermen and people felt being rammed and bombarded with high pressure sea water!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-39164905558156529242010-05-08T03:45:33.686+08:002010-05-08T03:45:33.686+08:00Hear ! Hear !Hear ! Hear !Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-18530991409374852472010-05-08T01:31:30.518+08:002010-05-08T01:31:30.518+08:00Ah yes, that 'Peaceful Rise' again ... I&...Ah yes, that 'Peaceful Rise' again ... I'd be more worried if China had played option A) but then you can always count on their predictable hubris and little boy pride to throw a spanner in the works.<br /><br />Meanwhile, in the land of Nod, Golden boy Ma plods on with his completely transparent sell out of Taiwan to ensure his re-election funded generously by the gwanxi networks set up by Soong, Lien and Wu. <br /><br />Thing is, though the Taiwanese clearly smell the giant elephant in the room, will they get over their collective fear based myopia to take a stand at the ballot box this December and in 2012?<br /><br />I despair. Watching Ma is like watching a bad conjurer desperately imploring his audience to believe that his trick is really magic.<br /><br />How long before his kowtowing really starts to worry the State Department and he gets called a 'troublemaker' upsetting the delicate regional balance of power? Can't come too soon.<br /><br />One final point: saying one thing whilst doing another is politics par excellence all over the world, and especially in Taiwan. Here's an example at the micro level:<br /><br />1.) 'x' university combines two programs and renames it.<br /><br />2) Admin then fail to tell students that their degree name has changed too.<br /><br />3) Protest from students is studiously ignored (if I don't see or hear it, it doesn't exist) and then refuted on weak and nonexistent grounds.<br /><br />4) Students get fed up with being patronised and ignored and call in the big guns.<br /><br />5) Admin frantically rushes around trying to deal with new MOE order to restore original degree name.<br /><br />6) Admin assures students that they will get their original degree name. Admin refuses to notify all affected students in an official email.<br /><br />7) Students graduates. Result? The ENGLISH degree certificate meets requirements of the students but the CHINESE one shows the new degree name. Which one is on the official record? Which one should the student use on their record when applying for jobs or further study?<br /><br />8) Admin either had a SNAFU or tried to pull a fast one (I suspect the latter) .... <br /><br />Now, about that ECFA ... I'm going with the default position that the promise and reality will be a few oceans apart.Ben Gorenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07215358295386075741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-80687111131548107172010-05-07T23:51:31.413+08:002010-05-07T23:51:31.413+08:00Hey, great post! I failed the multiple choice! C...Hey, great post! I failed the multiple choice! China is just unbelievable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com