Taiwan / China : "A Serious Crisis"?

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Monday February 27, 2006 · 4:56 AM PST

2006/02/27 · 04:56

"A SERIOUS CRISIS"?

This is President Chen Shui-bian. He is currently in his 2nd and final term in office. He believes Taiwan should continue to be democratic and free. He believes Taiwan should be internationally recognized for being a free and democratic land. A land that has been governing itself for nearly 50 years.

This is Hu Jintao. He is the President of China. He was appointed to that position by his collegues in 2003. He is a proud member of the Communist Party of China -- the only party allowed in his country. He believes Taiwan is, and always has been part of China, even though Taiwan has been governing itself for almost 50 years.

This is Chen Shui-Bian after being elected President of Taiwan by it's 23 million citizens. During the last election (in 2004), President Chen promised to not do five things:
* declare Taiwanese independence,
* change the national title from "the Republic of China" to "the Republic of Taiwan",
* include the doctrine of special state-to-state relations in the Constitution of the Republic of China, or
* promote a referendum on unification or independence.
* abolish the National Unification Council
This election promise was called "The four noes and one without". The "one without" was reference to the last promise -- not to abolish the NUC. He made this pledge on the condition THAT THE "STATUS QUO" REMAINED BETWEEN CHINA AND TAIWAN.

In 2005, The Peoples Republic of China passed an unprecedented law which stated that if Taiwan were to move towards independence, China's military is legally required to take action. It was met by worldwide scorn and one-million people protested on the streets of Taipei on March 26th, 2005.

On February 28th, 2005, President Chen will announce that he will abolish the National Unification Council. The decision to abolish this committee is not in violaiton of his 4 noes and 1 without pledge, because China has, by virtue of the anti-secession law, CHANGED THE STATUS QUO.

- One Million march in Taipei, Taiwan on March 26, 2005.

China officials have been quoted as saying that if President Chen should take this action of abolishing the National Unification Council, it will create a "very serious situation". With 750+ missiles pointed at Taiwan these words are sobering.

Even still, China's response is somewhat overly dramatic, it would seem.

- Propaganda Poster - "Must Liberate Taiwan"

Since the National Unification Council has been dormant since 2000 (when Chen was first elected).

The National Unification Council, with an annual budget of $35 (USD) doesn't even have enough money to keep a phone line in service.

So, despite what China would have you believe, this is much to do about nothing. It's time that the U.S. recognize it as so. And it's also about time that China keeps it's nose in its own business.