Spring Break
Keeping aggressions in check
EU arms embargo against China must be retained despite France's wishes
By: David Shoemaker
Issue date: 2/9/04 Section: Opinion
In his effort to pander to the Chinese, Chirac has backed China's effort to scare the Taiwanese out of deciding to defend themselves against Chinese aggression. Sadly, the United States and Japan have also shown their opposition to the referendum.
But the Chinese and the other countries backing their opposition to the ballot have failed to mention that the same ballot will also have a proposition to open negotiations with the Chinese, according to the BBC.
Since the Chinese have repeatedly stated that Taiwan is a renegade province, they should welcome talks to reintegrate Taiwan peacefully into China.
It seems odd that if Taiwan is part of China, China would point 496 missiles at what is ostensibly its own territory. Obviously, China believes Taiwan is a threat. What is new is the conscious decision by western-style democracies to abandon a fellow democracy for a few dollars.
The United States, European Union and Japan should seriously reconsider their positions on the issue. Although the desire to preserve peace in Asia by powers such as the United States and Japan is important, they should not forget their friends in Taiwan when China waves its emerging market in their faces. But the French have just proven once again their mercenary nature.
In Taiwan, like Iraq, France has shown that it values economic gain over the freedom of peoples and countries other than its own.
But the Chinese and the other countries backing their opposition to the ballot have failed to mention that the same ballot will also have a proposition to open negotiations with the Chinese, according to the BBC.
Since the Chinese have repeatedly stated that Taiwan is a renegade province, they should welcome talks to reintegrate Taiwan peacefully into China.
It seems odd that if Taiwan is part of China, China would point 496 missiles at what is ostensibly its own territory. Obviously, China believes Taiwan is a threat. What is new is the conscious decision by western-style democracies to abandon a fellow democracy for a few dollars.
The United States, European Union and Japan should seriously reconsider their positions on the issue. Although the desire to preserve peace in Asia by powers such as the United States and Japan is important, they should not forget their friends in Taiwan when China waves its emerging market in their faces. But the French have just proven once again their mercenary nature.
In Taiwan, like Iraq, France has shown that it values economic gain over the freedom of peoples and countries other than its own.
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