Bush speech will turn heads in Asia (A must read!)

[Deja Q]

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,5075849,00.jpg http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17271770%255E25377,00.html

Excerpts in italics:

"By embracing freedom at all levels, Taiwan has delivered prosperity to its people and created a free and democratic Chinese society."

Try Oligarchic plutocracy, George... then you might be right...

"Men and women who are allowed to control their own wealth will eventually insist on controlling their own lives and their future," he said.

Like our airline execs convincing judges that it's okay to take employees' pension funds so they can maintain their golden parachute for example?

Bush reaffirmed the US's one-China policy, but also cited the Taiwan Relations Act, under which the US is pledged to protect Taiwan's security, and said the US was opposed to "unilateral attempts to change the status quo by either side". (emphasis added...)

Flip-floppin' is the place to be...

It will be interesting to see how the Chinese leadership responds, as in reality Bush did nothing more than describe the incontrovertible reality of Taiwan's democratisation. It's just that in recent years it's become politically incorrect to do so.

However, the next section of Bush's speech will annoy the Chinese even more. In it, the US leader, while praising China's economic liberalisation, calls for further political liberalisation, saying: "As China reforms its economy, its leaders are finding that once the door of freedom is opened even a crack, it cannot be closed."

In other words, altering the status quo...

:wow:

[SoCalDem]

1. Here's hoping they don't "call in the debt"

:(

[ewagner]

2. Remember what Nixon was alledged

to have posted at his desk? It was an inscription that said:

When you have them by the balls
Their hearts and minds will follow.

The US and China are desperatly grasping each other by the economic balls right now. We're a vital customer which China cannot afford to lose and the United States is at China's mercy when we need someone to purchase our debt.

Bush* obviously thinks he has the upper hand (or is that lower hand?) and can posture and pontificate to China all he wants without fear. The question is: What if he's wrong?

[Benhurst]

3. It was Lyndon Johnson who said, " If you've got 'em by the balls,

their minds and hearts will follow."

But the maIn thrust of your post is well taken. If Bush is wrong, we're in trouble.

:hi:

[ewagner]

4. Thanks for the correction

I worked as a Young Republican in Nixon's '68 campaign and the story was passed around then.....

(footnote: in Florida in 1968 Republicans WERE the progressives.)

[Deja Q]

8. And when was the last time he was actually right?

A long time ago, I should think...

[YDogg]

5. I'd bet he is wrong. Bush ain't exactly no scholar of furrin' relations.

[ewagner]

6. Wonder if the Chinese

Prime Minister will ask him (again) if he's willing to trade California for Taiwain?

[AnnieBW]

7. Fighting Representatives?

I know that there's one or two Asian countries where we occasionally hear about the representatives disagreeing so violently with each other that they get into fistfights. Is Taiwan one of those countries? Maybe that's what * means by "embracing democracy"? Giving your opponent a knuckle sammich.