China irate at Chen's US stopover !

[genmirajborgza786]

China irate at Chen's US stopover

President Chen has been allowed US stopovers in the past
China has protested to the US at plans to allow Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian to stop over in California on his way to Central America.
President Chen will spend the night in San Francisco before travelling on to Nicaragua for the inauguration of President-elect Daniel Ortega.

China sees Taiwan as part of its territory and discourages any diplomatic recognition for Taipei.

The US said Mr Chen's visit was private and simply for transit purposes.

Washington has allowed the Taiwanese president to stop over on US soil in the past, but refused permission last May as he headed for a presidential inauguration in Costa Rica.

Analysts at the time speculated that the refusal was a warning to Mr Chen not to challenge the delicate balance of relations between China and Taiwan.

'Real goal'

China's foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said Beijing had made "serious representations" to the US about Mr Chen's stopover this time.

"We are firmly opposed to any official exchange between Taiwan authorities and the United States," he said in a statement on the ministry website.

TAIWAN-CHINA RELATIONS

Ruled by separate governments since end of Chinese civil war in 1949
China considers the island part of its territory
China has offered a "one country, two systems" solution, like Hong Kong
Most people in Taiwan support status quo


Guide to Taiwan flashpoint

He said Mr Chen's "real goal" was to "undertake activities aimed at splitting China and ruining Sino-US relations", without going into details.

Larry Walker of the American Institute in Taiwan - the de facto US embassy on the island - said they understood Mr Chen's visit to be "private and unofficial, consistent with the purposes of transit".

Mr Chen is expected to spend 17 hours in San Francisco - home to a large and politically active Chinese-American community - before travelling on to the Nicaraguan capital Managua.

Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, are among 24 nations which have diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

The US switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, but is committed to supplying the island with defensive weapons.
source:BBC

 

[genmirajborgza786]

China warning on Taiwan 'threat'

Taiwan's US arms deal has been criticised on both sides of the strait
China has announced plans to upgrade its military, highlighting its dispute with Taiwan as one of several regional security threats.
In a defence white paper, the government said it would focus its spending on strengthening the country's naval and air forces.

But it said China would "not engage in an arms race".

Meanwhile, Taiwanese legislators have been voting on a controversial and much-delayed US arms deal package.

They agreed to send a portion of the $18bn (£9bn) deal to a budgetary committee, the Associated Press reports. From there, it must pass two more readings to become law.

The vote came after opposition parties agreed to vote with the ruling party, after blocking the deal for more than two years.

Increased spending

China's white paper, which runs to nearly 100 pages, looks at the military challenges facing the country, from bolstering its borders and coastal defences to upgrading its weapons.

TAIWAN-CHINA RELATIONS

Ruled by separate governments since end of Chinese civil war in 1949
China considers the island part of its territory
China has offered a "one country, two systems" solution, like Hong Kong
Most people in Taiwan support status quo


Guide to Taiwan flashpoint

It singles out Taiwan as a major threat.

China sees Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened to use force if the island ever moved to declare formal independence.

"The struggle to oppose and contain the separatist forces for Taiwan independence and their activities remains a hard one," the report says.

It also highlights the recent North Korean nuclear test as well as US support of both Taiwan and Japan as regional causes for concern.

The document, which is published every two years, says military spending in 2006 is set to reach $36bn (£18bn), up from $31bn last year - although the US believes the true figures to be much higher.

China's President Hu Jintao this week called for a more powerful navy, which would be prepared "at any time" for combat.

But the report makes clear China "will not engage in any arms race or pose a military threat to any other country.

"China is determined to remain a staunch force for global peace, security and stability".
source:BBC

 

[WangYan]

"China is determined to remain a staunch force for global peace, security and stability".
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This is really China's final target. And Taiwan protected by US is always the one of several regional security threats of China.

 

[EagleEyes]

Taiwan doesn't threat China, instead China claims to take back its land if Taiwan declares independence.

 

[kingkong]

The Taiwanese president has a right
to decide if he is to visit the U.S. China cannot dictate Taiwan
what to do.
Taiwan is independent from Beijing and cannot be part of
mainland China.