Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Strategies & Market Trends : Booms, Busts, and Recoveries -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: RealMuLan who wrote (42857)	12/9/2003 9:24:30 PM
From: elmatador	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74559

Bush calls on Taiwan to drop referendum plan By Guy Dinmore in Washington Published: December 9 2003 19:58 \| Last Updated: December 9 2003 19:58 I'm in agreement with you, YZ. This administration is struggling. They are putting some make up the economic front to divert from the real situation. The last thing this administration needs is another situation for them to hanbdle badly and get their approval rates down into the cellar of the earthworm. President George W. Bush bluntly told Taiwan on Tuesday to drop its plans to hold a referendum next year that would be interpreted as a unilateral move towards independence. The message to President Chen Shui-bian was given added force by Mr Bush who was speaking with Wen Jiabao, the Chinese premier, at his side after the pomp of a red carpet welcome to the White House complete with 19-gun salute. Profiting from much-improved Sino-US relations, Mr Wen's first visit to Washington had been expected to focus on problems surrounding the US's $100bn annual trade deficit with China, as well as co-operation in the war against Islamist militants. Instead, it was Taiwan and North Korea's nuclear weapons programme that dominated talks. Mr Bush said they spent much time discussing China's efforts to host a second round of six-party talks on Pyongyang's nuclear weapons. A US official, reacting to the latest demand by North Korea, expressed concern that the process had failed. China's role in keeping North Korea engaged while the US is focused on Iraq remains paramount for the White House in an election year. Taiwan's supporters in the US have accused the Bush administration of sacrificing its commitment to global democracy and its close relationship with a democratic Taiwan to appease China. "We oppose any unilateral decision by either China or Taiwan to change the status quo," Mr Bush told reporters. "And the comments and actions made by the leader of Taiwan indicate that he may be willing to make decisions unilaterally to change the status quo, which we oppose." Taiwan's president has infuriated mainland China and rattled the Bush administration by declaring his intention to hold a referendum on March 20 that would call on China to withdraw missiles aimed at the island and renounce the use of force. Mr Chen is also seeking re-election on the same day. Mr Wen was more forceful. He accused the Taiwanese president of using democracy as an excuse to call for a so-called "defensive" referendum to split the island from China. "Such separatist activities are what the Chinese side can absolutely not accept," the Chinese premier declared. But he said China remained committed to peaceful reunification "so long as there is a glimmer of hope". There is a concern in the White House and the State Department that the Pentagon is pursuing such an intimate military relationship with Taiwan that Mr Chen is developing a false sense of security. Mr Bush's warning to Mr Chen carefully avoided language that would signal a major change in US policy, but it did make clear US willingness to intervene directly in Taiwanese politics to pre-empt a crisis developing. Speaking on the White House lawn before formal talks with Mr Wen, Mr Bush began by speaking of their partnership in the "war on terror". He then turned to trade, urging China "to fully integrate into the rules and norms of the international trading and finance system". "The Chinese government takes this problem seriously," Mr Wen said of the huge US deficit in their bilateral trade. He said he would offer five new proposals to help cut the US trade deficit, but did not elaborate.

To: RealMuLan who wrote (42857)	12/9/2003 10:20:09 PM
From: BubbaFred	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74559

Smart enough to know about destiny and where the ground work for the future lies. Carlyle parachutes into mainland China Message 19487081 "...has ties to the Carlyle Group, which itself is tied to the Bush oligarchy as well as the Bin Laden group..." Message 19576647 "The chips are manufactured at foundries in China operated by Grace Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. and Shanghai Hua Hong NEC Electronic Co., a joint venture of Shanghai Hua Hong Group, NEC Corp. and Jazz Semiconductor Inc. Jazz Semiconductor was established by U.S. investment firm Carlyle Group L.P." Message 19525394

To: RealMuLan who wrote (42857)	12/10/2003 5:29:23 AM
From: que seria	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 74559

Yiwu: I doubt Bush is telling off Taiwan because he thinks China will invade. I see two factors. First, his warning implicitly acknowledges the reality that China has made great strides toward a freer life for its people, and is moving ever farther away from the barbarism of the Communist era. (It doesn't care what the rulers call their party; it matters what they think and how they act). Thus, rejoinder of Taiwan wouldn't be the crushing of freedom under the jackboot of tyranny, as it would have before. The U.S. doesn't have a compelling national interest in preventing the displacement of a democratic "breakaway province" by the merely authoritarian government of the nation from which it broke away. Freedom matters more than democracy. From all I read China is only less free than Taiwan. Second, the U.S. needs China's cooperation regarding North Korea, purchases of U.S. gov't debt and trade barriers. When a nation insists (both the gov't and the people) upon living beyond its means, it must make nice with creditors. Even if NK were just farming rice, the debt would make a negotiator out of any U.S. president focused upon reelection--and does that ever describe Bush.