world

China to impose sanctions on U.S. firms selling arms to Taiwan

39 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

39 Comments
Login to comment

It is regrettable so much of the world sees the US-China issue as some sort of football match, with no qualitative difference between the teams or the potential resulting outcome. The US and its allies along the Pacific Rim (S Korea, Japan, Taiwan) have free speech, prosperity and democracy in common - and would not likely give them up. The Europeans think the US will behave "prudently" towards China and the US President should revise its policy and cede influence (and Taiwan?), given "inevitable" rising Chinese power. US policy is already stated, however, for all to see, in the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979. Only an act of Congress will change that - the US will continue to support Taiwan as stated in the act for the foreseeable future. That law could not remain in force were it not for an underlying great sympathy and support among the American people who perceive Taiwan as a democracy, a trading partner, and at its core, a friend of the US for many years. Not so the same with the PRC - Americans are growing more and more suspicious of its motives and actions, from Tibet to lead-laced export foodstuffs. Further, the American people love an underdog - does China or the EU understand this? Alarmingly, no. Will the US really ignore conventional wisdom & support a friendly island in danger? Think England, 1940. Will the US go to the nuclear brink over a small, strategically placed island? Think Cuban Missile Crisis, October 1962. We all know what the PRC wants. Perhaps the experts should more consider the question of what the US will do. Here is the real reason China hasn't made its move yet on Taiwan - if China tries to invade but is militarily rebuffed - even for a few days - long enough that the US and Japanese fleets show up with US aircover - the tide militarily and diplomatically, turns against China, she loses face with her own people, and the Chinese government might fall. It is a chance they are not yet willing to take.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The fact of the matter is that nations are currently selling weapons to cuba, and you don't see the USA freaking out over those sales now do you?

the u.s. did freaked out when the soviets placed all those missiles in cuba. anyway, i doubt cuba can now buy $6.4 Billion worth of weapons...maybe $6.4 Millions worth of kalashnikovs.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Is Cuba threatening to invade the U.S.? So you don't think the U.S. will be upset if someone send "defensive" weapons to Cuba? And why then, even when the U.S. and Cuba have no intention of invading one another? China's reaction is not so hard to understand if one steps out of the U.S.-centric perspective and look at matters from other countries' viewpoints, be it a communist country or otherwise. All I am saying is that China's reaction is sensible and not over-reaction. Any other country in similar situation will posture in similar ways. It was but the only way for China (or any other country in similar situation) to respond.

Well then by that argument China should be freaking out left and right with all the offensive and defensive weapons the US is giving to South Korea, when given the history of the korean civil war and the history of chinese conquering the koreans you would think they would most likely be shaking in their boots over that.

The fact of the matter is that nations are currently selling weapons to cuba, and you don't see the USA freaking out over those sales now do you?

China isn't angry over that, its mad because China wants Taiwan, if they didn't want taiwan they probably wouldn't care at all.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Is Cuba threatening to invade the U.S.? So you don't think the U.S. will be upset if someone send "defensive" weapons to Cuba? And why then, even when the U.S. and Cuba have no intention of invading one another?

China's reaction is not so hard to understand if one steps out of the U.S.-centric perspective and look at matters from other countries' viewpoints, be it a communist country or otherwise. All I am saying is that China's reaction is sensible and not over-reaction. Any other country in similar situation will posture in similar ways. It was but the only way for China (or any other country in similar situation) to respond.

I don't think you can compare that realtionship to China and Taiwan, since there is alot of trade and economic ties between China and Taiwan, with the former "claiming" the latter and threatening it with invasion. The US doesn't have much of an economic relationship with Cuba and certainly isn't claiming it or threatening to invade it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

China is upset because Taiwan has a shopping list of defense military hardware? Hmmm...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If China wish to punish US, it can sell or convert the holding of treasury bonds.

If China did this it would implode from within. Taiwan would be the least of their worries.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

In conventional theory, US is a first world. China is a third world. In the reality, US is a borrower and China is a banker. Making fighter jets and diesel sub marines need a lot of funding. Because of china finance, US firms can afford to manufacture the advanced military hardware. Including the research and development.Therefore China by herself is partly responsible for that consequence.

According the economic theory, printing money instead of using the circulated money will make the currency worthless. If China wish to punish US, it can sell or convert the holding of treasury bonds. It will make all investors lost the confidence about dollars. Markets will get huge panic like 2008. Dollar will become the history of global reserve currency.

Possible replacement of dollar is Chinese yuan. If Chinese money become a global reserve currency, US firms will lose the markets and funding. Some Asian nations are trading with Chinese yuan instead of dollars now. In their view, dollar is unstable and losing the value.

Without proper funding from government or oversea investors, advanced weapons manufacturing firms will no longer afford to survive. They will ask china for forgiveness and finance. If Taiwan want to buy new military hardware, they have to order from European firms. Europe is more independent from China.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Why should China see this as a reason to enhance their own military? Are they afraid of a Taiwanese attack on China? The unelected Chinese dictatorship are nothing but bullies and murderers.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

To ratchet down tensions in the Taiwan Strait, the two parties must sit down and come to agreement as to what degree peace can be engendered. Negotiations on the number of missiles pointed at Taiwan/ROC? should be reduced if Taiwan/ROC? is to maintain present armament status. If Taiwan/ROC? has no defense, any stupid incident could inflame the situation - an agreed defense posture is good for both sides. I don't underestimate the importance of the area, but the PRC better take a second look, for it is vulnerable to misjudgment when a calmer approach to the problem would be a stronger position.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

To be fair, how would U.S. response if China sells "defensive" arms to >Cuba?

I don't think you can compare that realtionship to China and Taiwan, since there is alot of trade and economic ties between China and Taiwan, with the former "claiming" the latter and threatening it with invasion. The US doesn't have much of an economic relationship with Cuba and certainly isn't claiming it or threatening to invade it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

To be fair, how would U.S. response if China sells "defensive" arms to Cuba? Sure - U.S. is a righteous country and hence should not be subject to the barbaric act of encirclement.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Why China is so angry when all Taiwan wants is just a little bit peace >of mind?

Taiwan is the ideological thorn in China's side. Independent of the CCP's rule, democratic and economically succesful, it serves as a potential goal for some "provinces" that may some day feel better to just leave the PRC. Taiwan's very continued existence is a threat to the iron-fisted control that Beijing maintains over China.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The U.S. government is bound by law to ensure the island is able to respond to Chinese threats

Just another trip wire for global war.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Every time Chinese civil war happened, during past thousands of years, it's really huge chaos and I think not much foreigners can comprehend.

Agree. Their history of civil war is much more complicated than Japan's wartime. My understanding is that neither Chiang Kai Shek nor Mao Tse Tung made the mainland China look good for the best interest of all Chinese citizens.

Why China is so angry when all Taiwan wants is just a little bit peace of mind?

They could be more aggressive than is now because they see Taiwan as a subject to Chinese sovereignty rather than a land with nation-state. I hear that China and Taiwan have a subtle but profound ethnic and cultural conflict for many years, although not sure how that stirs up the tension with the US in a diplomatic relationship.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Lol China is going to impose sanctions on US firms that are not allowed by US law to sell its arms to mainland china, wow that was very hard for them to do and it is so going to hurt those US firms who are banned by US law from even selling those weapons to mainland china in the first place, unless china is now saying they have been circumventing US law to get those weapons.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

that China wa our allie in WWII..... Together we fought Japan and won.

Marion...Chiang Kai Shek was our ally. Mao TSe Tung was not. Japan is now our ally, as is Taiwan and SKorea. China is not. Seriously get your facts straight. Chinese troops were killing US Marines and soldiers in the Korean War.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Every time Chinese civil war happened, during past thousands of years, it's really huge chaos and I think not much foreigners can comprehend. We can say it's something like a world war inside China. Last China civil war: 8 million KMT soldiers and 4.5 million Communist soldiers missing or dead; Earlier one( the one Chin dynasty replace Ming): 3 million soldiers died... and every earlier dynasty changing war often caused 10%+ population passed away. FYI, during WWII (China-Japan war), there were 4 million Chinese soldiers and 1 million JP soldiers casualty in China land; The famous 3-countries war in 3rd century killed 5 million soldiers ( Chinese population < 100 million then). There were, are, will be, not any foreign countries can really influence a China civil war! they just never experienced any war of that scale in other places! China communists are idiots if they start the war because they know even they defeat Taiwan early but it doesn't mean they must be the final winner.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Why China is so angry when all Taiwan wants is just a little bit peace of mind?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The Chinese should realize that with NK busy being belligerent and China doing nothing to stop them everybody else is thinking that they need to be able to defend themselves from foreign threats. Maybe if the Chinese were seen as actively promoting regional security the neighbors would be less worried....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

A China, to paraphrase that old goat Ishihara, "Who can say No!" I love it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I like your point Marion. A U.S.-China relationship could be a lot more productive than a U.S.-Japan one I think.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This is something between China and Taiwan. We're getting in between their scuffle. Nothing different then when China gets between something on our agenda. Maybe we have no business there. < :-)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The days of Chiang Kai-shek are over (Thank God) and I for one, feel this was a road we should never have trod. We should give our all, to bring Taiwan and China together - remember Formosa (Taiwan) was the first area we returned to the people of Taiwan as per the Cairo Accords of 1943 and also remember that China wa our allie in WWII..... Together we fought Japan and won.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I kinda feel the union of China and Taiwan are inevitable as well. U.S. should be careful not to step on China's toes these days.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Technology-wise Taiwan is stronger than China, while China has all the muscle and together the could rule all of Asia and then some. I feel the China and Taiwan belong together and this of course will not be popular with Japan, but who cares. I predict this will come to pass and only good can come from this melding of minds.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

China shouldn't meddle with US internal affairs....or however the statement usually goes.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The everlasting weapons race, the business of production and distribution, is so ugly it makes me sick to the stomach.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"The U.S. is bound by law to ensure that the island is able to respond to Chinese threats"

Cripes, how about another country stepping up to the plate here?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Simple, the US can always introduce quality controls on any imports, China would then have million of unemployed within weeks. Everything they produce is tenth rate so they couldn’t meet the test.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If China is going to whine, scream and shake it's rattle, let's give Taiwan the F-16s and Sub plans anyway. Obviously China is incapable of appreciating that we took their freaking "feelings" into account.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

In addition to that what if China doesn't abide by U.S. proposed sanctions against Iran...also a question mark over U.S Treasury worth more than one tri US$ that China is holding as of today??? All out war ?? No, nothing...Media Sensation...things are calm at both ends !

0 ( +0 / -0 )

none

0 ( +0 / -0 )

China is a man with no arms or legs and baseball bat, attempting defend itself against the Yankees. Batter up...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The current ruling regime in China has not now, nor has it ever, ruled Taiwan...It's non of China's business what we do with Taiwan.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Nice - we don't need their plastic crap.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Let them sanction the US. We need their plastic crap anyway. Without our manufacturing contracts they would still be doing laundry in the river. Oh wait, they are still doing that anyway.

Do you think for one hot second that we can't find some other 3rd world country to build our crap? Be happy, China, tha you're getting all this free brain-drain. It's not gonna last.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Anothe case of "the left hand doesn't know what the right hands doing" One wants to embrace China the other one want to #$@# it off.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

suspending indefinitely? ofcourse not... no worries they will resume as soon as weather conditions improve in Beijing !

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Maybe the US will move from Japan to Taiwan now?!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites