Taiwan: Foreign Policy: Taiwan set to drop unification with Mainland China, aka Communist China

D.J. McGuire of China e-Lobby sums up the new foreign policy moves of Taiwan's president Chen Shui-bian in this way: "Chen stands by pledge to scrap moribund unification group: Why are so many people worried about the fate of the National Unification Council which hasn't met in six years, and its National Unification Guidelines, which predate the island's transition to democracy? Because scrapping them, as Taiwan's elected President Chen Shui-bian wishes to do, would get the Communists upset. Luckily, Chen, who called the guidelines "absurd products of an absurd era" (BBC), is made of sterner stuff" (China e-Lobby, Feb22,2k6, fourth item).

An earlier day's post (Jan31,2k6, sixth item):

Taiwan's President repeats vow to change constitution, adds plan to scrap unification body: President Chen Shui-bian announced "three major tasks for the year ahead - finalizing a new constitution ahead of a referendum next year; applying to join the United Nations under the name Taiwan; and considering scrapping guidelines on unification with the communist mainland, as well as the body that created them" (Cybercast News). The first two have long been priorities for Chen; the last one would end the National Unification Council, whose "guidelines" predate the island's move to democracy.

Before the newest turn in developments, McGuire had already followed up his reference immediately above, by citing Communist China's reaction (China e-Lobby, Feb8,2k6, third item):

Communist China rips Taiwanese President: Chen Shui-bian, the fellow the Taiwanese people elected and re-elected as their President, was dubbed a "troublemaker and saboteur" (BBC) for his affirmation of plans to change the island democracy's outdated constitution, to try to join the United Nations, and to scrap the de facto defunct National Unification Council.

We should't forget that the secession of Taiwan from the phoney "reunification" trap set by Communist China is a cause that affects the Commies also in regard to Tibet, East Turkmenistan, and other subjugated areas where self-determination and free speech have been wiped out along with their advocates. Hong Kong is always in a state of insecurity, and the new Catholic Cardinal has been told by ComChina to shut up about HK's democracy. Inner Mongolia still has advocates of the restoration of its identity. Outer Mongolia is sandwiched between ComChina and Russia, surviving only because of the latter two states' animosity toward the other's gain of territory. They both need Mongolia as a buffer zone, and Mongolia has reached out to the US as a kind friendly monitor of its status as an independent democratic state.

So, what about Canada's attitude toward ComChina and Taiwan, you ask.

Communist China is Canada’s biggest foreign aid recipient, even though [ComChina] has made multi-billion dollar bids for Canadian companies. Again, the tendency of Conservatives is to support Taiwan. In the whole, Canada is now likely to support U.S. initiatives in the UN, unless those initiatives would be counter to specific Canadian interests.

It's not much from Canada, really. But there's not much from the USA either, if you read the live-links below. I support a free Taiwan and its democratic tradition and institutions. I call for Canadian and American recognition of Taiwan, and seating the self-governing independent country in the UN under the the name "Taiwan," as the Chen government has espoused. - Politicarp

• US Foreign Policy toward Taiwan
• Communist China controls USA demeanor toward Taiwan
• Chen only outflanking independentists in his own party, says Keith Brasher, NYT via International Herald Tribune
• ComChina denounces Taiwan 'secessionists'