Taiwan plans to build 500 cruise missiles

Why does everyone assume Taiwan would target Chinese population centers?

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Hi Walter, I would ask why everyone assumes the DPP would be able to get this or any other other measure through the KMT dominated DUMA.

As for the rest of you:

I have no doubt, but all but the most extreme minority of Pro Independance supporters have realised that President Chen,s recent warnings and outbursts are the ravings of a Lame Duck President and that the DPP are a party with nothing to say and nowhere to go. The best they can offer is Isolation and Marginalisation, the worst War and Hostile Invasion.

I realise that many Taiwanese will not be prepared to admit this yet in public, but after spending a long dark night of the soul are now admitting this to themselves.

Ultimately what is 500 conventional Cruise Missiles but just 500 bombs. In WW2 Air Raids of 500 bombs often failed to warrent reporting in the news.

What would 500 bombs do to a big city like Shanghai? Nothing that China would not be able to repair within a year and nothing that would halt the business and development of that city.

What would 500 bombs do to a Military concentration across the straits? Delay it perhapse, cause some damage and temporary bottlenecks. What did the V1's and V2's aimed at the allied Beacheads of Normandy and the Ports of Southern England do to stop the liberation of Europe in 1944?

China's missiles pointing at Taiwan are only significant as; if used, it would knock out Taiwans defences long enough for landings to commence. What follow up would Taiwan attempt against the Fujianese coast?

Ultimately its pointless, this is why the KMT will vote the missile measures out, this is why the KMT will win all forthcoming elections culminating with the Presidential elections in 2008, this is why the KMT and CCP will rerach an accord and commence a process of reconciliation.

Trust me, there is not going to be a Armed Invasion of Taiwan:coffee:

500 Cruise missiles could do a lot of damage if used properly.

However, the problem is that they probably just can't use all 500 at once.

vincelee said:

Taiwan fielding 500 cruise missiles........I don't know what to say. If Taiwan goes for counter value and bomb Shanghai and Guang Dong, it would piss a lot of people off, CMC included.

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I don't think that they would - they'd go after military installations if they could reach them. After all however many cruise missiles they'll get, they'll always be behind the PRC in terms of numbers (of whatever). So they'll have to use what they have wisely.

The thing about the Three Gorges' was a bit of propaganda from one person in the military, as far as I can remember. Taiwan might just do it, but only if it was about to get completely squished - it wouldn't do it at the start.

More evidence that Chen is losing the plot bigtime today.

He has made a speech in which he has announced the scrapping of the Chinese Unification Council and has openly called for a referendum to join the UN as Taiwan - not even as ROC.

America has reacted with surprise and given no words of support and have warned Chen about unilateraly seeking to change the status quo.

I have not read any official PRC reaction. I would hope they simply reiterate the official Chinese Policy to any attempt to declare UDI, but otherwise dismiss Chen's words as the unimportant rantings of a powerless non-entity. Vibrant threats would of course simply play into Chens hands both at home and abroad. Doubtless this is what he is looking to achieve.

Lets hope that the PRC can demonstrate a more sophisticated response.

Chens just being stupid. A few more moves like these and not even america will support him. With no spares or extra weapons comming in, Chens screwed when the PLA get in high gear.

SampanViking said:

More evidence that Chen is losing the plot bigtime today.

He has made a speech in which he has announced the scrapping of the Chinese Unification Council and has openly called for a referendum to join the UN as Taiwan - not even as ROC.

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Not at all - it's an indication that he's being realistic.

The council has not met in many years. And the Pan Blue-controlled legislative has cut its budget to a trivial amount of money. So why should he keep it running? If the KMT want to keep it, they should have let Chen have the money to run it properly. Finally he has had enough, so their playing politics has backfired on them. It's too late for them to claim they want it to stay as a symbol - they demonstrated how little they cared for it by cutting the funding.

Lol, and obviously he's going to joint the UN as Taiwan. The leadership renounced its claim to the mainland ages ago, and the UN can't have two Chinas in it. So obviously he would have to do that.

Hello Fu Man Chu

The council has not met in many years. And the Pan Blue-controlled legislative has cut its budget to a trivial amount of money. So why should he keep it running? If the KMT want to keep it, they should have let Chen have the money to run it properly. Finally he has had enough, so their playing politics has backfired on them. It's too late for them to claim they want it to stay as a symbol - they demonstrated how little they cared for it by cutting the funding.

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Nice try at spin, not too bad at all.....sadly this old dog has just been around the block too many times to fall for it.

Governments control committes and provide the will to make them work, not oppositions. If the funding of this committee is indeed a measure blocked by Pan Blue (I have absolutly no evidence of this one way or the other) we can safely assume it is because its purpose would have been perverted under the hostile DPP administration, whilst it is easier to let it hibernate during this time and then re-invigorate it again, once a sympathetic government is elected.

Not at all - it's an indication that he's being realistic

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Politics is the art of the possible. This is just fantasy of a Hitleresque Bunker mentality that will only appeal to the most parochial Taiwanese residents.

After spending an afternoon perusing the PRC and ROC English language press, I am left in no doubt of the following.

Bush is very angry with Chen for trying to rock the boat with PRC at a time when US is trying to garnish every ounce of goodwill.

Commentators on both of the Straits are critical of Chens general stance (PRC has largely ignored Chens specific statements) talking instead of the public desire for better relations and more direct contacts and reminding the Taiwanese of $300+ Billion trade surplus Taiwan generates from its largest export market the PRC.

So overall PRC has done the bright thing and ignored Chen rather than be drawn by him. Result Chen having alienated the Bush Administration is now more Isolated then ever before.

Quack Quack!!!:roll:

Here is the official response to Chen by the CCP, as lifted from todays Xinhua. I for one am very gratified by the PRC's statemanlike and non belligerant reaction.

BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- A State Council official says the recent remarks about "Taiwan independence" by Taiwan's "leader" and his stubborn adherence to secessionist stance prove again that he is the troublemaker and saboteur of the cross-Straits relations, and peace and stability of the Asian Pacific region.

Li Weiyi, the spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council made the remarks here Wednesday at a regularly scheduled news conference.

Over the last year thanks to joint efforts of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, the cross-straits relations have developed toward stability and peace, Li said, adding the compatriots on the two sides were encouraged by the good momentum, which has also gratified the international community.

"However, the Taiwan leader ran counter to this momentum," Li stressed, saying "after his provocative New Year speech, the leader made "Taiwan Independence" remarks again while compatriots on the two sides were celebrating the Spring Festival.

Chen Shui-bian proposed on Jan. 29 in his Lunar New Year speech the termination of the "National Unification Council (NUC)" and the "National Unification Guidelines," formulation of a "new constitution" and "the application for United Nations membership under the name of Taiwan." In this speech, he also broke his former promises and challenged the one-China principle which is commonly abided by the international community

On May. 20, 2000, Chen promised to not declare Taiwan independence, incorporate the "two states" idea into its constitution, change the so-called country's name or to hold a referendum on Taiwan independence, and not to abolish the "NUC" and the "National Unification Guidelines."

Chen advocated to speed up his so-called "constitutional reform", in an attempt to realize "Taiwan's de jure independence,"Li said.

"Our stance on developing cross-Straits relations is consistent, firm and clear," Li stressed, adding "we will unswervingly adhere to the one-China principle, never give up efforts of peaceful reunification, nor change the principle of pinning hope on the Taiwan people and never compromise on opposition to secessionist activities."

"Taiwan compatriots are our brothers and sisters and we will not change our solemn promise made to them because of the deliberate provocation made by the Taiwan authority leader," Li said.

"We will try our utmost efforts to do every thing which is conducive to the interests of Taiwan compatriots, cross-Straits exchanges, peace across the Taiwan Straits, and peaceful reunification of the motherland," Li said.

"We hope that Taiwan compatriots can make joint efforts with us to propel peaceful and smooth development of cross-Straits relations," he said. Enditem

SampanViking said:

Here is the official response to Chen by the CCP, as lifted from todays Xinhua. I for one am very gratified by the PRC's statemanlike and non belligerant reaction.

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Yes, I'm sure the Taiwanese people will really appreciate Beijing meddling in their affairs again...... :roll:

Hey Fumanchu, are you trying to mock the Chinese with your name, on a Chinese forum? If so, you need to take it some where else.