Ultra Senior Member
Total Posts: 9185
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I'm not surprised, really 
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Ultra Senior Member
Total Posts: 9185
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quote:
By Daniel McCarthy
Wednesday, Sep 01, 2004,Page 8
The recent supplication of Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (李顯龍 to Beijing comes as no surprise. Singapore has a long and consistent tradition of suppressing human rights and democracy among its own people in the interest of maintaining a dictatorship and advancing commercial interests. It should be no surprise that Singapore's leader would be willing to verbally sacrifice Taiwan in order to curry favor with a companion dictatorship that represents a major market. Anyone who reads the Straits Times cannot mistake the continued anti-Taiwan, pro-China tirade that Singapore's leading newspaper echoes.
But we can easily see that Lee's words are empty. He stated that no European or Asian country would recognize an independent Taiwan. How can he know this? Certainly he does not. He was only making the statement to placate the frothy, emotional ultranationalism that has reared its ugly head in Beijing these past few years. That part of Lee's statement, and probably the rest as well, can be relegated to the junkyard of political propaganda.
But if we look at the substance of the situation, we see that Singapore has built facilities to service aircraft carriers, obviously for US use. And Singapore has an agreement to provide logistical support to the US military in times of conflict, without regard to the identity of the other parties in the conflict. Further, both Singapore and the US are basing equipment and supplies in northern Australia for joint use in a Pacific conflict. Singapore has tied its security completely to the US, so if the US defends Taiwan, Singapore will follow.
Although we know that Singapore will help the US defend Taiwan if fighting breaks out, it is nonetheless disappointing that Singapore's freshly crowned prime minister does not have the character to stand by the free and democratic people of Taiwan in words as well as action.
Daniel McCarthy
United States
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Ultra Senior Member
Total Posts: 6430
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can anyone explain the whole china-taiwan situation to me?
it's obvious that most people from taiwan are not too keen on rejoining mainland china, so why would bejing try to force them? that's like britain trying to get canada back. no thanks!
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Ultra Senior Member
Total Posts: 2030
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In the first place, Singapore is far from being a dictatorship. Does the author even live here? What "long and consistent tradition of suppressing human rights and democracy among its own people" is he talking about? It's just a lot of hot air.
How is it obvious, pieter? Most of the Taiwanese I know don't really care one way or another.
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Ultra Senior Member
Total Posts: 6430
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quote:
Originally posted by evilsaggi:
How is it obvious, pieter? Most of the Taiwanese I know don't really care one way or another.
they keep electing seperatist leaders don't they?
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Ultra Senior Member
Total Posts: 3083
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The article is inaccurate and heavily biased. The writer do not understd the depth of the situation and definitely do not know much abt LSL or Singapore.
Yes Singapore is Lee INC, anyone not blind can see that.
Daughter in law is the most powerful corporate woman from Temasek in SEAsia, Son boss of Singtel, 1 of the largest telcom in SEAsia, son pm cum minister finance, father ex pm and now 80+ yrs old still sits as a minister in cabinet.
However on the reverse, I cant find anyone more suitable to replace them, they are the most capable, brightest and most experienced with sound trackrecord that we have. I think gov is too autocratic but who is there available for me to vote into office??? NO credible opposition leader at all.
Taiwanese are a strange bunch, epecially their media, if u even been there u realise their media concentrate on domestic news rather than international, and most the international r sensational news like natural disaster or hollywood stars. Taiwanese are deep mistake on China policy, think China are using scare tactics and US will come to their aid.
I truely believe China will not hesitate to wage war to maintain their claim over TW should they really declare independence. What LSL said was true and insightful. Anyway Sg is just a red dot on the map we we do cannot and will not influence world events.
This message was edited by Homer on 16 Sep 2004 03:52 PM
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