China Ponders MILITARY ACTION As Response To US Legislation On Taiwan

A widely-read and a rather provocative mouthpiece for Beijing quoted Chinese observers who said the country would have no choice but to respond with “counter moves” if the U.S. were to press ahead and elevate its relations with Taiwan.  And one of those countermoves could include military action.

The legislation, known as the Taiwan Travel Act, is upsetting the Chinese. It came into effect Friday after President Donald Trump signed the bill and added to already bow tight tensions and a fear of a war. The Taiwan Travel Act allows US representatives to meet officials from the self-ruled island of Taiwan, but the Chinese government believes the newly signed legislation is a direct threat to them.

China has also recently threatened Taiwan for agreeing to be cordial and diplomatic with the US, saying the island’s independence will not be tolerated.

China’s threat to Taiwan is ratcheting up fears of a third world war. A comment by the Chinese government saying they will “never tolerate Taiwanese independence” has prompted fears an all-out invasion is imminent.

The chilling threat was made by Premier Li Keqiang as top Chinese officials met in Beijing for the annual meeting of parliament on Monday. “We will never tolerate any separatist schemes or activities for Taiwan independence,” Li Keqiang said. He also stated that China will promote the peaceful growth of relations across the Taiwan Strait and “advance China’s peaceful reunification. We will remain firm in safeguarding China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and will never tolerate any separatist schemes or activities for Taiwan independence.” -SHTFPlan

China should and will take military action if the US decides to press ahead with the legislation designed to encourage high-level contact with Taiwanese officials, according to a report by state media outlet The Global Times.  Liu Weidong, a researcher at the Institute of American Studies of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the Chinese army would resume its military probes circling the island and send more military vessels and airplanes if any “Taiwan independence” secessionist forces perceive the U.S bill as a pro-independence signal.

In response to the bill, China said Saturday that it “firmly opposes” the move and demanded the U.S. “correct its mistake,” according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s website. The new legislation comes on the heels of president Donald Trump’s calls for tariffs and reduced trade imbalance with China.  It also comes shortly after the Chinese president, Communist dictator Xi Jinping gave himself the go-ahead to remain in power for as long as he wants. There are about 3,000 delegates to China’s National People’s Congress, and theoretically, they can vote any way they want. But in its history, it has never vetoed a proposal by China’s Communist Party.

China Issues Threat To Taiwan Heightening WW3 Fears

China’s threat to Taiwan is ratcheting up fears of a third world war. A comment by the Chinese government saying they will “never tolerate Taiwanese independence” has prompted fears an all-out invasion is imminent.

The chilling threat was made by Premier Li Keqiang as top Chinese officials met in Beijing for the annual meeting of parliament on Monday. “We will never tolerate any separatist schemes or activities for Taiwan independence,” Li Keqiang said. He also stated that China will promote the peaceful growth of relations across the Taiwan Strait and “advance China’s peaceful reunification. We will remain firm in safeguarding China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and will never tolerate any separatist schemes or activities for Taiwan independence.”

According to The Daily Star, China has been infuriated over plans made by the US to strengthen ties between Washington and Taipei. The plans would allow Taiwan bosses to enter the US “under respectful conditions” and meet their American counterparts. Officials had already told Taiwan on Friday the country would only get burnt if they relied on the US, adding to the warnings from state media about the risk of war.

Beijing considers democratic Taiwan to be a wayward province and integral part of “one China”, ineligible for state-to-state relations and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control. China’s hostility towards Taiwan has risen since the election to president of Tsai Ing-wen from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party in 2016.

Global tensions have continued to increase in recent years, with many signaling China as the country to watch.  Fears heightened as China’s Communist dictator Xi Jinping just gave himself the go-ahead to remain in power for as long as he wants. There are about 3,000 delegates to China’s National People’s Congress, and theoretically, they can vote any way they want. But in its history, it has never vetoed a proposal by China’s Communist Party.

There is already massive dissent online because of Xi’s power grab, and China’s censors are working hard to squash it. They temporarily (although nothing is as permanent as a tempory government edict) banned the use of the phrases “personality cult” and “my emperor,” and also references to Winnie the Pooh; a character long used to mock Xi Jinping based on an apparent resemblance. The letter ‘N’ has also been banned by the Chinese government because of it’s reference to the number two, signaling two terms in office. But they Chinese have kindly lifted the ban on the letter as of Monday.

Volcanic Activity And Earthquakes In The Ring Of Fire Spark Fears Of ‘The BIG ONE’

The Ring of Fire appears to be awakening in the past few weeks.  As deaths, injuries, and evacuations occur around the volatile area, new fears have arisen that the “big one” could occur any day now.

Many have warned that the Ring of Fire’s activity could produce a large enough earthquake to completely destroy the entire California coast. So far, nothing of the sort has happened, but new and violent volcanic activity is forcing the fear back to the forefront of people’s minds.

According to The Sun, scientists are now sounding the alarm as well.  Scientists have warned that the frequent seismic activity, which has already claimed lives, could mean a huge quake is on the way.  A new study out of California says that the cluster of tremors around the planet’s so-called Ring of Fire (the horseshoe-shaped geological disaster zone) could indicate the “big one” is due to hit, TheDaily Mail Online reports.

The research, published in the journal Science Advances, involved analysis of 101 major earthquakes around the Pacific Ring of Fire between 1990 and 2016. Thorne Lay, a professor of Earth and planetary sciences at UC Santa Cruz, said, “Based on the clustering of earthquakes in space and time, the area that has just slipped is actually more likely to have another failure.” He added that despite the stress on the fault being lowered to below failure level, “the surrounding areas have been pushed towards failure in many cases, giving rise to aftershocks and the possibility of an adjacent large rupture sooner rather than later.”

“Taiwan, Guam, and Japan are far apart relative to the static stress interactions, but one could examine the seismic shaking from an earlier event in the region of a later event to see if small earthquakes were triggered as the seismic waves went by which could have led to a cascade of failures culminating in a larger event,” said Lay.  “Until that type of analysis is done, causal connection between the events is very speculative. Earthquakes are happening frequently in the Ring of Fire, and some apparent space-time clustering could arise from purely random (non-interacting) activity.”

More than 180 people were injured and 17 people killed when a 6.4 magnitude quake struck Taiwan’s east coast on February 6.

On Tuesday a series of tremors reaching magnitudes as high as 5.7 shook the US island territory of Guam.

Since February 11, three earthquakes have hit Japan, the largest measured at 4.8 on the Richter scale and was 103 kilometers from Hachijo.

But scientists have reassured the public, saying such activity is normal for the Ring of Fire and dismissed speculation of a “domino effect” triggering a bigger quake. –The Sun

While some scientists look to discover the possibility of an unexpected “big one,” many others are urging the public to remain calm and not be concerned.

Toshiyasu Nagao, head of Tokyo-based Tokai UNiversity’s Earthquake Prediction Research Centre, told Japan Times, “The Pacific Rim is in a period of activity. In terms of volcanic history, however, the current activity is still regarded as normal.”

Chinese President to Cement Power as China Takes Role as Global Superpower

(Op-Ed ANTIMEDIA)  — On Wednesday, the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China will begin. The week-long event, during which President Xi Jinping will further cement his control of the government, comes at a pivotal time for the Asian superpower.

Countries in the region — and, indeed, much of the rest of the world — are increasingly looking to China for guidance. For years, in fact, the media has painted the image of China overtaking the United States as the dominant force on the planet.

As Anti-Media has previously observed, evidence suggests that under a freshly anointed Xi, a post-Congress China may be ready to fully embrace this role of world leader. An article from its state-run Xinhua News Agency last week, titled “China offers wisdom in global governance,” speaks directly to this shifting geopolitical tide.

But Anti-Media has also explored China’s glaring problem in the midst of all its power projection. As the country seeks to present a strong, unified front to the international community during the Congress — the “One China” it very much wants to be recognized — Hong Kong and Taiwan continue to push for independence.

Last Tuesday, the president of Taiwan, which China views as a breakaway province, used a speech at the capital city of Taipei to, as Reuters wrote, “warn that the self-ruled island would not bow to pressure” from Beijing.

“Today, on our National Day, we should remember that democracy and freedom are rights that only came following the joint efforts of all Taiwanese people,” said President Tsai Ing-wen. “As a result, the government must make the utmost effort to safeguard Taiwan’s values of democracy and freedom, as well as our way of life.”

In the speech, which focused on her ideas for building a better Taiwan, Tsai says her administration is dedicated to improving the Taiwanese military. In doing so, the delicate line the leader must walk, even while holding her ground on the issue of self-determination, is clear to see:

“Although we are strengthening our military capabilities, we do not seek war. We remain committed to maintaining peace and stability both in the Taiwan Strait and across the region. Meanwhile, we will continue to safeguard Taiwan’s freedom, democracy, and way of life, as well as ensure the Taiwanese people’s right to decide our own future.”

Tsai went on to say that Taipei and Beijing have thus far been able to “maintain the basic stability of cross-strait relations” and that she hopes both sides can be “pragmatic and realistic” in future exchanges.

A large chunk of Tsai’s speech, however, was focused on how Taiwan is working to get as far out of China’s sphere of influence as possible — precisely what China doesn’t want. Specifically, Tsai discussed the New Southbound Policy (NSP), described by Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA) on Wednesday:

“The NSP seeks to increase cooperation with Southeast Asian and South Asian countries, as well as New Zealand and Australia, as a means of reducing Taiwan’s trade and investment reliance on China.”

CNA was reporting on the fact that President Tsai just pledged to establish a $3.5 billion fund to assist countries involved in the NSP project. In her Tuesday speech, Tsai said flatly that the purpose of the NSP is to help Taiwan achieve a “more advantageous position in international society.”

It will be interesting, to say the least, to see what happens following the Party Congress. If a more forceful China decides to flex a little muscle, the stubbornly independent Taiwan could make for a very convenient target.

Op-Ed / Creative Commons / Anti-Media / Report a typo

China Desperately Silencing Opposition Ahead of Critical Communist Conference

(ANTIMEDIA Op-ed) — It’s no secret that China has placed an incredible amount of importance on 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and the Asian superpower has and is taking steps to ensure the affair, set for October, goes off without a hitch. From Reuters on Thursday:

“China is tightening security for next month’s twice-a-decade Communist Party Congress, canceling police leave in Beijing, limiting tourism to Tibet, and clamping down on the spread of political rumors.

“High-level meetings in China are typically accompanied by a security crackdown — as well as uncharacteristically smog-free blue skies — with the stability-obsessed party not wanting to run the risk that anyone or anything offers a distraction.”

Continuing, Reuters notes that Chinese authorities and their enforcers in the streets will tolerate no political protests leading up to and during the event:

“Some 2,000 delegates will converge on Beijing for the Congress, staying at hotels across the city, and security will only get tighter as its opening nears, meaning any protests will be quickly shut down.”

This is because China puts a high value on perception, national unity, and loyalty to the party. Perhaps this is best evidenced by the actions of the country’s leader in his urging of Chinese artists to direct their work toward the betterment of China. From state-run China Daily on Thursday:

“President Xi Jinping called on the country’s cultural workers and artists to focus on the people during their cultural creation work, thereby providing strong spiritual power for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

“Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remark in a recent instruction on the country’s building of spiritual civilization.

“Noting that culture is the bugle for the progress of the times, Xi said that the country’s cultural workers and artists should work for the people and socialism. He encouraged cultural workers and artists to boost innovation, be dedicated and make continuous efforts to produce excellent creations.”

Highlighting Xi’s tightening grip on power — at the Congress, the leader is expected to appoint his own trusted people to key positions in the government — a member of the influential Standing Committee, Liu Yunshan, backed his president’s play while speaking at the same seminar as Xi on Wednesday:

“The cultural workers and artists should learn and implement the president’s culture and art thoughts, devote themselves to cultural creation, and make more excellent cultural products, he said.”

And while China’s political leaders encourage unity, the country’s Thought Police are intensifying efforts. It’s long been recognized that China is more aggressive than Western nations in policing its cyberspace, but ahead of the Party Congress the government is taking sharper aim at dissidents. Also from China Daily on Thursday:

“Chinese cyber police and leading tech firm Baidu have launched an online service to control the spread of rumors.

“The service is imbedded [sic] into the country’s top search engine, and all news portals and online forums that Baidu operates.”

All this focus on harmony and a “One China” is precisely why the independence movements in Hong Kong and Taiwan are such a thorn in the superpower’s side. How can China promote strength and unity to the world when two of what it considers its territories want to break away?

The problem is perfectly encapsulated in China’s current relations with Singapore, as Reuters highlighted on Thursday:

“China wants to improve its military relationship with Singapore, but is resolutely opposed to any country having defense ties with self-ruled Taiwan, China’s Defence Ministry said on Thursday, obliquely criticizing Singapore’s Taiwan links.

“China is suspicious of the city state’s good military relations both with the United States and Taiwan, claimed by China as its own.”

The current Taiwanese government is a remnant of the one that was forced to flee the mainland to escape the communists in 1949. While the country is recognized internationally as an independent state, China has never accepted that reality.

Hong Kong, on the other hand, is not a country but a “special administrative region” of China that retains a high degree of autonomy. That’s been the situation since 1997, following Britain’s decision to relinquish control of the area in the 1980s.

But concerns over China exerting its influence over the region were there from the start and eventually culminated into mass, coordinated protest rallies that began in September of 2014.

The desire for independence has only gained strength since then. According to the South China Morning Post, on Thursday — the third anniversary of when the protests kicked off — the co-founders of the movement “implored the people of Hong Kong to continue to fight for universal suffrage and defy what they say is Beijing’s resistance to democracy in the city.”

China wants to present a unified front at the upcoming National Congress. It wants to prove there really is only “One China,” as it’s always said. The problem with that, as is becoming increasingly clear, is that not everyone under the country’s supposed control feels the same way.

Op-ed / Creative Commons / Anti-Media / Report a typo

Asian Nations Send Both Optimistic, Chilling Messages to Trump on Inauguration Day

January 20, 2017   |   James Holbrooks

(ANTIMEDIA) As Barack Obama left office on Friday, some Asian nations took the opportunity to voice their position on key issues as incoming U.S. President Donald Trump prepared to give his inaugural address.

Japan, for instance, will seek to strengthen its alliance with the U.S. and work hand in hand with the Trump administration.

“The Japan-U.S. alliance has been, is and will be the cornerstone of our country’s diplomatic and security policies,” Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in a speech before parliament. “This is an immutable principle.”

Going further, he stated: “I am aiming to visit the United States as soon as possible to further fortify the bond of alliance together with new President Trump.”

Many in Tokyo were concerned that Trump, as his comments have indicated, will begin demanding higher prices from other nations for security services provided by the U.S. Friday’s remarks from Prime Minister Abe seem to suggest Japan is willing to negotiate on this topic.

One significant barrier remains in the way of smooth U.S.-Japan relations, however, and that’s the two nations’ position on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Trump wants out of the trade agreement and Japan, as reiterated by Abe on Friday, fully supports it. Only time will tell if the U.S. and its formerly staunch Asian ally can truly cooperate on this front.

Meanwhile, Taiwan — a nation that’s having contentious relations with regional superpower China on the issue of sovereignty — made it known it seeks peaceful cooperation with China in the coming days.

From Reuters:

“Taiwan aspires to create a ‘new era’ of peace with China as military action cannot resolve problems, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said in a letter to Pope Francis, lauding Taipei’s peaceful intentions at a time of tension with Beijing.”

The Vatican has always maintained diplomatic ties with Taiwan, and Tsai wrote the Pope, she says, because she aspires to “live up to [his] words” in her term as the first female president in her ethnic part of the world.

“I urge the governing party across the strait, along with the governing party in Taiwan, to set aside the baggage of history and engage in positive dialogue,” Tsai wrote.

Taiwan will not, however, back away from its desire to remain autonomous:

“Taiwan and mainland China were once embroiled in a zero-sum conflict that caused tension in the region and anxiety among our peoples. In contrast, today people on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait enjoy stable lives and normal exchanges under peaceful separate governance.”

China also went on the record Friday by way of a state-run newspaper editorial, which struck a far more conciliatory tone than in previous articles.

The Global Times editorial called on incoming President Trump to “show a sense of responsibility that matches his power and clearly acknowledge the obligation of a US president for world peace and stability” and suggested a primary goal should be to make the U.S. ‘more prosperous and the world more peaceful and stable.’”

The editorial also noted Trump’s “strategic wisdom” and his “ambitious plan to revive the US economy in constructive ways.” Describing Trump’s team of advisers as a “solid foundation,” the piece suggested the incoming president’s administration should “project an aura of humility” as it works toward its goals.

All of this sounds great on the surface, but it doesn’t negate the fact that Trump has, thus far, proven himself to be devoutly anti-China or that the Southeast Asian nation has no intention of backing away from its One China policy — not to mention the fact that Japan, which has just voiced its desire to strengthen its alliance with the U.S., is currently locked in a South China Sea-style dispute with the superpower that could easily turn violent.

The Global Times was certain to make note of such possibilities and advised Trump and his team to “avoid the mistake of going too far.” And to avoid any misunderstandings, the editorial made clear precisely what it was referring to:

“‘America First’ can be a loud slogan, but it cannot serve as a real strategy. Intensifying conflicts with the outside world can hardly win the US any interests, and Trump should realize the value of cooperation.”

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This article (Asian Nations Send Both Optimistic, Chilling Messages to Trump on Inauguration Day) is free and open source. You have permission to republish this article under a Creative Commons license with attribution to James Holbrooks and theAntiMedia.org. Anti-Media Radio airs weeknights at 11 pm Eastern/8 pm Pacific. If you spot a typo, please email the error and name of the article to edits@theantimedia.org.

China Flexes Its Muscles on Singapore, Taiwan, and US over Military Ties

January 11, 2017   |   James Holbrooks

(ANTIMEDIA) Beijing — While Taiwan faces regional pressure to adhere to the one-China policy — due, in large part, to its budding friendship with the United States — the city-state of Singapore has found itself in a similar position as China continues to invoke sovereignty on an issue of seized military hardware.

From a report by the International Business Times on Monday:

“China has warned Singapore to be ‘cautious with their words and actions’ and reminded the city state to respect its one-China policy after it demanded the return of its military vehicles that have been detained at a Hong Kong port since November 2016.

“The nine Singapore Armed Forces Terrex Infantry carriers were impounded by Hong Kong customs on 23 November 2016 when they were being returned to Singapore after a military exercise in Taiwan.”

Hong Kong authorities have continuously stated certain proof must be provided before the equipment will be returned, an action Singapore says has no basis in international law. This back and forth prompted Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang to issue a warning at a press briefing on Monday.

“I hope the relevant parties can be cautious in their remarks and actions,” the Foreign Minister said. “It is hoped that all relevant parties, including Singapore, can earnestly respect the one-China policy, which is the fundamental prerequisite for China to develop ties with other countries.”

And it’s the “ties with other countries” part that has China on edge.

As Anti-Media highlighted on Monday, Taiwan has fallen under increased pressure from China to cease its burgeoning relationship with the United States. Protocol established by the one-China policy says foreign leaders must go through China if they wish to collaborate with Taiwan.

This is because China views Taiwan as a province, not a sovereign nation. As such, tensions in the region have steadily increased since the Taiwanese people elected a pro-independence president, Tsai-Ing wen, and that president began opening up dialogue with the United States.

The seizure of Singapore’s military hardware by Hong Kong authorities in November amounts, for many analysts, to a warning from the Chinese mainland. Singapore, which has already shown support for the U.S. directly by backing its stance on the overarching South China Sea dispute, should remember its place and adhere fully to the one-China policy.

As reported by the South China Morning Post:

“Diplomatic observers said the tough response from Beijing was a warning to Singapore not to meddle in the maritime dispute and to cut off military ties with Taiwan.”

Such “tough responses” are likely to continue as China, seeking to solidify its regional dominance, refuses to back away from its one-China policy.

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This article (China Flexes Its Muscles on Singapore, Taiwan, and US over Military Ties) is free and open source. You have permission to republish this article under a Creative Commons license with attribution to James Holbrooks and theAntiMedia.org. Anti-Media Radio airs weeknights at 11 pm Eastern/8 pm Pacific. If you spot a typo, please email the error and name of the article to edits@theantimedia.org.

China Just Sent the Most Chilling Message yet over US-Taiwan Relations

January 9, 2017   |   James Holbrooks

(ANTIMEDIA) Beijing — On Sunday, directly on the heels of Taiwanese President Tsai-Ing wen’s controversial meeting with U.S. lawmakers in Houston, a state-run Chinese tabloid ran an editorial warning that China would “take revenge” if the U.S. abandoned its one-China policy.

“Trump is yet to be inaugurated, and there is no need for Beijing to sacrifice bilateral ties for the sake of Taiwan,” writes the Global Times. “But in case he tears up the one-China policy after taking office, the mainland is prepared.”

The editorial goes on to state that “Beijing would rather break ties with the US if necessary” and that continuing collaboration between U.S. and Taiwanese officials will “ruin Sino-US relations and destabilize the entire Asia-Pacific region.”

Later in the piece, however, the Times discards pretense and assumes a more threatening tone:

“If Trump reneges on the one-China policy after taking office, the Chinese people will demand the government to take revenge. There is no room for bargaining.”

The opinion of the Global Times, as Reuters points out, does not necessarily equate to the official stance of the Chinese government. It is, however, a state-controlled outlet, and the editorial undeniably reflects the mounting tension between China and the U.S. over the issue of Taiwan.

China views the nation of Taiwan — whose foundation was laid in 1949, when the official Chinese government was forced to flee to the island to escape the Communists — as an official Chinese province. This is the root of the one-China policy, which the U.S. has long adhered to.

This all began to change when incoming President Trump broke protocol, as highlighted by a Washington Post piece on Monday.

“Tensions regarding U.S.-Chinese-Taiwanese relations have been high since early December,” the Post writes, “when President-elect Donald Trump accepted a phone call from Tsai, breaking with nearly four decades of protocol in speaking directly with the Taiwanese leader.”

The situation intensified during the weeks that followed, most notably due to the Taiwanese president’s announcement that she would stop over in Houston to meet with Texas lawmakers on her way to Central America. This prompted the Chinese General Consul of Houston to send a letter to one of those lawmakers, Senator Ted Cruz, asking him not to meet with Tsai.

The senator ignored that request, however, and he and Governor Greg Abbott met with Tsai on Sunday. Within hours, the Global Times editorial warning the U.S. against taking actions counter to the “obligation of US presidents to maintain China-US relations” had been published.

In a statement, however, Senator Cruz made it clear the United States will not be told with whom it can and cannot meet.

“The People’s Republic of China needs to understand that in America we make decisions about meeting with visitors for ourselves,” the statement reads. “This is about the U.S. relationship with Taiwan, an ally we are legally bound to defend. The Chinese do not give us veto power over those with whom we meet. We will continue to meet with anyone, including the Taiwanese, as we see fit.”

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This article (China Just Sent the Most Chilling Message yet over US-Taiwan Relations) is free and open source. You have permission to republish this article under a Creative Commons license with attribution to James Holbrooks and theAntiMedia.org. Anti-Media Radio airs weeknights at 11 pm Eastern/8 pm Pacific. If you spot a typo, please email the error and name of the article to edits@theantimedia.org.