Chinese Leader Accepts Olive Branch

(And this heading might as well be the headline for an Associated Press story on China I read in today's Houston Chronicle.)

Didn't get a huge amount of sleep last night and I have to help Mrs. Van Horn get ready for an out-of-town trip, so I'm highly unlikely to be blogging again tonight.

Lord, I'm all China'd out after yesterday's lengthy post, but this is unbelievable. There's a reason the Chinese are so audacious: Our news media pass them blank moral checks on a daily basis! The leader of Taiwan's opposition party had high-level, closed-door talks for two hours with China's President today. I must comment on a few passages from this one. They're unbelievable!

Typical of today's left-wing media practice of treating essential context as if it is merely so much fluff, a few minor points are tossed in, obiter dictum, rather than receiving the prominence they warrant. I'll rectify that by leading off with these silly details.

Lien [Chan, the opposition leader,]"also did not persuade the Chinese communists to reduce their missile threat or their hostility toward Taiwan," a statement said in reference to the estimated 600-700 ballistic missiles positioned along the Chinese coast facing Taiwan.

Taiwan is a major potential flashpoint in Asia. Though the United States has no official ties with Taiwan, it is the island's main arms supplier and could be drawn into any conflict.

China also has been building ties with other parties in Taiwan that oppose formal independence.

And:

Tensions between Taiwan and China have escalated since March, when Beijing enacted an anti-secession law authorizing military action if Taipei moves toward formal independence.

Lien appealed to both governments to "maintain the status quo" — a reference to the unspoken deal under which Beijing refrains from attacking so long as Taiwan doesn't declare formal independence.

Um. What the hell is anyone from Taiwan doing this for?

Lien favors unification [why?] and Beijing appeared to be trying to encourage flagging pro-unification sentiment in Taiwan amid a campaign by Chen to promote a notion of the island as a distinct nation [italics mine]. Chen's election in 2000 put an end to decades of Nationalist rule in Taiwan.

So the AP agrees with China that Taiwan is not independent, and Lien's "status quo" isn't even that: It's a prelude to total capitualtion! Why would you favor unification with a country that is threatening to invade? Since when has Lewis Carroll been in charge of writing history?

I wonder what Lien Chan's digs are like. If they're nice, perhaps I'll rob him at gunpoint so he'll invite me to move in permanently and hand me the deed. (Lien, you can just email me the invite if you read this post. I'm one tough nut job.)

And Lien's willingness to appease is matched only by Hu's audacity and the AP's capacity to treat this as a serious diplomatic exchange!

Hu said Lien's trip "has already injected new vitality" into relations between Beijing and Taipei, which have no official ties despite surging trade.

"We should show the world that Chinese from both sides of the Taiwan Strait have the ability and the wisdom to resolve our contradictions and problems ... and to promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," Hu said.

After emerging from nearly two hours of closed-door talks, they issued a joint statement promising to work together to try to end hostilities.

Lien said that commitment was just a suggestion from his party, which doesn't control Taiwan's government.

"We should show the ... wisdom to resolve ... problems.... (!)" This is coming straight from the source of these problems! And get a load of Lien. Stick your head into the maw of a lion and then say, "Just a suggestion!"

All the facts about China's aggression appear in this article, but their moral import is completely ignored and this farcical encounter is treated as a serious give-and-take. Wow!

This story could have been a lot shorter and closer to the truth had it read something like this:

Chinese Nationalist Lien "Neville Chamberlain" Chan, upon hearing that China intended to annex Taiwan and had aimed numerous missiles at his native land, concluded that Chinese President Hu Jintao had invited him for afternoon tea. He immediately dropped everything, booked a flight to Beijing, and rushed to the presidential palace. Hu, a man known to hate surprises, nevertheless greeted his unannounced visitor warmly. "I was very impressed with the way he snapped to, clicked his heels together, and saluted me when we first met." Hu said. "Such men can be quite useful. Our party has always accommodated men like Lien. Of course I will honor his request to make 'How high?' the provincial motto of Taiwan."

Shortly after the impromptu meeting, Lien and Hu made a joint appearance. Cameras showed Lien peeling a "Kick Me" sign from the seat of his trousers. Lien thanked Hu for what he called, "this exquisite ceremonial paper cushion," and pocketed the memento. Lien then stood directly in front of Hu and turned to face the crowd. He bowed deeply. According to some observers, he made a sharp motion while fully bowed and nearly lost his balance. Other observers noted that Hu also jerked around the same time, and seemed slightly unsteady afterwards. Amid wild applause, both men walked off the stage with slight limps.

Hu later dismissed questions about his health by stating, "I don't know what you're talking about." At a press conference, Lien reassured reporters, saying, "During the appearance, I did experience a loss of balance, but I knew I was fine. I immediately thought, 'This, too, shall come to pass.'"

The only cloud on this sunny day was an unexpected loss experienced by the Chinese President. Some time shortly after the joint appearance, the venue was sealed off for several hours and searched. Hu reportedly is missing a prized possession: the right member of a pair of steel-toed industrial boots manufactured by vanguard workers in the time of Mao. Reports of what the government are calling the "apparent theft of a national treasure" have precipitated a wave of anti-Japanese protests throughout China. Hu insisted that the protests were illegal and that the tanks would roll as soon as Lien was done polishing them.

Well, at least I feel somewhat better now! Sheesh!

-- CAV