Massive Anti-China March in Taiwan!

[Drake Tungsten]

In its editorial, the China Times said Taiwanese people had displayed their anger at the law by taking to the streets of Taipei Saturday for the rally, which police estimated at a revised 275,000. They had previously estimated at 240,000.

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2005/mar/28/yehey/opinion/20050328opi7.html

[mindseye]

The demonstration as an event itself dramatically highlights the difference between the two forms of gov't.

Originally posted by Dr Strangelove

What would happen if the people of Taiwan simply renounced Chinese culture? Suppose they all agreed to speak English, French, German, Japanese or whatever and changed all the names in the country to corresponding ones in that language? Suppose they then waited a generation or two?

Coincidentally just tonight the Taiwanese guy I'm seeing was pointing out to me the people around us (in the restaurant and on the subway here in Shanghai) who were speaking Taiwanese. He says it's his primary language when he's back home.

When Taiwanese speak Mandarin, they are easily recognizable by their accent and vocabulary differences, so this is already happening.

[The diplomat]

Originally posted by Sava
if China is so bad, shouldn't we boycott American businesses that do business with China?

yes, we should. Unfortunately, when it comes to US foreign policy, capitalism is more important than morality. It's all about making $$$$$$$$$$$.

[Az]

Diplomat, you dirty communist.

[The diplomat]

Originally posted by Azazel
Diplomat, you dirty communist.

I feel insulted.

Just because I think that profit can get in the way of morality does not make me a commie.

[Az]

Of course it does.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by The diplomat
Just because I think that profit can get in the way of morality does not make me a commie.

Yes it does.


Initiating the Diplomat project!

[The diplomat]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Yes it does.

How does it make me a communist?

I don't believe profit is evil. I said profit is sometimes wrong if it leads to immoral actions. There's a big difference!

Furthermore, I am firm believer in private property and capitalism. I believe in supply and demand. I work to produce a good or a service which others need, and which I can sell my good or service at a price that represents the value of my work. That's capitalism in a nutshell, and I think it is the best economic system in the world. Communism, on the other hand, is based on state ownwership where goods and services are produced and distributed according to the needs of the community not the individual. I reject that model!

Again, just because I believe that capitalism can sometimes lead to evil if it is abused does not make me a communist. It just makes me a capitalist with a sense of morality.

[Az]

Are you convincing me, or yourself, diplo?

I don't believe that profit is necessarily evil, too.

Capitalism is first and foremost the belief that the market will take care of anything.

You seem to object to having a market trade with China, because they're evil. ergo, you don't think that the market will take care of everything. Now, it's already a question of degrees.

Again, just because I believe that capitalism can sometimes lead to evil if it is abused does not make me a communist. It just makes me a capitalist with a sense of morality.

Are you listening to yourself?

What will happen next? You'll start convincing yourselfus that Staling is evil?

[Spiffor]

Az, please be gentle

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Azazel
Capitalism is first and foremost the belief that the market will take care of anything.

First, capitalism, as used since at least the time of Marx, is NOT an ideology, its a form of social organization. Neo-liberalism, classical economics, libertarianism, etc are beliefs - capitalism is not.

But lets assume an ideology of "pro-capitalism" - are you saying that Adam Smith (the 18thc figure, not the poly poster) was not pro-capitalist? he didnt think the market could take care of EVERYTHING.


Now can we get back to Taiwan?

[TCO]

Tawain is a de facto independant country. They have geographic seperation, continuity, even a sea coast. They have their own army. Chinese law, police etc. have no power in Taiwan. They are not a part of China. (Nor is China a part of them. Sorry Chaing Kai Shek.) The whole "not announcing independance" is a fig leaf.

Nor should we push them become part of China. If they want to be free, let them. Why go backwards?

We should continue to trade with China. Not doing so, serves little purpose. The Euros will just trade with them in any case. Trade sanctions are an abysmal method of influencing policy. China will not invade Taiwan so long as they realize that militarily they would get their asses kicked. That's a much scarier stick than some trade sanctions.

[Odin]

Originally posted by The diplomat


yes, we should. Unfortunately, when it comes to US foreign policy, capitalism is more important than morality. It's all about making $$$$$$$$$$$.

Diplo and I AGREE on something!?!

[Dinner]

Organizers said they had met their goal of attracting 1 million protesters, although the police estimated the crowd at more than 500,000.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050327/news_1n27taiwan.html

[Drake Tungsten]

Organizers said 1 million people joined the show of people power against Beijing's military threat, but Taipei police estimated the crowd at just over 240,000.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2005/03/26/massive_protest_in_taiwan_against_china_law/

The agency does not mention the number of demonstrators at the Taipei rally, which Taiwan police estimated at 240,000.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200503/s1332167.htm