China angry with U.S.; fears Kosovo recognition will hearten Taiwan Chad Groening - OneNewsNow - 3/14/2008 10:00:00 AM
Chinese lanternAustralian defense analyst Greg Copley says Beijing is fearful America's decision to recognize Kosovo's independence from Serbia might encourage the island democracy of Taiwan to follow Kosovo's lead. For well over half a century, the political relationship between long-time U.S. ally Taiwan and the Communist-led People's Republic of China has been contentious at best. Both have claimed to be the sole legitimate government over all of China, and threats of military intervention -- with reunification the stated goal -- have been commonplace. But political developments in another part of the world have angered the Beijing regime, according to Greg Copley, president of the International Strategic <http://www.strategicstudies.org/> Studies Association. The United States' decision to recognize Kosovo's independence from Serbia, he believes, has aroused the anger of Chinese leaders. "[B]ecause that has given enormous encouragement to the current president of Taiwan who is seeking independence for Taiwan, so that Taiwan is not the Republic of China anymore but an independent state of Taiwan," he explains. Copley shares that he is also concerned it could destabilize the entire East Asian region. Still, Copley believes China cannot afford a disruption to U.S.-China relations, because its economy is so dependent on American exports.
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