"Dalai Lama leads prayer for Taiwan typhoon survivors; China scraps plans to highlight its ties with island" by Peter Enav, Associated Press | September 2, 2009
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan - The Dalai Lama led thousands of Taiwanese in a colorful prayer service for the survivors of Typhoon Morakot yesterday during a visit that has provoked an irritated but relatively measured response from China....
Just a coincidence?
See: Banks the Backdoor to China War
Slow Saturday Special: Floods and Fires
Since taking office, President Ma Ying-jeou’s 15-month-old administration has jettisoned his predecessor’s anti-China policies, bringing Taiwan’s economy ever closer to the mainland’s, and speaking frequently in favor of a peace treaty with Beijing.
As a result, relations between Taipei and Beijing are at their highest point since the two sides split amid civil war in 1949. China reviles the Dalai Lama because he has a large international following and has managed to keep its heavy-handed rule over Tibet in the spotlight....
With help from the agenda-pushing newspapers.
I'm still waiting for that spotlight to shine on Palestine.
His arrival in Taiwan is particularly galling to China, because Beijing regards the island as part of its territory, and resents activity that highlights its lack of control over the island’s politics.
I wonder if the U.S. will be described that way when they host Ahmadinejad at the U.N. later this month -- if hey let him in.
Yesterday, the spry-looking 74-year-old.... wearing bright red and gold-colored robes and speaking with his characteristic energy, he assured the audience it was possible “to vanquish the atmosphere of the disaster....’’
I guess the operation was a success then.
The Dalai Lama is broadly respected on this mostly Buddhist island of 23 million people, and local media have given considerable attention to his visit. Some pro-China demonstrators have protested his appearances, but they are in a distinct minority.
I don't think the MSM should be the one deciding: Boston Globe Finally Covers a Whole Protest
China itself has tried to focus its ire on Taiwan’s opposition, which issued the invitation to the Tibetan spiritual leader. Ma signed off on the invitation, but in an apparent gesture of goodwill to China, he said he would not meet the spiritual leader.
Translation: OUR ASSETS and CONTACTS on the ISLAND decided to stick this finger in the peaceful Chinese-Taiwan eye.
Problem is, THEY ARE TOO SMART for THAT!
A spokeswoman for Ma’s Nationalist Party acknowledged yesterday that the cancellation of two high-level visits by mainland officials to Taiwan and the nixing of ceremonies to celebrate expanded air service across the 100-mile-wide Taiwan Strait appeared to be related to the Dalai Lama’s visit.
“We do not exclude the possibility that [they] could be linked,’’ said Chen Shu-rong.
Still, China specialist Chao Chun-shan of Taipei’s Tamkang University said it was unlikely that Beijing would retaliate further because of the Dalai Lama’s visit - or that Ma would give it cause to do so.
“Both sides have showed restraint,’’ he said. “Both have handled the crisis well so far. I don’t think things will get out of control.’’
Translation: CHINA DOESN'T WANT WAR!
It wants HARMONY and PEACE, whether it be North Korea or Taiwan!
--more--"
