I find it satisfying that while the so-called super powers routinely either turn a blind eye or pay lip service or worse, bend over backwards to accommodate China's bullying behaviour, of all the mighty countries, Lithuania showed some spine (irrespective of whether the reasons were based on principles or something else).
Lithuania evacuates its embassy in China
141–150 of 727 posts
Re: Lithuania evacuates its embassy in China
#142Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Then refused Hitler offer to join attacking Poland. Which is more than what the ostensibly anti-fascist USSR did.
> Which is more than what the ostensibly anti-fascist USSR did. The funniest part is that when the USSR started the invade the other half of Poland right after Germany started, none of the allies declared war on the USSR while they had a protection treaty with Poland in the first place.
I mean, of course. The alternative was that Germany takes all of Poland and gets to be more agressive against the allies. The Soviets taking half of Poland was a massive benefit for the allies.
Re: Lithuania evacuates its embassy in China
#143Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's like they want the rest of the world to hate them.
Authoritarian regimes love fostering us vs the world narratives; it helps them maintain control.
It's not a bad trick. Lots of historical examples of an external enemy bringing internal stability. It often ends in genocide, sure, but it does seem to work!
Re: Lithuania evacuates its embassy in China
#144Earlier quoted context omitted.
The Chinese government had demanded Lithuania’s remaining diplomats in Beijing hand in their diplomatic IDs to the foreign ministry to have their diplomatic status lowered. The move raised concern in Vilnius that the officials could lose diplomatic immunity, putting their safety at risk if they remained in China. [1] After Lithuania allowed Taiwan to open a representative office in Vilnius under the "Taiwan" name, an…
Genuine questions: 1. Do diplomats normally lose immunity after an embassy is demoted to a consulate (or something of a lower status)? 2. Did China have a history of detaining diplomatic personnel, disregarding their immunity?
Diplomats only lose immunity a certain time after being declared persona non grata.
China doesn't have such a history.
Re: Lithuania evacuates its embassy in China
#145China would be much better off if they just gave up on the whole Taiwan charade. I understand how badly they want to put Taiwan under thumb like they did HK, but Taiwan is really the only issue I foresee with potential to derail China's progress.
And then HK, then Tibet, then ...
I doubt that China doesn't think of this possibility.
Re: Lithuania evacuates its embassy in China
#146China would be much better off if they just gave up on the whole Taiwan charade. I understand how badly they want to put Taiwan under thumb like they did HK, but Taiwan is really the only issue I foresee with potential to derail China's progress.
Edit: apologies to anyone who read my comment analysing the situation and assumed that I’m some kind of warmonger. At no point did I advocate for Taiwan to be annexed. I merely pointed out that China really wants to and they’re stronger than ever in 2021. Shoutout to the dude who implied I’m a Nazi for saying this.
Why would they give up on this “charade” as you put it? They’re closer than ever to annexing Taiwan in 2021. They hold every card.
- Diplomatic advantage. Only 14 tiny, inconsequential countries + the Vatican recognise Taiwan as a country. Everyone else acknowledges that there is “One China”.
- Military advantage. Taiwan struggles to man their military. In any case the investment in the PLA in the last 10 years means no military can stand up to it except for America. Except America is at peak war weariness with the shambolic withdrawal from Afghanistan. They’re comfortable with Sabre rattling but it’s clear they won’t draw the sabre from the scabbard.
- Economic advantage. Every country in the world needs China. China doesn’t need any single country. See how they bullied Australia and Canada successfully. This dependence on China is at an all time high. It could maybe diminish, but it’s unlikely.
And Taiwan is a more compelling prize than ever.
- Political incentive. The leader who integrates Taiwan will enjoy unquestioned power for the rest of their life. Xi Jinping is often described as the strongest leader of China since Mao. This would be his opportunity to become more powerful than Mao by doing something he couldn’t. Unify China and importantly, face down America and show the world who’s #1.
- Economic incentive. 2020 and 2021 has made the world realise exactly how important Taiwan is to the world economy. TSMC in particular the most pivotal supplier for most of the worlds critical industries. If Taiwan could be annexed and TSMC brought under state control, China would have a bargaining chip of unparalleled power.
Re: Lithuania evacuates its embassy in China
#147Earlier quoted context omitted.
Well, one should note that The Epoch Times is brought to you by the propaganda arm of the anti-CCP Falun gong.
Assuming you believe the the propaganda spread by the CCP about falun gong to begin with.
You only need to believe them to realize they're an insane racist cult.
Re: Lithuania evacuates its embassy in China
#148China can get away with their diplomatic isolation of Taiwan due to the large economic power imbalance between the two. We never saw this with North /South Korea, nor West/East Germany. Countries recognized both as sovereign. There was no "Korean Seoul" or "German Bonn" competing at the Olympics, etc. If anything, West Germany or South Korea could've done what China is doing now but they chose not to.
> There was no "Korean Seoul" or "German Bonn" competing at the Olympics, etc. Are you aware that both China and Taiwan claim to be the legal government of both countries? Because that's completely different from Germany or Korea, where the states recognized each other.
The two Koreas also claim to be the government of the entire Korean Peninsula as well. Both countries have their "Reunification Ministry" There have been meetings between the two sides, but that's a far cry from diplomatic recognition.
Re: Lithuania evacuates its embassy in China
#149Earlier quoted context omitted.
While true, it is often ignored that combined EU does possess a huge, highly advanced and well trained military force. So more than that I'd hope EU can then put its squabbling aside and respong in unison to any military provocation as well.
Europe combined have more people and spend way more on military than US. On GDP Europe is lower, but they also have more than 2x the amount of people: https://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/compare/European-U...
And anyone who has played a couple of games of Risk knows how much that is worth...
Re: Lithuania evacuates its embassy in China
#150China would be much better off if they just gave up on the whole Taiwan charade. I understand how badly they want to put Taiwan under thumb like they did HK, but Taiwan is really the only issue I foresee with potential to derail China's progress.
Why would they give up when they are winning? I personally would be really surprised if Taiwan is still independent in fifty years. I wouldn't be surprised if the situation comes to a head much sooner than that.