Comments on: Paper on Parade: Should the US Grab Taiwan? http://michaelturton.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/paper-on-parade-should-the-us-grab-taiwan/ Mon, 03 Aug 2009 03:05:42 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Michael Turton http://michaelturton.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/paper-on-parade-should-the-us-grab-taiwan/#comment-13768 Michael Turton Wed, 17 Sep 2008 10:02:00 +0000 http://michaelturton.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/paper-on-parade-should-the-us-grab-taiwan/#comment-13768 Yes, US troops were here in the seventies. Beyond that their presence here is a a secret. Yes, US troops were here in the seventies. Beyond that their presence here is a a secret.

]]> By: Terry Lee Hornsby http://michaelturton.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/paper-on-parade-should-the-us-grab-taiwan/#comment-13764 Terry Lee Hornsby Wed, 17 Sep 2008 04:11:00 +0000 http://michaelturton.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/paper-on-parade-should-the-us-grab-taiwan/#comment-13764 Am I incorrect with the idea that US troops were in Taiwan into the seventies? The article implies that they all pulled out after WW II. Though everyone talks about the history of TienMu and MinSheng neighborhood as if it was more recent. Am I incorrect with the idea that US troops were in Taiwan into the seventies? The article implies that they all pulled out after WW II. Though everyone talks about the history of TienMu and MinSheng neighborhood as if it was more recent.

]]> By: Anonymous http://michaelturton.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/paper-on-parade-should-the-us-grab-taiwan/#comment-13737 Anonymous Mon, 15 Sep 2008 19:31:00 +0000 http://michaelturton.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/paper-on-parade-should-the-us-grab-taiwan/#comment-13737 This article is great that it gives background on many of the differences in perception between the BSR and WSR and pointing out that there is a lot of truth in both viewpoints. <br/><br/>Having dealt mainly with barely literate soldiers and greedy petty bureaucrats, it is understandable why many BSR have a condescending view of WSR. <br/><br/>Coming from large modern cosmopolitan cities like Shanghai or Wuhan, it is understandable why some WSR (500,000 persons by the author's estimate) viewed inhabitants of even relatively modern Taiwanese cities like 1940s Taipei as country bumpkins.<br/><br/>WSR never fail to point to former VP Chen Cheng as an example of a WSR who genuinely cared about Taiwan, and tried to improve life on the island and redistribute scarce resources into the hands of ordinary Tawanese.<br/><br/>On the other hand, the article notes that any order issued by Chen Cheng had to be implemented by an entrenched and corrupt bureaucracy with its own agenda so despite Chen's good intentions, Taiwanese never saw many of the benefits that Chen promised. <br/><br/>We know from history that in the late 40s, the US had decided not to intevene in a PRC invasion of Taiwan. It's interesting to note from this article that the Taiwanese at that time also knew the US had written them off and instead of any organized resistance, they were resigned to their fate. <br/><br/>I wonder if it is true that the US did indeed do a cost/benefit analysis on taking Taiwan at that time and decided the costs outweighed the benefits. I've never seen such a thing in the history books I've read. This article is great that it gives background on many of the differences in perception between the BSR and WSR and pointing out that there is a lot of truth in both viewpoints.

Having dealt mainly with barely literate soldiers and greedy petty bureaucrats, it is understandable why many BSR have a condescending view of WSR.

Coming from large modern cosmopolitan cities like Shanghai or Wuhan, it is understandable why some WSR (500,000 persons by the author’s estimate) viewed inhabitants of even relatively modern Taiwanese cities like 1940s Taipei as country bumpkins.

WSR never fail to point to former VP Chen Cheng as an example of a WSR who genuinely cared about Taiwan, and tried to improve life on the island and redistribute scarce resources into the hands of ordinary Tawanese.

On the other hand, the article notes that any order issued by Chen Cheng had to be implemented by an entrenched and corrupt bureaucracy with its own agenda so despite Chen’s good intentions, Taiwanese never saw many of the benefits that Chen promised.

We know from history that in the late 40s, the US had decided not to intevene in a PRC invasion of Taiwan. It’s interesting to note from this article that the Taiwanese at that time also knew the US had written them off and instead of any organized resistance, they were resigned to their fate.

I wonder if it is true that the US did indeed do a cost/benefit analysis on taking Taiwan at that time and decided the costs outweighed the benefits. I’ve never seen such a thing in the history books I’ve read.

]]> By: Anonymous http://michaelturton.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/paper-on-parade-should-the-us-grab-taiwan/#comment-13732 Anonymous Sun, 14 Sep 2008 23:23:00 +0000 http://michaelturton.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/paper-on-parade-should-the-us-grab-taiwan/#comment-13732 good read good read

]]> By: Anonymous http://michaelturton.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/paper-on-parade-should-the-us-grab-taiwan/#comment-13730 Anonymous Sun, 14 Sep 2008 17:31:00 +0000 http://michaelturton.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/paper-on-parade-should-the-us-grab-taiwan/#comment-13730 This article is a gem! Thanks for posting it. It gave me a look into my island roots. Really makes you think what if.. This article is a gem! Thanks for posting it. It gave me a look into my island roots. Really makes you think what if..

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