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China's Party Chief Tells Army to Be Ready for War
Chinese Communist Party chief and President Hu Jintao has urged the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to prepare for a military struggle, but stopped short of singling out rival Taiwan as the target."We're none too happy with the far flung Isles of Langerhans, y'know." Many security analysts see the Taiwan Strait as the most dangerous flashpoint in Asia. China claims sovereignty over Taiwan and has threatened to attack if the democratic island of 23 million people declares independence. All your commerce and success and that other shit we can't figure out are belong to us! Hu, who assumed the role of military chief less than two weeks ago, told the 2.5-million-strong PLA to "seize the moment and do a good job of preparing for a military struggle," the People's Daily and the Liberation Army Daily said on Thursday. "Do a good job of being ready and, uh, everything! Shine something. Dig holes and all that other stuff you military types do. Salute me, I like that." Hu did not say against whom the struggle might be fought. Insiders say those Isles are looking mighty pekid... But on Wednesday, a spokesman for China's policymaking Taiwan Affairs Office accused Taiwan Premier Yu Shyi-kun of clamoring for war with threats to fire missiles at Shanghai if the PLA attacked the self-ruled island. "If we attack you and you go 'n fire missiles back, well hey, that's pretty darned clamoringous!" Taiwan needed a counter-strike capability, Yu said in defense of plans to buy T$610.8 billion (US$18.2 billion) worth of weapons from the United States. "We dunno what Hu is talking about. He's kinda strange - so we thought it made sense to buy some missiles 'n stuff. Of course we'd fire 'em if he attacked. Like I said - strange dood." He made the remarks hours before thousands of people took to the streets of Taipei on Saturday to demand the government scrap the weapons package they said would trigger an arms race with China and squeeze social welfare and state spending on education. "We want more school 'puters n' freebies, not freedom! Sheesh, politicians!" Tension between China and Taiwan has been simmering since the re-election in March of the island's President Chen Shui-bian, who Beijing is convinced will push for statehood during his second four-year term. "And we'll get around to him right after this Langerhans condition clears up..." Beijing and Taipei have been rivals since their split at the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949, but trade, investment and tourism have blossomed since detente in the late 1980s. Money first. Spittle second. Hu also urged the PLA, the world's biggest army, to "comprehensively revolutionize, modernize and standardize," newspapers said. No details were given. "Yeah. Do all that stuff. We'll get back to you with our plan and some cash on Tuesday, or so." Hu, 61, replaced Jiang Zemin, 78, as chairman of the Central Military Commission on Sept. 19, completing the most orderly leadership succession in the 55 years since the Communist Party took power. "He stayed on his side and I stayed on mine and we stayed in step." The following day he promoted two senior officers in a move that was likely to help consolidate his position in the PLA. © Reuters 2004. All Rights Reserved. China. It's like a whole 'nuther country. Posted by: .com 2004-09-30 |
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