With Western powers such as the UK and the US recognising the independence of Kosovo from Serbia, Kosovar leaders are rejoicing. Such recognition is also welcome to human rights and democracy activists, who also remember the horrors of the "ethnic cleansing" of Albanians, instigated by the regime of Slobodan Milosevic.
While these Western nations admirably welcome Kosovo into the international community, they are guilty of double standards. While they hope to assist Kosovars in shaking off the shackles of the past, they are complicit in isolating Taiwan, in their attempt to curry favour with China. Taiwan's past is also ridden with unfortunate injustices, and its transformation into a full democracy has been nothing short of remarkable. The UK and the US however, refuse to express their opposition to China's zeal to annex Taiwan, and are hardly perturbed at the alarming military threats that China regularly makes against Taiwan.
Western leaders apparently believe that democracy and freedom are important in Europe, but can be abandoned in Asia.
