Nov. 15,1999---Bill Clinton, Trent Lott, Denny Hastert

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Taiwan Tati Cultural
And Educational Foundation
B16F, No.3 Ta-Tun 2St.
Taichung, Taiwan, ROC
November 15, 1999.

Dear Mr. President Bill Clinton,
        Mr. Trent Lott,
        Mr. Denny Hastert,

The advanced radar system will enhance China's ability to extend its military power beyond its borders and threaten Taiwan.

Israel's sale of sophisticated US$250 million airborne radar system to China has raised serious concerns at the Taiwan. It will improve significantly China's ability to conduct operations in and around the Taiwan Strait..

The sale of radar system, as well as other Israeli arms deals with China, have put a strain on the Clinton administration's relationship with one of the U.S.'s closet allies.

Taiwan issue is the security of cross-straits' relationship that Israeli arms transfers to China are more easily than Taiwan's wants. There is always the danger that some of this technology could hurt Taiwan defense.

The other concern is Taiwanese people have nightmare of that "who" is the man to be a president, and then "betray Taiwan to Beijing that over the threat from communist China".

There are many native Taiwanese people fear to believe mainlanders those who living in Taiwan for about 50 years. Taiwan should reunify internal problems. However, either native Taiwanese or mainlanders are New Taiwanese.

In our views, those who "tell the truth with honest" would the key point to win Taiwanese people's mind, that should win presidential campaign.

From "The Road To Democracy" the book wrote by ROC President Lee Teng-hui, he said that ...

Much of our experience in Taiwan should be readily understood by people on the mainland. Taking a close look at Taiwan, they ought to realize the fundamental and serious contradictions inherent in the course their government is pursuing. The "Taiwan experience," or the "Taiwan model," is not for the people in Taiwan alone but for all Chinese. It will be an essential model for the reunified China. Only then, and I say this with special emphasis, will the Taiwan experience assume its true significance.

We therefore cannot assent to the one-China formula that is so high-handedly upheld by the PRC authorities, although we do earnestly hope that the partial attempts at democratization they are currently engaging in at the village level will succeed. We also want to see the mainland introduce political reforms and expand the breadth and depth of democratization so that our fellow Chinese on the continent will be able to fully apply their ingenuity and abilities in building a multifaceted and open modern society.

The problems that mainland China must overcome are, needless to say, far greater in scale and more serious than those for Taiwan. I recognize that the difficulties Taiwan had prior to the reforms are not comparable to the problems now confronting the mainland in diversity, complexity, and gravity. The bigger and more serious the problems, however, the greater will be the miseries perpetrated by misguided policies. When a policy line is flawed it could result in a disaster that involves all of the PRC's Asian neighbors as well.

If we recall the process of Taiwan's reforms, we will note that farsightedness and able planning of political leaders over the decades are responsible for the splendid results of current government policy. Had the leaders charted a fundamentally wrong course and failed to deal squarely with the problems they faced, the government would not be able to pursue the policies it does today. Had the people of Taiwan not responded willingly to the measures adopted by their political leaders, they would not have matured as the democratic citizens who form the support base of government today.

It may be said that the people of Taiwan were "reborn" as a new breed of citizen. A lethargic populace under an authoritarian regime was transformed into an energetic citizenry under democratic government. One should not forget, however, that this change was accomplished gradually over half a century. A democratic citizenry is not something suddenly conceived of one day and achieved the next. Neither is it a process that can be brought about through violent revolution.

In retrospect, the process Taiwan underwent could be called "revolutionary," but it took half a century. It occurred under sustained economic growth and social stability. The rapid structural change that has taken place over the last ten years or so --- the change in which I myself was deeply involved --- was also a "quiet revolution." This revolution was in essence an inconspicuous, ceaseless endeavor pursued in four areas: political democratization, pragmatic foreign policy, closer relations across the Strait, and the upgrading of the economy. The first three were new developments born through the quiet revolution. Until then, economic development had been Taiwan's foremost priority. It had been believed that as long as the economy improved, other problems could be handled. This belief proved correct to some extent. However, with tremendous changes occurring in the international environment and with new developments in the mainland, political reforms have become all the more important for Taiwan.

The greatest challenge for people of Taiwan's next generation is how to further progress in the three noneconomic areas, that is, democratization, pragmatic foreign policy, and closer relations with the mainland. It is for this reason that I have tried to write in as much detail as possible about how my generation understood the issues in these three areas and cope with them. Success or failure in these challenges will determine the future nor just of Taiwan but of all the Chinese people.

November 12. Today marks the 133rd anniversary of the birth of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the man credited with founding the Republic of China. At least that's the story in Taiwan --- in mainland, Sun is also hailed as a revolutionary hero for his contributions in bringing down the Qing dynasty. When asked the questions that why needs "revolution," the answer is "China needs democracy." After four hundred years late, Taiwan became a democratic country. On the other side of mainland China, it remain on communism under control of hegemony.

In the retrospect the process Taiwan underwent could be called "quiet revolution" this special revolution was in programmatic and peaceful reformation.

In Taiwan, the first priority is the upgrading of the economy over free market's projects.

Dr. Sun's revolution was full of bloodshed and mass sacrifice but rebound on political struggle and civil war that split China.

We want to give communist China the "Taiwan experience" or "Taiwan model" that Taiwan government is pursuing, in which whole Chinese fervent wish. However, both sides of Chinese need your help.

Sincerely Yours,
Yang Hsu-Tung.
President
Taiwan Tati Cultural
And Educational Foundation

 

 

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