China has a warped view of its security

By Wang Kun-yi

When President Chen Shui-bian stopped over in New York to receive the 2003 International Human Rights Award, Chinese students and expatriates gathered outside the venue to stage a noisy protest. A few days ago, in Northwest University in China's Xian City, obscene acts performed by four Japanese people in a skit triggered protests by thousands of Chinese students.

What's the significance behind these two protests?

Under China's continual brainwashing with nationalist ideology, the Chinese people have long harbored illusions about threats. Any small act viewed by Chinese as disrespectful is likely to trigger immense frustration and is therefore interpreted as a threat to China's national security. When everything is weighed on the level of "security," the significance displayed by words and actions actually reflects the Chinese people's limitless anxiety about security.

Although Chinese officialdom has continuously tried to create an environment of "peace and development," what the Chinese students have done is make it more difficult for the outside world to believe that China is a peace-loving country.

Similarly, in its Taiwan policy, China has always subjectively believed that Taiwan's independence will inevitably affect its security in the Asia-Pacific region. But it has never given a thought as to how much it has threatened Taiwan by deploying 400 missiles.

Due to China's stubborn cultural understanding of security, Chen's past soft approach has failed to move the stubborn stone. Prevalence of the "China threat theory" in the international community is actually a pernicious consequence China has brought upon itself.

Even so, it is beneficial for the survival of China's regime. When people imagine that all threats posed to the country come from the outside, the Communist Party of China can certainly sit back and relax. The agitated demonstrations by Chinese students and protests against foreigners are merely an instrument manipulated by Beijing.

Wang Kun-yi is an associate professor at the Graduate Institute of International Affairs and Strategic Studies at Tamkang University.

Alaska warmly welcomes Chen

SURPRISE: At the end of a trip in which the president has been given unprecedented exposure, he received a red-carpet reception on his arrival in the northern US state

By Lin Chieh-yu and Fan Cheng-hsiung

STAFF REPORTERS , IN ALASKA

President Chen Shui-bian was given red-carpet treatment on his arrival in Alaska yesterday as his new-found freedom in the US continued.

After flying from Panama, where he attended the country's 100th anniversary celebrations, Chen was greeted in Anchorage by Taiwan's representative to the US, Chen Chien-jen, American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairwoman Therese Shaheen, Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski, Alaskan House Speaker Pete Kott and overseas Taiwanese representatives.

Murkowski arranged for Chen to give a public speech on his arrival, an unusual privilege for a visiting Taiwanese president on a stopover visit in the US.

"Chairwoman Shaheen has witnessed this occasion and I hope the AIT can continue with their efforts," Chen said in response to the warm welcome. "Why is it that Alaska can but New York can't?"

When former president Lee Teng-hui returned to his alma mater, Cornell University, to give a speech in 1995, he also made a stopover in Alaska. But he was confined to his hotel and prohibited from engaging in any public activities.

Chen has enjoyed unprecedented exposure during his seven-day trip, beginning with a transit stop in New York last Friday.

Congressmen greeted him at the airport and he gave a 30-minute public speech when he accepted a human rights award. He was allowed to freely talk to the media and went on a cruise in New York harbor with 500 Taiwanese expatriates.

Chen expressed his appreciation for the way the US had treated him and emphasized that the US government had consented to all his activities.

Nevertheless, the public reception in Anchorage was a unexpected bonus. Chen found out about it only after he had taken off from Panama when Murkowski's office contacted Chen's aides.

In a speech during a banquet hosted by Taiwanese expatriates in Alaska, Shaheen said that Taiwan's economic performance had surprised the international community. She said it would be more appropriate for the so-called Greater China economy to be called the Greater Taiwan economy.

Her 20 years of experience as a businesswoman suggested that if Taiwan cooperated with China economically, the two sides could create a win-win situation, she said.

She said Taiwan had contributed a lot to the world in terms of promoting human rights and fighting terror and the world should value Taiwan more. Alaska understood this and was acting as a bridge between Taiwan and the world, she said.

Chen, comparing the current situation with the one that Lee encountered, said that the changes over the past eight years were a result of many things and people, including the US government, Murkowski and the improvement in Taiwan-US relations. He said that President George W. Bush was Taiwan's "guardian angel."

Chen said that he was quite satisfied with his trip and that its success was the achievement of all 23 million people in Taiwan.

Chen will arrive in Taiwan at 6pm tonight after going on a sightseeing trip around Alaska.

In contrast to the high-profile reception Chen received in Alaska, his return to Taiwan will likely be a low-key affair.

Presidential Secretary General Chiou I-jen yesterday urged government officials, legislators and Democratic Progressive Party supporters not to arrange a welcoming party for Chen at CKS International Airport.

Chen insisted on a low-profile send-off last week after his party criticized the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT and the People First Party for gathering 60 lawmakers to welcome KMT Chairman Lien Chan back to Taiwan last Monday, paralyzing the legislature.

Chinese dissident warns of `evil' regime's tricks

THREAT TO DEMOCRACY: New York-based commentator Cao Chang-ching says the greatest threat Taiwan faces comes not from China's missiles but from within

By Huang Tai-lin

STAFF REPORTER

Branding Communist China a "regime of bandits," New York-based political commentator and Chinese dissident Cao Chang-ching warned that using `one China' rhetoric furthered Beijing's fantasies of ruling Taiwan.

"The true essence of the Communist Chinese regime is one of evil and deceiving tricks. Taiwan must not strike an agreement with evil and accept evil's `one country, two systems' and thus allow democratic Taiwan to become part of this bandit regime," Cao said.

Cao made the remarks on Tuesday night in a speech to the Northern Taiwan Society entitled "Cherish Taiwan's Democracy by Clearly Understanding the Chinese Regime."

"The greatest threat facing Taiwan is not the missiles from China but from within Taiwan, where China, via selective media and local groups, uses its incessant united front tactic to destroy Taiwan's unity," Cao said.

Cao said that relations between China and the US are stable because the US has been clear on policy.

"Although [US President] George W. Bush has been firm in the US' position with China since taking office, the bilateral relationship between the US and China is at its most stable since 1989," Cao said. "This is because Bush Junior's clear stance in his China policy leaves no room for China to have fantasies and illusions."

"By the same token," Cao said, "when groups of people in Taiwan keep on yelling rhetoric such as `one China,' the `one-China roof' or the `one-China framework,' they send the wrong message to China and allow China to develop fantasies about Taiwan."

"This is very dangerous," he said.

Stating that he is not affiliated with any political parties in Taiwan and is a US citizen, Cao said that Taiwan's future has no direct bearing on him personally.

"The reason that I come out in support of former president Lee Teng-hui's `two states' theory and President Chen Shui-bian's `one country on each side' of the Taiwan Strait theory is because that they speak the truth," Cao said, applauding both men's courage.

Cao called Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan's claim that "one China" means Republic of China (ROC) "a big lie."

"If `one China' means the ROC, as Lien has claimed, then what is the People's Republic of China (PRC)?" Cao asked. "In that case, are you telling me that the PRC is a province of the ROC?"

"I cannot accept rhetoric that's so far from the truth," Cao said.

Outside the Student Activity Center of National Taiwan University, where the speech was held, a score of members from the pro-unification Patriot Association protested against Cao's independence remarks. Police were called by the event-sponsor to stand guard outside the venue to prevent Cao from being assaulted.

Cao was allegedly beaten up on Sunday night in the lobby of the Grand Hotel by four members of the group who found Cao's pro-Taiwan remarks unacceptable.

Unsatisfied with steps taken by the Grand Hotel to protect the safety of its guests, Taiwan Advocates, a think tank that invited Cao to attend its weekend event, called off its scheduled fund-raising banquet which was originally set to take place at Grand Hotel on Nov. 16. The think tank relocated the event to the Grand Hyatt Hotel.

From Panama with love

President Chen Shui-bian's diplomatic tour reached a climax this week with unexpected encounters with US Secretary of State Colin Powell and Scottish movie star Sean Connery at Panama's centennial celebrations.

Powell and Connery are the superstars of the US political arena and the global film arena respectively. Even though Chen met them only briefly, the meetings are nevertheless noteworthy given Taiwan's difficult international situation and the obstacles to establishing formal US-Taiwan diplomatic ties.

Powell's familiarity with Chen was only natural, but it was surprising that Connery, who became famous for playing the British spy James Bond in movies, told Chen he was his idol. Apparently, virtuous people are never lonely and everyone wants to be their friend. Even though Taiwan has been isolated diplomatically, its economic and domestic performance has wowed the international community. We believe Connery's respect for Chen came from his heart. Connery would never have made a similar remark to Chinese President Hu Jintao. How could the president of China -- a country that oppresses its people, violates their human rights and browbeats Taiwan at every turn -- become an idol of internationally renowned people?

It was no wonder that Therese Shaheen, chairwoman of the American Institute in Taiwan, praised the people of Taiwan as "superstars" when she met Chen earlier. Shaheen said that Iraq, though rich in natural resources, had destroyed itself. By contrast, Taiwan has only people but nevertheless created a highly developed economy.

Without wanting to sound smug about Shaheen's praise, we hope that the enlightening remarks from this sincere friend of Taiwan will cause the nation's political camps to rethink their entrenched positions. While the international community watches Taiwan's success, the opposition parties are toadying up to China and spout rancid remarks about Chen's diplomatic tour. They cannot bring themselves to accept the success of his visit, and they are dying to see Chen, the nation's head of state, insulted by the international community. Sometimes we suspect Taiwan has politicians of two nationalities -- Taiwanese and Chinese. These Chinese politicos fume whenever they see their head of state receiving courteous treatment. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan heaped abuse on the Chen administration during his visit to the UK and the US last month. During Chen's trip, Lien continued to attack him. Lien is acting like China's representative in Taiwan. Not to be outdone in displaying loyalty to China, People First Party Chairman James Soong not only ridiculed Chen for not getting a 21-gun salute during his visit to the US, but also criticized him for being unqualified to receive an international human rights award.

Now we know why Chen received unprecedented hospitality during his stopover in New York, and why China has kept silent about the matter. It's because China already has two loyal watchdogs -- Lien and Soong. China need do nothing to attack Chen as long as Lien and Soong remain active in Taiwan's political arena.

North Korea will drive the US closer to China

By Liu Chin-tsai

According to media reports, Wu Bangguo, chairman of the standing committee of China's National People's Congress, visited North Korea on Oct. 29. It is thought to be very likely that the purpose of Wu's visit was to persuade North Korea's leader to return to the six-nation talks. Since the crisis on the Korean Peninsula broke out in October last year, China has been reluctant to intervene actively in the North Korean nuclear arms issue. Apart from agreeing to provide the venue for talks between the US and North Korea, China has not applied any pressure on the North Koreans. This course of action has displeased the US, which hopes that China will use its influence to persuade North Korea to stop developing nuclear arms. As a result of US demands and pressure, China took on the role as mediator in the trilateral talks between the US, China and North Korea for the first time in April this year.

China holds three views on the North Korean nuclear arms issue. First, the Korean Peninsula should be made a nuclear-free zone where neither South nor North Korea should be allowed to possess nuclear weapons. Nor would the US be allowed to deploy nuclear weapons in South Korea and threaten China's national security. Second, peace and stability should be maintained on the Korean Peninsula and China should strengthen its friendly relations with surrounding countries in order to create the conditions beneficial to reform, deregulation and modernization. Third, dialogue and peaceful resolution should be adopted. The most efficient method to this end would be direct dialogue between the concerned parties, and opposition to heavy-handed US policies, economic sanctions and use of armed force to resolve the issue.

As far as China goes, the attempts at finding a solution to the nuclear arms crisis on the Korean Peninsula has provided it with an opportunity to take on a new diplomatic role and to use the situation in its surrounding buffer region to raise its own international status. Regardless of the extent to which China intervenes directly in negotiations, its efforts at mediation have already signaled the development of a new direction in Chinese diplomacy.

The national delegations to the six-nation talks held in Bei-jing in late August did not reach any substantive agreement. According to China, however, the targeted consensus on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula has already been achieved, and as long as the US changes its North Korean policy and stops threatening it, North Korea is ready to abandon its nuclear arms program.

There are three main aspects to the role China is playing in the six-nation talks -- to function as a mediator between North Korea and the US, as a buffer to stop the conflict between the two from escalating, and as a catalyst to the formation of various consensuses. It is worth noting that Russia and China both have been allied with North Korea in the past, and Russia has previously promoted the idea that it and China jointly guarantee North Korean security. If the six-nation talks are reopened in future, the implication is that China and Russia will stand behind North Korea, with the US, Japan and South Korea on the other side, thus creating a situation with three countries opposing each other. China's active role during the talks has won the approval of the other five participants, which will be an important factor in any future attempt by China to expand its influence.

China's active efforts at creating reconciliation, promoting talks and cooling things down will give it an advantage in future negotiations with the US to seek benefits for itself, in particular when it comes to Taiwan policy. In addition to calling on the Bush administration to offer official guarantees that it will not attack North Korea, China also demands that the US abide by the three joint Sino-US communiques, that it continue to support the one China principle, that it firmly oppose Taiwan independence, and that it properly handle the Taiwan issue. This shows that China intends to play the North Korean card in an attempt at impressing the US. The US has in fact already showed a great deal of approval and gratitude towards China for its active, effective and constructive efforts towards the resolution of the North Korean nuclear arms crisis following Hu Jintao's succession to the Chinese presidency. China's strategy seems to be to take active action on the North Korean issue to win the approval of the conservative faction in the Bush administration, so that they will pay more attention to Beijing's interests when they formulate the US' Taiwan policy in the future.

Although incumbent or retired US officials repeatedly tell Taiwan that the strengthening of US-China ties is not tantamount to a US retreat as far as the security of Taiwan is concerned, it cannot be denied that the Sept. 11 attacks have led to a change in the US-China relationship. US President George W. Bush's previous clear pro-Taiwan stance has shifted towards China, and the US repeatedly issues guarantees that it continues to uphold the "one China" policy, that it does not support -- and even that it opposes -- Taiwan independence. Furthermore, Bush has visited China twice since he took office. All this is sufficient evidence that the relationship between the two countries is warming up. To a certain extent, this situation restricts the extent to which the US can support Taiwan. During Bill Clinton's presidency, for example, the US often said that a solution to the cross-strait issue "should be agreed to by the Taiwanese people."

Since Bush became president, however, this has been changed to "should be agreed to by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait." Bush's softening support for Taiwan is already being questioned by conservatives in the US, who believe that Bush has made a clear retreat from his previous strong support in favor of a democratic Taiwan. When it comes to Taiwanese security, Bush has changed his opinion from saying that the US will "do whatever it takes to help Taiwan defend itself" to saying that the US will "do what we can to help Taiwan defend itself." This is a very dangerous signal.

If in the future the US wants to bring North Korea back to the negotiating table, it must rely even more on China's help, and China will be able to reap benefits from the contradictions and conflict between North Korea and the US. We should continue to pay attention to whether this will cause US cross-strait policy to lean still further towards China.

Liu Chin-tsai is assistant professor at Yuda Institute of Business Technology.