Taiwan wants to join US anti-terror drill in Mongolia

DPA , TAIPEI

The government is seeking to join a US-led anti-terrorism drill held in Mongolia next June in order to cement ties with the US, a Chinese-language newspaper said yesterday.

The paper quoted a presidential official as saying the US has invited Mongolia to join the anti-terrorist drill next year, and has invited China and South Korea to join as observers. China and South Korea have not confirmed their participation yet, the unnamed official said.

"We will actively seek to join this anti-terrorist drill in Mongolia," the unnamed official said.

"President [George W.] Bush's visiting Mongolia on his Asia trip is to thank Mongolia for sending troops to Iraq, but it also shows the US wants to compete with China-led Shanghai Cooperation Organization," he said, referring to the inter-governmental organization of six nations -- China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

"We know the US is playing the two-handed strategy, but we want to work out a strategy which is most beneficial to Taiwan," the paper quoted the official as saying.

The government has also been seeking to launch military ties with neighboring countries, particularly Japan.

Last December, Japan named China as a potential security concern to Taiwan. In February this year, Japan and the US issued a joint statement declaring a peaceful Taiwan Strait was among their "common strategic objectives."

Leadership needs clear vision

By Charles Hong

Taiwan is indeed a model democracy, but it faces several challenges. The Taiwanese must use their wisdom and power to overcome these difficulties and take control of their own destiny, or Taiwan's democracy might become a thing of the past. Taiwan is a country with a triple national identity: Taiwan, the Republic of China and China.

Internally, the people in Taiwan are broadly divided into pan-green and pan-blue camps. Externally, China insists that Taiwan is a part of China, although China hasn't ruled Taiwan for a single second since the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

Japan ruled Taiwan for 50 years and gave up any claim to it in 1951, without specifying an inheritor. The US liberated Taiwan from Japan in 1945, and has protected Taiwan from China since the 1950s, but still talks about a paradoxical "one China" policy. The UN is helpless and hopeless.

The governing party should have a clear vision for Taiwan's future and work hard to achieve it. It should implement the laws in spite of opposition or protests. Actions are more effective than words. Corrupt officials should be fired and imprisoned.

President Chen Shui-bian should make good use of his remaining term. What happened to his strong leadership as the mayor of Taipei? A good ending is better than a good beginning.

The losing candidates should have sportsmanship. The opposition parties must be friendly, at least to the people who need security, prosperity and tranquility. Please do not boycott everything and paralyze or endanger Taiwan. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou should not act like the mayor of "Chinese Taipei."

In the Dec. 3 local governments elections, voters should not accept bribery from any candidates. They must vote for candidates who can preserve democracy and freedom for Taiwan.

Charles Hong

Columbus, Ohio