China would
choke on Taiwan
Tomorrow and Friday, President George W. Bush will pay a state visit
to the People's Republic of China. The trip will focus on weapons proliferation,
missile defense, human rights and other points of contention between
Washington and Beijing.
Also under the discussion will be the other China.
There is a China where democracy isn't a dream but a vibrant reality.
A China that doesn't help terrorist states build weapons of mass destruction.
A China that has never threatened to launch nuclear missiles at American
cities.
The other China doesn't persecute members of meditation groups, imprison
businessmen for importing Bibles or mete out death sentences to Christians
for leading underground churches.
This China is the Republic of China on Taiwan. It is peaceful and
democratic, respects human rights, and wants good relations with everyone.
So, naturally, it's the China everybody pretends isn't there.
That isn't easy. With a population of 23 million, the ROC (as opposed
to the PRC) is America's eighth-largest trading partner. Among the nations
of the world, it ranks 21st in per capita gross national product. Freedom
House puts it on par with Japan as the freest country in Asia.
While mainland China treats democracy as a disease, the Chinese on
Taiwan have had a peaceful revolution over the past 15 years.
In 1987, Taiwan was under martial law, ruled by legislators elected
on the mainland prior to 1949. The Democratic Progressive Party, established
in 1986, is in power today. Its leader, who was imprisoned under martial
law, is now the president of the Republic of China.
In 1996, the ROC had its first direct presidential election. The
Nationalist Party's Lee Teng-hui won.
In 2000, after a half-century of Nationalist rule, the DPP's Chen
Shui-bian succeeded Lee. Last year, the Nationalists lost their dominant
position in the legislature - surpassed by a coalition of the DPP and
Mr. Lee's new Taiwan Solidarity Union.
None of this has earned Taiwan the respect it deserves. When the
tyrants in Beijing scowl, the international community shudders. Nothing
can provoke a PRC tantrum faster than support for Taiwan. Only 28 countries
have diplomatic ties with Taipei.
Taiwan has made five attempts to join the World Health Organization
- as an observer. Even though it has a larger population than 75 percent
of all WHO members, notwithstanding that even the Rotary International
and Knights of Malta have observer status, Taiwan is still out in the
cold.
The other China is eager to lessen tensions in the region. In his
New Year's message, Mr. Chen called on his mainland counterparts to
join him in pursuing "the same goal of peaceful coexistence and
mutual prosperity." He's proposed talks with the People's Republic
on trade and other concerns.
Tentative contacts between the two Chinas were broken off in 1999,
when Beijing decided that Taipei was getting too uppity in asserting
its rights.
The PRC insists the island is a rebel province and considers its
prior capitulation a precondition for talks. It demands Taiwan bow to
the dogma that there is one China and that the communist regime is the
legitimate authority on both sides of the Taiwan Straits.
Mr. Chen responds, "If 'one China' means the disappearance of
the Republic of China, a president elected under the ROC constitution
could not accept that."
When he arrives on the mainland, Mr. Bush will step into the middle
of this Middle Kingdom mess. He will be forced to endure whining about
our weapons sales to Taipei. He must tread cautiously. His hosts will
want him to become an arm of their foreign policy, as Mr. Clinton was
during his 1998 visit, by publicly reciting their "three no's"
(no to two Chinas, no to Taiwan independence, no to Taiwan's membership
in international organizations where statehood is a requirement).
But the existence of two Chinas is a reality. Whatever formula Mr.
Bush feels compelled to use during his trip, he at least understands
this. In an interview last year, the president said that if Beijing
resorted to force to achieve reunification, the U.S. would do whatever
it takes "to help Taiwan defend itself."
If Beijing tries to swallow the other China on Mr. Bush's watch,
it will choke.
