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Oct.27,2000 --- To: George.
W. Bush |
Dear Mr. George W. Bush, Taiwan would want to seek a formal break for both sides that could seat with equal position on talking. Beijing’s leaders are “pretty cold” toward President Chen’s attempts to ease tension. It takes two to tango, but only one is dancing. Beijing leaders say Chen must first show that he is serious about reunification and agree that Taiwan is an inseparable part of one China. Nevertheless; President Chen cannot accept the Beijing’s command for that without any guarantees with international intervention, Taiwan could lose everything. Oct. 25, 2000 --- A former White House official said at a symposium Washington Monday that the Taipei government should eliminate uncertainty in its policy toward mainland China. Douglas Paal, who worked for the Reagan and Bush administrations, also suggested that the new U.S. government that will be inaugurated next January strengthen high-level interaction with Taipei. Speaking at the symposium on “the new era of Taiwan democracy,” Paal noted that such unexpected incidents as former President Lee Teng-hui’s 1995 visit to the Untied States and his 1999 statement redefining Taiwan’s ties with the mainland as a “special state-to-state relationship” toughened Beijing’s stance against Taiwan. Therefore, he suggested, the government under President Chen Shui-bian should
take steps to eliminate the element of surprise and uncertainty over cross-Taiwan Strait relations in exchange for time for negotiations with Beijing. Former U.S. Ambassador to Beijing James Lilley told the symposium that Taiwan should not ignore the threat from mainland China and added that it is important for Taiwan to pay attention to trends and follow the trends of history. He said that Beijing talks about democracy and human right and added that Taipei should follow this trend to encourage the mainland to develop in the right direction. Another American participant said that Washington should continue to honor the Taiwan Relations Act and should enhance military exchanges with Taiwan. Three participants from Taipei --- Lin Chia-lung, Cheng Yu-ping and Sheng Chih-jen --- also reported on Taiwan’s political development since the inauguration of the Democratic Progressive Party administration last May. Some reports said, President Chen Shui-bian and his administration have so far made no clear and firm commitments in dealing with mainland China. The administration has been evasive and indecisive in this aspect. At a recent forum in Washington D.C., a former White House official urged the Republic of China government to eliminate uncertainty in its mainland policy. The new government would do well do take note of the advice. For unification’s parties criticism that the new government of the ROC should listen to those suggestions. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party needs to seriously reconsider its pro-independence stand. The building of an independent Taiwan state is an in realistic approach to the solution of the island’s conflict with mainland China. Taiwan will enjoy sustained development and prosperity only if cross-strait relations are repaired and improved. To make that happen the government here must adopt a constructive mainland policy with clearly state goals. Thus far, the government has been marking time where this task is concerned. Should President Chen and the DPP abandon their separatist ideology and recognize that movement toward reunification urgently? Proving the old adage “politics make strange bed fellows.” We would think following WTO’s effect that Allowing more mainlanders to travel the island might actually provide those who come to Taiwan an opportunity to gain a better understanding of its democratic progress, they would have a more positive image about the island. We want the Republic of China can strive for perfection in human rights, rule of law and democracy. In short, our definition of independence is the status quo, which is that Taiwan is already independent. Democratic Taiwan needs your support.
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