Dear Mr. President George W. Bush,  
        Miss Condoleezza Rice,

Please accept my sincere thanks for supporting democratic Taiwan. I want to give you a new condition of Taiwan’s inside.

In Taiwan, former president Lee Teng-hui only had to hold up President Chen Shui-bian’s hand and say that he wanted to help Chen stabilize the domestic political situation and popular opinion cascaded down on him.

Some people debated Lee’s situation, some regretted having supported Lee, others blamed him for promoting discord and polarization and still others wanted to expel him from the KMT. Those who expressed an opinion about Lee were more numerous than ants in an anthill.

In our view, President Lee only wanted to express the “mandate of heaven” – save Taiwan democracy.

Under constitution of R.O.C that Lee and Chen as a president are only Taiwanese’s leader in which Taiwan is only a part of R.O.C.

Some people those who were lived in history of KMT’s hegemony; though no way for Lee and Chen would be looked as a Chinese president in Taiwan.

Over the last 10 years or so, the cross-analysis of ethnic issues and the future of the nation have shown that an absolute majority of mainlanders want to be Chinese. They are also willing to be Taiwanese, but for mainlanders, the concept of being Taiwanese is part of the concept of being Chinese. Others do not want to be Chinese and put the emphasis on being Taiwanese. These different stances are akin to differences of blood, and one cannot change one’s blood type.

If differences in political views based on ethnic background are seen as a special element of Taiwanese culture, or even as a romantic political idea, and not something that we hide away and pretend does not exist, the issue will eventually reach a solution through continually giving it voice and engaging in cleansing and self-reflection – treating it as one would many psychological maladies. Not being hidden away, the issue will not be able to fester and become a more complex and grave problem.

Each time an election approaches, the phobia of ethnic polarization surfaces. Maybe we should change our attitudes and celebrate the fact that Taiwan’s electoral system has matured and that the two opposing sides are free to vent their all in the election. Thanks to elections, there is no longer the danger of the former, violent impulses exploding.

The “scorched earth” comment can be seen as a sensational exaggeration. Given the current situation, who would dare declare Taiwan independent and change the name of the nation? Who would be able to declare unification with China? The debate over unification or independence does not have to be a bitter war. What is the harm of viewing it as an exercise in the freedom of speech?

In business issues of Taiwan the reports, saying on June 27, 2001 –Investment in China can be an attractive proposition for Taiwanese businessmen, but they should be aware of the hidden dangers in doing business in China, said John Teng, vice chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council of the Executive Yuan in an interview Tuesday.

In an interview with the Central News Agency, Teng said that China is an important part of the world economy and one which cannot be ignore. He said that Taiwanese businessmen’s activities in China are bound to increase.

“Currently there are no fewer than 50,000 Taiwanese companies operating on the mainland and they have recruited some 500,000 staff members, mostly of the executive levels, from Taiwan,” Teng said.

“As a matter of fact, the figures are very likely underestimated, because no official records are kept,” he added.

“Taiwan’s media have been enthusiastic in reporting on the positive side of mainland China’s developments and have very often failed to provide a more complete picture,” Teng pointed out, adding that Taiwanese businessmen should study the market more thoroughly and must not be overwhelmed just by a glimpse of the skyscrapers in Shanghai.

Since Taiwan’s domestic market can no longer sustain the growth of the business and industrial sectors, internationalization is the only alternative, and in recent years many Taiwanese businessmen have tried their luck in a market with a more familiar cultural background, according to Teng.

But even with similar cultural backgrounds, the different political and economic systems and mentalities in Taiwan and China can be challenging. “Taiwanese businessmen are taking a risk when they deal with ambiguous laws and regulations and unpredictable human factors in law enforcement while investing there,” Teng said.

He said that personal safety and investment guarantees are the major concern of investors in every part of the world.

However, Taiwanese businessmen are guaranteed none of these in China. Even when both Beijing and Taipei are admitted into the WTO, no guarantees are assured, according to Teng.

Teng foresees that Taiwanese businessmen’s participation in China’s economic activities will continue to rise in view of the fact that people there are becoming more affluent. China’s membership in the WTO will also mean that the market will open even further, he said.

Statistics compiled by the Mainland Affairs Council show that in the first five months of this year, Taiwanese investments in China amounted to US$1.07 billion, a 33.18 percent year-on-year growth.

In 2000, Taiwanese businessmen poured US$2.6 billion in that market. Investments in China account for 40 percent of Taiwan’s overall overseas investments.

In order to lure more high-technology and capital-intensive industries to invest there, authorities in China are offering investors from abroad favorable treatment, such as tax holidays, convenient land acquisition and advantages to market access.

Teng said that the offers are tempting, but investors are advised to take the security factor into consideration.

On the other hand, that Taiwan’s democracy needs US and Japan perform a role in protecting Taiwan from Beijing’s threat.

July 25, 2001 ---  
A senior Taiwan official urged Japan to take a greater role as a leader in Asia,
particularly to bring stability to the region.

Japans strong ties with China could position it to play a role in fostering improved relations across the Taiwan Strait, Executive Yuan Secretary-General Chiou I-jen said at a luncheon.

Japan had a special part to play in improving relations between Taiwan and China, said Chiou, who is in Japan to attend a seminar.

“We hope that both sides can solve these difficulties and disputes through their own influence, but in the end it is so difficult,” he said.

“So I think we need lots of help and effort from the international community, either through the United States or through Japan.”

Noting that the US performs a role in easing tensions between Taiwan and China by its separate communications with both sides, Chiou said Japan was suited for a similar job.

“If Japan wants, it can … help to ease tension between both sides, to maintain the stability of this region,” he said.

“Not only is Japan geographically easier for Taiwan and China to communicate with each other, I think the culture is more similar than that of the US.”

“Japan has the kind of potential to become a new leader in this region,” Chiou added.

How much of an impact Japan could have, however, remains doubtful given its noted reluctance to take a strong stance on diplomatic issues, particularly ones that could anger China.

In addition, its often prickly relations with Beijing are currently under pressure from troubles on many fronts.

Chiou voiced optimism and saw room for concrete action.

“I think Japan can try to arrange certain kinds of meetings, try to open up more channels to contact China and Taiwan and the rest of the countries of this region,” he said.

Japan in April allowed former Taiwan president Lee Teng-hui to visit for medical treatment, a move that drew a strong protest from Beijing.

But Chiou said Japan could play an important role.

“I think Japan has a special potential to become a big country in this region – not only in an economic sense, but also in a political sense,” he said.

Chiou said the question of eventual unification was clearly a thorn in relations between China and Taiwan and a factor hindering talks between the two over various issues.

Asked about unification, he said the Hong Kong model was unacceptable to Taiwan.

Former president Lee Teng-hui’s dominant leadership and accomplishments  

during his 12-year rule left the people of Taiwan with an impression of a strong-willed and capable leader. Even now that he has retired, people eagerly watch his every move in order to offer an interpretation of it or engage in speculation about it.

In the past, Lee was able to control the massive KMT-owned enterprises and state-owned financial institutions. Although Lee’s heyday is past, the KMT still dreads him. Anticipating that Lee’s visit to the US would make headlines, the KMT tried to stage a pre-emptive strike by throwing a grand reception for Lien Chan on his return from Europe and the US. The reception was in stark contrast to Lee’s quiet departure for the US. The party and its leaders are terribly afraid of Lee.

Looking back over Lee’s 12 years as president, one characteristic is noteworthy. His power was inflated by others. It was rooted in his ability to cleverly take advantage of his political rivals’ excessive imagination about his “greatness.” The book -- An Account of Lee Teng-hui in Power -- reveals that Lee was in conflict with party conservatives in the early days of his rule.

According to the book, “Lin Yang-kang, Hau Pei-tsun and others, believed that their plan [to reverse Lees’ nomination of Li Yuan-zu as vice president in the plenary session of the KMT’s Central Committee] was leaked because their phones had been tapped by Soong Hsin-lian, then chief of the National Security Bureau. Lee felt afterwards that [their belief] was ludicrous…” Lee felt this way because he had little control over the military intelligence system at that time. Soong did not, in truth, provide Lee with any valuable information beforehand.

Lee successfully foiled a coup plot that was already taking shape, in the same way as he engineered Hau’s fall. He was able to do these things, not because he was particularly cunning or had real power. He simply roared at Hau, who then submitted his resignation and stepped down as premier.

Thirteen years ago, Lee was merely the acting KMT chairman, playing it by ear and carrying the day by sheer enthusiasm. The problem at the time was that elderly KMT members lacked the stomach for either revolution or democracy. Having revered former presidents Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo with awe for 40 years, the mere sight of the party chairman’s empty seat scared them out of their wits. Facing a KMT that was single-mindedly trying to consolidate its leadership, Lee used theatrics to conjure up an image of reality and tried to overcome his own mental obstacles.

Now, Lee is repeating his familiar maneuver of “manipulation by the minority” as he works to carry out his goals of achieving “a stable political situation and a growing economy.” He must be warmly welcoming China and Taiwan’s own pro-unification advocates and media to criticize, speculate on and seriously analyze his “intentions,” These will one again inflate Lee’s imagined power.

Despite democratic Taiwan situation, that about 15% of Taiwan mainlanders are showing their tendency as a motherland’s people, because of losing KMT’s governance in island.

Now former president Lee has gone beyond merely distancing himself from the KMT but for democracy in Taiwan.

Former president Lee Teng-hui, the best salesman for Taiwan’s democracy, made very strong statements about the nation’s political situation during his 10-day visit to the US. Both in Los Angeles and at Cornell University, Lee repeatedly emphasized that he will not retire until Taiwan’s economy recovers its previous prosperity.

Driven by a strong sense of mission for Taiwan, intellectuals across the country echoed Lee’s statements and swarmed into CKS International Airport to welcome his home. For the people of Taiwan, the appeal of “Mr. Democracy” comes from his deep feelings for this land and from his political foresight. When Taiwan was under threat from Chinese missile tests in 1996, the people gave Lee a majority of the vote in the presidential election in recognition of his leadership, rejecting Beijing’s crude attempt to interfere in Taiwan’s domestic politics.

Lee understood the longing of the people of Taiwan to be their own masters after 400 years of hardship under foreign domination. Soon after coming to power in 1998, Lee reformed the geriatric legislature, brought the military firmly under government control and initiated direct presidential elections. Lee carried out one political reform after another, leading eventually to a peaceful transition of political power that allowed a native-born political party to come to power and permitted Taiwan to break free from the fate of living under alien regimes.

Lee once said, “The only difference between me and Chiang Ching-kuo is in whether to establish a regime in which the people of Taiwan hold power and a regime that serve the people of Taiwan.” A “president in the tiger’s mouth” is an apt description of the dangers Lee faced in his attempts to transform an iron-fisted alien regime into a party that identifies with Taiwan.

However, localization never firmly took root within the KMT despite the reforms initiated by Lee during his chairmanship. Instead, Lee’s successor Lien Chan, surrounded by many “Greater Chinese” nationalists, has begun to purge Lee’s influence from the party and steer it away from his localization policies. For example, KMT headquarters has turned its back on Lee’s “special state-to-state” model for relations with China, instead choosing to try to mislead the people of Taiwan with a “confederation” model, which has long been proven unfeasible. What’s more, some of the KMT’s old guard such as old mainlander Lee Huan have echoed Beijing’s stance in demanding that the party accept “one country, two systems.”

Not surprisingly, Lee has had no choice but to come out of retirement and work to ensure that the KMT continues to walk the localization path.

One can expect Chinese nationalists to hurl vitriol at Lee because in their eyes he is the one who has sold out their political interests. Ironically, all these attempts to attack and sideline Lee have only served to provoke the resentment of a large number of people in Taiwan, who voluntarily flocked to the airport to show their support for his political platforms. It was an unprecedented scene in Taiwan politics.

Now that Lee is back home, a new political atmosphere is bound to take shape. Whether or not Lee will personally lead the establishment of a new political party, he will face both applause and boos from all corners of Taiwan’s political arena, and give rise to a race between clear-cut political camps. Lee is very likely to not only steal the limelight from candidates but dominate in one form or another the year-end elections.

Really, Taiwanese people in the tiger’s mouth.

A reorganization is underway in politics in Taiwan. Three opposition parties – the KMT, People First Party, and the New Party have recent held intensive discussion on how to cooperate.

The ruling DPP has also started working to build alliances, hoping to gain a legislative majority in the future. 

President Chen Shui-bian has tried to stabilized cross-strait relations by making compromises beyond China’s expectations.

Taiwan, however, can’t sit and wait for changes either at home or abroad.

Taiwan government must adopt more than a fire fighter’s mentality when it comes to dealing with problems, over inside or outside of facing the challenges brought by future changes in cross-strait relations and the international structure.

So, Taiwan needs your support; Lee and Chen need your help.

                                                               Yours Sincerely,