Dear Mr. President Clinton,

Anwar was charged with corruption and sexual misconduct --- allegations he says are false and political motivated.

Anwar's trial has been suspended during the APEC summit, but officials from the Untied States, Canada, Australia and the Philippines have met with Azizah, Anwar's wife, over the last few days to voice their support. They also have expressed concerned over reports that Anwar was beaten in prison and over whether his trial would be fair. This has delighted Azizah, and infuriated the Malaysian government.

Two protests, one involving thousands of pro-Anwar supports has occurred since the APEC meetings. One turning violent, but no big protests have occurred this week (Nov. 18, 1998).

Yesterday (Nov. 17, 1998) Malaysia's education minister, Najib Tun Razak, said he was outraged by the American Vice President. "We reject Al Gore's speech". He told reports "This is clearly meddling in our international affairs, which we find an absolutely intolerable state of behavior, and unbecoming of a leader of the United States."

Gore enraged APEC host Malaysia by praising the country's "brave people" demanding reform through calls for reformasi".

Gore is right ! He said the truth of undermining plot. However, not all Asian leaders were upset with Gore. Washington argues that corruption, cronyism and weak financial and corporate controls were Asia's undoing.

It wants greater transparency and market opening along with a social safety net for populations lurching backward into poverty.

In our view; it is hard for APEC's leaders to speak what they want to say in such kind of formal dinner, but there is no time for leaders to play a game of "rhet-o-ric".

But in the context of cross-strait relations the challenge to consistently understand is thwarted by Beijing's "double-speak".

In an interview with the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun, PRC President Jiang Zemin struck a conciliatory tone as he displayed a degree of flexibility regarding the post-unification national symbols of Taiwan, including the national flag, national anthem, and national title.

This seemingly friendly gesture was followed on Thursday, (Nov. 12, 1998) by a report in the Washington times that PRC would be testing its now Dong-Feng 31 ICBM during Taiwan's Dec. 5th ballot whether or not Beijing hopes is unclear. The report, however brought back memories of the PRC's 1996 missile exercises in the Taiwan strait aimed at influencing the ROC's President election.

These two events Jiang's obliging remarks to Asahi Shimbun on one hand, but on the other, the main leader's military blustering-symbolize Beijing's duplicitous approach to negotiations with Taipei. The "carrots and sticks" strategy is not a new one for PRC's long-standing policy.

We support Vice President Al Gore's way. --- To speak frankly, without cheating smog.