Dear Mr. Kofi A. Annan,

In Taiwan; the newly appointed chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council, Su Chi, yesterday (Feb. 2, 1999) denied that he was "hawkish" on Cross-Strait issues, but patriotically reiterated that Taiwan's economic achievement and freedom should be protected at all costs.

In the wake of recent controversy caused by Taiwan establishing a diplomatic alliance with Macedonia against Beijing's strong objections, Su told reporters that Taiwan hopes its diplomacy will be a "win-win" situations. "If we make an ally, we don't tell the country to cut off ties with China", Su said.

However, Su said, China took a completely different attitude and unceasingly, and unreasonably gave Taiwan heavy pressure. "China sees our foreign diplomacy differently, to them it's a zero-sum game", Su said.

Referring to China's practice of forcing countries to choose between either it or Taiwan, we insisted that Taiwan has the right to get in touch and make contact with the international community and rights to protect itself and its territory. "If we don't have foreign affairs, if we don't have military protection ... we will not have our economic success", Su said. "This world make us like Hong Kong, and no one in Taiwan would accept this".

Su added that Taiwan only pursed foreign affairs as a means of defending itself. Su said if there was no Taiwan, the Taiwanese would live the same lives as their Chinese compatriots and undergo tragedies such as the cultural revolution. "We have a duty to protect our achievements. So that they can be passed on to the next generation" Su said.

Taiwan and mainland China are two equal political entities. Democratic Taiwan can't go back to the past. We hope the communist China can achieve to a democratic country.