Dear Mr. Trent Lott,
　　 Mr. Denny Hastert,

Not only for apologize --- U.S. undersecretary of state Thomas Pickering offered Chinese ministers an explanation yesterday (June 16, 1999) of NATO's bombing of a Chinese Embassy in an attempt to pull Sino-U.S. relations out of a nose-dive.

China made four demands after the bombing --- an apology, a full investigation, publication of the details of probe and punishment of those responsible. China, which has dismissed the spying charges as a "tale from the Arabian nights," says it wants the punishment of those responsible for the bombing to be handled by an international court.

On the other hand, who must be charged by international court, from Tiananmen's massacre, and countless human rights and political distortion. "Chinese can never be satisfied with an apology because our sovereignty has been humiliated," said Tao Caizhen, a Beijing office worker on his way from lunch at McDonald's, "Americans will forever owe the Chinese a debt." He said.

Invited by University of California Los Angeles' Taiwan Alumni Association UCLA chancellor Albert Carnesale was on a short visit to Taipei last month. We recorded the part of answer and questions --- what do you think is Taiwan's role in Asia for the 21st century ? Answer :
It is clearly a central factor economically. Taiwan's economy has managed to survive with moderate growth despite the problems all round Asia. Secondly, speaking from an American point of view, the American government and its people do feel a special connection and obligation to Taiwan. As it had been reflected in our foreign policy and missile crisis. We are strong supporters of Taiwan as an independent entity.

Taiwan, in 1990 when the Bush administration was desperately trying to raise money around the world to help pay the costs of the Gulf War. Taiwan offered US$ 300 million. U.S. officials, nervous about Beijing's reaction, reluctantly turned down the money. This time, Taiwan has been more subtle and more successful, one of the little-known stories of the past few months has been Taiwan's involvement in support of the NATO campaign that mainland China so fervently opposed Taiwan established diplomatic ties with Macedonia in January. During the war, it sent doctors and aid workers to Macedonia and set up a field hospital to help refugees fleeing from Kosovo.

On Monday (June 6, 1999), President Lee Teng-hui announced that Taiwan would contribute a huge new chunk of money for humanitarian aid to Kosovo refugees. How much ? Precisely US$ 300 million, the very amount that Taiwan had offered in support of the Persian Golf War. The aid would go directly to Macedonia --- so that this time, Washington couldn't stop the payment even if it wanted to do.

In Taiwan former Democratic Progressive Party chairman Hsu Hsin-liang came to the defense of President Lee Teng-hui's aid package for Kosovo refugees, which has been widely criticized by opposition politicians. "Taiwan should do more to help Kosovo refugees and to protect the new world order," Hsu told a news conference at his Rising People's Foundation. "Critics of the plan have no common understanding of international politics or humanitarianism," Hsu said. "We are doing this for Kosovo as well as for ourselves," he said. "I don't agree that the aid is a waste of money." Hsu said. He cited statistics as showing the figure comprises only 0.1 percent of the country's gross national product.


Taiwan's air force may slow the deployment of new F-16 fighters following three deadly crashes, a newspaper reported yesterday (June 14, 1999). The showdown could delay inauguration of a final three squadrons of the jets, 150 of which were purchased from the United States in 1992 and delivered over the past two years, the China Times said.

The crashes, which have killed five pilots, shook confidence in the air forces upgrading program and raised speculation that intense training to master new types of airplanes was overburdening the service. The modernize its air defenses against hostile rival China, Taiwan has mothballed aging American fighters over the past few years and replaced them with cutting edge U.S. and French technology. The air force is reexamining its training program, but has made no decision on delaying the deployment of more F-16s, an air force spokesman said speaking with customary anonymity.

Three squadrons of F-16s are already based at Chiayi in central Taiwan, and another squadron is located at Hualian on the east coast, the paper reported. The paper quoted Defense Minister Tang Fei as saying the U.S. Air Force is expected to dispatch an investigation team to Taiwan to look into the cause of the latest crash. Searchers have so far found no sign of a pilot and plane that vanished off Taiwan's east coast on May 31. In addition to the crashes, the F-16s have also been hobbled by spare parts delays and a service-wide pilot shortage, the newspaper reported, quoting an unidentified high-ranking air force official.

Twelve F-16s are now grounded awaiting parts and the air force is still about 350 pilots short of its optimum strength of 1,700, the paper reported, problems with the F-16s contrast with the relatively smooth introduction of the 60 mirage 2000-5 fighters from France, none of which have reported serious problems.

Eager to break into the Asia market, French supplies have provided highly attentive service, even hand carrying tiny parts all the way from France when Taiwan's supplies ran out at short notice, the newspaper said. Taiwan has also mustered into service 130 home-developed IDF fighters as part of its air force overhaul.

In our views, please don't ignore Taiwan people's friendship. The manner of giving shows the character of the given, more than the gift itself.