Dear Mr. Prime Minister Tony Blair,
Mr. President Jacques Chirac,
Mr. Chancellor Gerhard Schr(der,
Mr. Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema,
Mr. Prime Minister John Howard,
Mr. Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi,
Mr. Kofi A. Annan,
Mr. Secretary-General George Robertson,
Mr. Trent Lott,
Mr. Denny Hastert,
What's Mahathir scare? ---Be censured, not censure.
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 28 ---
Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, a longtime
cynic about Western motives in Asia, has accused foreigners
of encouraging East Timor's independence drive and said the violence-torn
territory would have been better off staying part of Indonesia.
Mahathir charged that anti Indonesian "partied" had used
Indonesia's economic problems to press for the Aug. 30 independence
ballot and said many East Timorese accepted Jakarta's rule because
of its development spending over almost 25 years.
Asked in a U.S. television interview Monday why the territory voted
overwhelmingly for independence, he said foreigners had told East
Timorese "Look, if you become independent we will help you,
we will gave you protection, we will give you money."
"Naturally, the East Timorese will vote for independence,"
Mahathir was quoted as saying by the state news agency Bernama.
He added that "it was a wrong time to hold a referendum and
the international community should have given Indonesia time to
make democracy work.
Mahathir is the only foreign leader to question the
vote, held under a U.N.-brokered agreement between
Indonesia and former colonial power Portugal.
Shock at the atrocities committed by pro-Jakarta militias and elements
of the Indonesian army following the ballot has silenced other Asian
critics of the vote --- outside of Indonesia itself.
But Asian disquiet at the deployment of an Australian-dominated
peacekeeping force in the territory was fuelled by comments from
Prime Minister John Howard, apparently claiming a permanent regional
peacekeeping role.
Malaysia's opposition leader and a leading pro-government newspaper
joined forces Tuesday to pour scorn on Howard following his apparent
about-turn on Canberra's regional policeman role.
The New Straits Times said last week's disclosure in a magazine
interview of a "Howard Doctrine" of playing deputy sheriff
to the United States in Asia was now "the doctrine that never
was" following his clarification to parliament on Monday.
Howard said Monday the report had not properly represented his
position and denied seeking a role as U.S. peacekeeping deputy in
the region.
Only one style of democracy way that is how to
respect of human rights.
Confucius once said, "the virtuous will never
feel alone." This touch-stone saying is borne
out by the outpouring of sympathy and assistance to Taiwan after
the island was struck by a devastating earthquake last week.
More than a dozen countries, none of them with diplomatic relations
with Taiwan, sent rescue teams to Taiwan right after the earthquake.
Japanese rescue experts rushed to Taiwan just hours later to help
save survivors trapped in collapsed buildings.
Over the past week, we have seen foreign rescue squads from Asia,
America, Europe working hard in stricken areas in cooperation conditions.
And last Friday, 90 hours after the killer earthquake, a Korean
rescue worker miraculously pulled out a six-year-old boy from the
debris of a collapsed building in Taichung. The heroic effort of
the Korean rescue team has earned not only the respect and gratitude
of the people in this country, but also the rest of the world.
Indeed, the friendship from the international community extended
to the people of Taiwan is overwhelming. Although the
ROC on Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations, the world body
did express its concern and willingness to offer help to Taiwan
in the island's relief work. The earthquake, the worst
to strike Taiwan in a century, has shown that diplomatically-isolated
Taiwan does not stand alone. It has a lot of friends. This
is because the world has become a global village in which people
of different creeds and faiths live together in harmony, and humanitarianism
transcends politics. Human rights have become the most important
value of the civilized world.
It must also be pointed out that Taiwan's democratization
and its respect for human rights have earned it many friends.
Taiwan's generous donation to international relief efforts, such
as its pledge of US$300 million to war-torn Kosovo, shows that it
wants to be a good neighbor in the global village, even though the
generosity has been criticized by some as politically motivated.
In this respect, Taiwan's assistance to the Third World is barely
enough. As a developed country with the third-largest foreign reserves
in the world, Taiwan's foreign aid is not quite in proportion to
its gross domestic product. It should do much more if it wants to
be a player in the world arena.
Three small Pacific island states at long last gained membership
in the U.N.. The principle of political universality was again underscored
as Nauru, Kiribati, and the Kingdom of Tonga joined 185 other countries
in the big tent of global diplomacy. The politics of inclusion ensures
that even the world micro-states may enter the club of nations.
It's tragically ironic that another Pacific island democracy, the
Republic of China, whose government played a key role in founding
the United Nations in 1945 continues to be excluded from membership.
Yet, for the seventh straight year, the People's Republic of China
sidelined a proposed agenda item which would have simply permitted
discussion of what Beijing considers a "renegade province."
That Beijing's Marxist Mandarins have again chosen
to bully small and democratic Taiwan is not in itself unusual ---
what is more troubling is that for the first time, in a heated committee
hearing, a representative of the United States agreed with the People's
Republic of China and against the people of Taiwan!
America joined Beijing's representatives and delegates from Bangladesh,
Belerus, and Burma among others, in silencing open discussions on
Taiwan's right to participate in the U.N.!
That the People's Republic of China controls the Mainland and the
Republic of China controls Taiwan has remained a de facto political
reality for the last fifty years. Tragically, China is a divided
nation, much as Germany was until a decade ago, or Korea is today.
Whether or not the PRC wishes it, there happens to be two separate
states who jointly have jurisdiction over the territory of the single
Chinese nation. It's arrogant and preposterous to permit the PRC
to claim the name "China" as if it were a political trademark.
Recent remarks by ROC President Lee Tung-hui that both Taiwan and
the PRC are, in fact, "separate states," in fact, "separate
states," have reignited a firestorm of Beijing's hostility.
While the PRC ousted the ROC from its U.N. membership
in 1971, the reality remains that the move, reflecting the fissures
of the cold war, clearly discriminates against the 22 million people
on Taiwan.
The Republic of China on Taiwan fulfills the classic attributes
of a statehood under international law. It likewise has, through
hard work, build one of East Asia's powerhouse economics which stands
as a model for the developing world.
Taiwan's economy is larger than ninety percent of the
U.N.'s 188 member states; even her population is bigger than two
thirds of the U.N.'s members. Should Taiwan participate
in the world body, her budget assessments and contributions to enhance
economic development programs would be a boon for the cash-strapped
organization.
Naturally, the Great Wall of the PRC's membership veto realistically
blocks Taipei's participation. Nonetheless, there's a precedent
for divided nations joining the U.N. --- until reunification, both
West and East Germany held separate U.N. seats: likewise today both
South and North Korea maintain separate delegations.
Taipei is not without support. Speaking from the rostrum of the
General Assembly, the Presidents of Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Paraguay
among other allies from the Caribbean, Central America and Africa
have openly called for Taiwan's reinclusion in the U.N..
Beijing's calls for Chinese reunification --- crudely
finessed through military threats, diplomatic isolation, and constant
coercion, increasingly alienate a vibrantly democratic Taiwan from
its cousins on the Mainland. The PRC's bullying actually fuels the
very thing Beijing fears most --- Taiwan independence sentiments.
If the PRC is genuinely serious about reunification, rather that
pushing Taiwan into diplomatic corners, it would allow Taiwan a
"face saving" safety valve to both defuse growing cross
straits tensions as well as dampen Taipei's enthusiasm about choosing
a political path not within the confines of the Chinese nation.
After the massive earthquake struck Taiwan on September 21, more
than 800 rescue workers from 21 countries arrived in Taiwan to render
assistance. These rescue workers from various countries transcend
national boundaries to offer humanitarian relief in a show of international
compassion. Indeed, the world has made huge progress in human rights
and humanitarian efforts.
The Chinese authorities, however, although repeatedly
claiming that the people on both sides of the strait are "as
closely linked as flesh and blood," took advantage of Taiwan's
current plight to make political statements. Seemingly oblivious
to the loss of lives and the plight of the victims, the Chinese
authorities spoke about sovereignty over Taiwan. Their insensitivity
has elicited rage and fury from around the island.
On September 21, the United Nations consulted with the Security
Council on providing Taiwan with rescue and relief efforts. Quoting
U.N. officials, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported that
China refused to positively respond to the issue, making
the U.N. unable to provide timely assistance. Claiming
to be the "central government" of Taiwan, the Chinese
authorities also obliged foreign countries to seek their blessing
when sending relief and aid to Taiwan. It further shamelessly
expressed its gratitude toward the international community "on
behalf of the people of Taiwan."
During this time when Taiwan desperately needed international
assistance, not only did China watch with a cool detachment and
exploited this disaster to ballyhoo its "one-China" propaganda
but it also meddled and obstructed the efforts of other countries.
For instance, the Russian rescue team took 12 extra
hours to arrive in Taiwan sue to China's refusal to allow the planes
the use of an air corridor. Although China repeatedly claimed that
it is "willing to provide all possible assistance
to lessen the damage caused by the earthquake,"
sovereignty remained a priority of the Chinese authorities when
dealing with international relief efforts. The hostile stance of
and irrational barriers set by China were yet further exemplification
of its utter disregard for the well-being of the people of Taiwan.
We condemn China's hypocritical show of compassion
as well as its utter disregard for the well-being of the people
and its shameless attempt to use this tragedy to advance its selfish
sense of national sovereignty. While the people of
Taiwan struggle to recover from the devastating earthquake, the
health and welfare of the people should supersede all political
considerations. At a time when Taiwan's presidential candidates
have suspended their campaign activities and devoted themselves
to helping those have become victims, China's meddling and false
sympathy are all the more abominable.
Say no words, just do it.
TAIPEI, Sept. 28 ---
The third son of former U.S. President George Bush flew into Taiwan
on Tuesday, bringing with him 1.6 metric tons of medicine and medical
equipment to contribute to relief work in earthquake-stricken Taiwan.
Neil Bush said upon arrival at Chiang Kai-shek International Airport
that he is running an errand here for his father, the honorary chairman
of Americares, the largest private disaster relief organization
in the United States.
The equipment and medicine will be donated to Taiwan's Buddhist
Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation to help treat the people who
were injured in the Sept. 21 quake and its aftershocks, the junior
Bush said.
The first batch, which included tents, blankets, flashlights and
antibiotics, was airlifted to Taiwan on Sept. 25.
We owe and express appreciation.
We trust democratic country more than communist
China.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 ---
Elizabeth Hanford Dole outlined an assertive defense and foreign
policy Monday, calling for the United States to withdraw from an
anti-missile treaty with Russian and boost support for Taiwan, a
move that would likely antagonize China.
Dole accused the Clinton administration of mismanaging the aftermath
of the Cold War by conducting a feckless foreign policy refracted
through opinion polls and "the prism of domestic policy,"
rather than based upon strategic or security interests.
"Our ability to advance our interest with the
world's major powers, and contain its rogue regimes, has waned,"
the GOP presidential hopeful said in a speech at South
Carolina's College of Charleston. "The world remains
a very dangerous place, and we Americans are today even more vulnerable
to missile attack tan we were seven years ago."
Dole joined Texas Gov. George W. Bush and others in the GOP field
in advocating deployment of a nationwide anti-missile defense system.
But Dole went further than Bush, saying the United States should
abandon, not simply renegotiated, the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile
Treaty with Russia. Her stance was echoed Monday by rival Gary Bauer,
in his own foreign policy speech in San Francisco.
The ABM treaty, which forbids such a national defense system, "(binds)
us to a deal that reflects the technology and security and security
environment of 27 years ago," Dole said.
Dole offered a more complex policy toward mainland China. She said
it should be admitted to the World Trade Organization and that she
would work to expand U.S.-China business ties. She also called,
however, for "greater political and defense support
for Taiwan" and said "we would
meet proudly with the Dalai Lama and other dissidents."
In our views,
A. Referendum became the nightmare of Asia country.
B. Many Asia's leader cannot accept the voice of dissident.
C. Old leader's seat are too hot to stay in which they want to keep
it.
D. Howard Doctrine is corrected by the way of Asia stability.
E. It is very sick for some Asia countries to hear from human rights.
F. Mahathir suffer "defense mechanism".
G. Communist China reveals syndrome of "nationalism".
Taiwan needs your help to be a member of global village.
