Dear Mr. Tung Chee-hwa,

There is no need for immediate reunification. This is a reasonable assessment of the issue, especially when considering the saber rattling of mainland China which has threatened to take Taiwan by force should the island declare independence.

The issue should be examined calmly and rationally. The Chinese nation has been in existence for close to 5,000 years during which it has been both divided and unified. Division, however, have never lasted long, should a military confrontation occur between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, it would be a disaster for all. For the both side of Chinese that created the mainland and Taiwan miracle would go down the drain.

TAIPEI, Oct. 26 ---
Despite mutual finger-pointing over Taiwan's difference toward earthquake relief from mainland China, the island on Tuesday hosted a group of mainland students who brought donations to help a quake damaged university.

Two university teachers and 12 students arrived from Beijing on Monday amid festering political frictions over what role the Communist mainland might play in helping victims of the estranged island's killer 921 earthquake.

The visitors said the donation, though small at HK$100,000 (US$12,980), showed mainland concern about the quake that killed over 2,300 people and a heartfelt desire to help Taiwan's people.

"It all came from our love of our Taiwan compatriots --- nothing else," said group leader Lu Shan, a history instructor at the People's University in Beijing.

"We are deeply concerned about Taiwan compatriots after the quake. We all want people from the two sides to lead a good and prosperous life."

The quake, Taiwan's strongest on record at 7.3 on the Richter scale, toppled some 52,000 buildings --- sparking a frantic hunt for entombed survivors that lasted more than a week.

Beijing quickly offered assistance despite the bitter rivalry across the Taiwan Strait and Taipei agreed to accept Red Cross donations that eventually totaled more than US$500,000, but drew the line at other help, politely refusing medical teams.

The refusal sparked weeks of tit-for-tat accusations --- that Beijing was exploiting Taiwan's disaster to tighten a diplomatic embargo around the island, and that Taipei was callously turning away genuine help despite obvious need.

Taipei was enraged at signs that Beijing was pressed the United Nations and other foreign donors to seek its approval before rushing rescue teams and aid into Taiwan which has no U.N. seat and is recognized by only 29 states.

Beijing said it fully supported aid efforts and blasted Taipei for "distorting facts" and inventing rumors.

Beijing University student Dong Yang said she believed mainland China's intentions were good, noting that many student and citizens groups swiftly organized fundraisers.

We should bear in mind that we are all Chinese from the mainland and we all believe that the Chinese nation is indivisible, despite the temporary division.

In Taiwan, the people in Taiwan are enjoying more freedom than any time in Chinese history, and also than most nations in the world, it is a fact that the people in this country are enjoying a life of overall material abundance never experienced before in Chinese history.

On economic, political and military reality, that both sides of Chinese can create major stability of world. On the other hand, Taiwanese people's willingness needs your help, to link both sides over peaceful meanings.