Dear Mr. President Bill Clinton,
Mr. Trent Lott,
Mr. Denny Hastert,
The advanced radar system will enhance China's ability to extend its
military power beyond its borders and threaten Taiwan.
Israel's sale of sophisticated US$250 million airborne radar system to
China has raised serious concerns at the Taiwan. It will improve
significantly China's ability to conduct operations in and around the Taiwan Strait..
The sale of radar system, as well as other Israeli arms deals with China, have put a
strain on the Clinton administration's relationship with one of the U.S.'s closet allies.
Taiwan issue is the security of cross-straits' relationship that Israeli
arms transfers to China are more easily than Taiwan's wants. There is always
the danger that some of this technology could hurt Taiwan defense.
The other concern is Taiwanese people have nightmare of that "who" is the man
to be a president, and then "betray Taiwan to Beijing that over the
threat from communist China".
There are many native Taiwanese people fear to believe mainlanders those
who living in Taiwan for about 50 years. Taiwan should reunify internal problems. However,
either native Taiwanese or mainlanders are New Taiwanese.
In our views, those who "tell the truth with honest" would the key point to
win Taiwanese people's mind, that should win presidential campaign.
From "The Road To Democracy" the book wrote by ROC President Lee Teng-hui, he
said that ...
Much of our experience in Taiwan should be readily understood by people on
the mainland. Taking a close look at Taiwan, they ought to realize the
fundamental and serious contradictions inherent in the course their government is
pursuing. The "Taiwan experience," or the "Taiwan model,"
is not for the people in Taiwan alone but for all Chinese. It will be an
essential model for the reunified China. Only then, and I say this with special emphasis,
will the Taiwan experience assume its true significance.
We therefore cannot assent to the one-China formula that is so high-handedly upheld by
the PRC authorities, although we do earnestly hope that the partial attempts at
democratization they are currently engaging in at the village level will succeed. We
also want to see the mainland introduce political reforms and expand the breadth and depth
of democratization so that our fellow Chinese on the continent will be able to fully apply
their ingenuity and abilities in building a multifaceted and open modern society.
The problems that mainland China must overcome are, needless to say, far greater in
scale and more serious than those for Taiwan. I recognize that the difficulties Taiwan had
prior to the reforms are not comparable to the problems now confronting the mainland in
diversity, complexity, and gravity. The bigger and more serious the problems, however, the
greater will be the miseries perpetrated by misguided policies. When a policy line is
flawed it could result in a disaster that involves all of the PRC's Asian neighbors as
well.
If we recall the process of Taiwan's reforms, we will note that farsightedness and able
planning of political leaders over the decades are responsible for the splendid results of
current government policy. Had the leaders charted a fundamentally wrong course and failed
to deal squarely with the problems they faced, the government would not be able to pursue
the policies it does today. Had the people of Taiwan not responded willingly to the
measures adopted by their political leaders, they would not have matured as the democratic
citizens who form the support base of government today.
It may be said that the people of Taiwan were "reborn" as a new
breed of citizen. A lethargic populace under an authoritarian regime was
transformed into an energetic citizenry under democratic government. One should not
forget, however, that this change was accomplished gradually over half a
century. A democratic citizenry is not something suddenly conceived of one day and
achieved the next. Neither is it a process that can be brought about through violent
revolution.
In retrospect, the process Taiwan underwent could be called "revolutionary,"
but it took half a century. It occurred under sustained economic growth and social
stability. The rapid structural change that has taken place over the last ten years or so
--- the change in which I myself was deeply involved --- was also a "quiet
revolution." This revolution was in essence an inconspicuous, ceaseless endeavor
pursued in four areas: political democratization, pragmatic foreign policy, closer
relations across the Strait, and the upgrading of the economy. The first
three were new developments born through the quiet revolution. Until then, economic
development had been Taiwan's foremost priority. It had been believed that as
long as the economy improved, other problems could be handled. This belief
proved correct to some extent. However, with tremendous changes occurring in the
international environment and with new developments in the mainland, political reforms
have become all the more important for Taiwan.
The greatest challenge for people of Taiwan's next generation is how to further
progress in the three noneconomic areas, that is, democratization, pragmatic foreign
policy, and closer relations with the mainland. It is for this reason that I have tried to
write in as much detail as possible about how my generation understood the issues in these
three areas and cope with them. Success or failure in these challenges will
determine the future nor just of Taiwan but of all the Chinese people.
November 12. Today marks the 133rd anniversary of the birth of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the man
credited with founding the Republic of China. At least that's the story in Taiwan --- in
mainland, Sun is also hailed as a revolutionary hero for his contributions in bringing
down the Qing dynasty. When asked the questions that why needs "revolution," the
answer is "China needs democracy." After four hundred years late,
Taiwan became a democratic country. On the other side of mainland China, it remain on
communism under control of hegemony.
In the retrospect the process Taiwan underwent could be called "quiet
revolution" this special revolution was in programmatic and peaceful reformation.
In Taiwan, the first priority is the upgrading of the economy over free market's projects.
Dr. Sun's revolution was full of bloodshed and mass sacrifice but rebound on political
struggle and civil war that split China.
We want to give communist China the "Taiwan experience" or "Taiwan
model" that Taiwan government is pursuing, in which whole Chinese fervent wish.
However, both sides of Chinese need your help.