Friday, Dec. 31 1999 ---

Taiwan’s representative to the United States, Stephen Chen, recently returned to Taiwan. He reported on current Taiwan-U.S. relations to the Legislative Yuan. According to him, the ground of mutual trust between Taiwan and the United States has been undermined because our government announced, without consulting the United States in advance, that cross-strait relations are special “state-to-state” relations.

The “two-states” theory has become the supreme guideline of Taiwan’s foreign policy. Not only has President Lee Teng-hui reaffirmed such a principle, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also has included the spirit of this theory in official documents. For instance, this year MOFA’s document claiming Taiwan’s right to join the United Nations emphasized that Taiwan and China have been ruled by two “distinct and separate” governments. The two-states theory is crucial to Taiwan’s long-term survival and development. It defines not only cross-strait relations but also Taiwan’s self-identity. It therefore has won support from the majority of the Taiwanese people.

The two-states theory has gained much support from the U.S. Congress and has received good press, despite opposed by the administration of U.S. President Bill Clinton. As a diplomat of Taiwan, Chen should use all the friendly strength he can muster to fight for our national interests. He should not openly convey messages against our national principles. His words are likely to be used by the pro-China people as an excuse to attack Taiwan.

Chen’s criticism of President Lee Teng-hui in not consulting the United States in advance is even more ridiculous. Is he a diplomat of Taiwan or of the United States? The nature of cross-strait relations is a matter of sovereignty. Taiwan has no obligation to ask American approval. We are certainly searching for American understanding, since the cross-strait relationship is related to U.S. interests. However, considering the weakness of Clinton’s China policy, consulting the United States in advance would only raise obstacles for Taiwan to its declare national sovereignty. Without the two-states theory, Taiwan would eventually be trapped into the “one-China” and “three-nos” policies and be forced to accept into the “one China, two systems” formula. Chen, as a representative of Taiwan to the United States, is doing nothing to fight for Taiwan’s sovereignty and dignity but instead criticizing his own country in not asking approval from the United States in the first place. Chen’s behavior is humiliating to his country.

His attitude and professionalism are both questionable. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should replace him immediately.