Jan. 15, 2000 ---

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata, has protested to China after it deported seven North Koreans caught crossing into Russia, her office said. The Geneva-based UNHCR said that the seven family members, including a 13-year-old boy, could face reprisals in North Korea. It said they had been deported despite receiving refugees status from the agency last month. “We are gravely concerned by the Chinese decision to deport people who UNHCR has recognised as refugees under the 1951 Refugee Convention,” Ogata said, urging North Korean authorities to treat the seven humanely. The UNHCR said Ogata formally protested to the Chinese government in a letter sent on Wednesday. Russian border police detained the family while crossing into Russia from China on November 10, and deported them to China on December 30.

“For Taiwan” books introduced a concept that picked up from the poll of Taiwanese people. On reviewing the democratic procedure of Taiwan, it’s aware that Taiwanese people is difference in the issue of human rights and nationalism. The best way to link an island to the mainland is to build bridges. Taiwan must start building bridges to mainland China.

The best way is to increase trade, commerce and communication, links with the mainland are desirable. In the longer term, Taiwan may be forced to accept some formula whereby its accepts a subsidiary role to Beijing without losing its substantive independence and the trappings of statehood, including its ability to defend itself.