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Taiwan Tati Cultural |
Dear Mr. President Bill Clinton,
Mr. Vice President Al Gore,
Mr. Trent Lott,
Mr. Denny Hastert,
Mr. George W. Bush,
Mr. Secretary General Walter
Schwimmer,
Mr. Deputy Secretary General Hans Christian Kruger,
President-elect Chen Shui-bian proposed a “peace summit” with Beijing, adding that while the “one China” policy could be on the table for discussion, it could not be the basis for talks.
He also insisted Taiwan be treated as an equal partner in any dialogue across the Taiwan Strait. “There is nothing that we can’t talk about on the basis of equality,” Chen said. “I believe we can sit down and talk with the Chinese side about all issues, including ‘one China.’”
In what appears to have been a response to Chen’s remarks, Chinese President Jiang Zemin said last Monday that dialogues and negotiations across the Taiwan Strait should be based on the “one China” principle.
Judge a man not by the words of his mother, but from the comments of his neighbors. Above the same reason, judge a country not by its government but from the comments of our world.
Taiwan is a hopeful country. Should be judged by its striving reality that overwhelming in communist China’s nationalism.
March 26, 2000 ---
Taiwan would not be able to counter military threats from China without US
support, said the government’s number two cross-strait policy official.
“I hope we (Taiwan) will further enhance cooperation with the US. Aid from the US is vital for Taiwan to defend itself from China’s military threats,” said Mainland Affairs Council Vice Chairman Wu An-chia at a conference on warfare at Tamkang University yesterday.
“Whether China will use force against Taiwan depends on the attitude of the US. According to the Taiwan Relations Act, the US government is obliged to provide Taiwan with sufficient defensive power,” Wu said.
The Taiwan Relations Act --- passed in 1979 --- governs Washington’s relations with Taipei since the end of official diplomatic relations.
“In the foreseeable future, China will continue to use a strategy of military intimidation against Taiwan. But it is hard to say to what extent it is willing to make use of this intimidation.”
Counter-offensive weapons could be an effective deterrent to China’s carrying through on its repeated military threats against Taiwan, Wu said.
“We may follow the example of Singapore in developing a ‘scorpion’ counter-offensive capability. Singapore is surrounded by countries larger and stronger than it. It makes itself immune to attacks from those countries by adopting a defense strategy of striking hard at aggressors, much like a scorpion does,” Wu said.
He declined to mention which kinds of weapons would constitute a deterrent.
Referring to Chen Shui-bian’s new government many times in his speech, Wu urged the new administration not to underestimate the importance of the US in Taiwan-China relations.
The US, he said, is crucial in maintaining a balance of power in the Taiwan Strait.
Lo Chih-cheng, a political analyst at Soochow University and also a foreign policy advisor to Chen, said Chen is the most pro-US among all presidential candidates, even more so than outgoing President Lee Teng-hui.
Lo said he communicated Chen’s pro-US stance to US delegates during the presidential election.
For the new government, Wu advised strategic utilization of Taiwan’s resources if it ever engages with China.
Beijing’s military capability, he said, is superior to Taiwan’s in many ways. But asymmetrical warfare --- in which one side applies its strengths in areas off the immediate battlefield, such as disabling enemy computer systems --- is still a feasible strategy for the undergo, Wu said.
“Although we are a small country, we can deal with a large country like China by putting all our available resources and bargaining chips to their best use,” he said.
But a war of attrition could be costly for Taiwan, Wu said.
“If we engage with China, we must not forget that we will be at a disadvantage if the exchange between the two sides proceeds too fast or too widely,” Wu said.
---- By BRIAN HSU
STAFF REPORTER
Frankly speaking, the only positive element is that no one wants to start a war. But the domestic pressures in all three capitals will make resolution of the situation extremely difficult.
Many Americans --- including influential blocs of Chinese-Americans --- increasingly identify with democratic, capitalist Taiwan and feel growing disgust with Beijing.
The reasons include Beijing’s worsening human rights record, its continuing crackdown on dissent and its failed pre-election attempts to discourage voters from supporting the most pro-independence candidate, President-elect Chen Shui-bian.
In Beijing, the negative feelings are mutual. China’s leader, and probably a large number of its citizens, view the United States as a potential adversary. Especially since the accidental bombing of China’s Embassy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, last year by U.S.-led NATO forces, Chinese officials have harshly criticized U.S. actions and intentions. Chinese newspapers have published countless articles and editorials inveighing against U.S. “hegemony” and alleged American attempts to “contain” China and to prevent the emerging giant from assuming its rightful place in the world.
“The Chinese leadership is clearly worried about Theater Missile Defense (a proposed U.S. anti-missile umbrella), Aegis destroyers (which Taiwan hopes to buy from the United States), denial of permanent Normal Trade Relations … and other potentially hostile developments to U.S.-China relations,” said David Bachman, chairman of the China Studies Program at the University of Washington.
A students of laws who does not understand their meaning, or cannot explain their contradictions, is just a basket full of books.
Democracy means respect for people’s wishes. It relies on ballots rather than guns, reason rather than violence. Although the campaigning was highly negative, the whole process was peaceful until all the votes had been counted.
Once the election outcome was know, however, violent protests in front of the KMT headquarters erupted, causing disorder and disturbance. It was regrettable and deplorable. Democracy and the rule of law are closely linked. It is essential that voters learn to accept the election outcome rationally and discontinue the protests immediately.
Taiwan’s presidential election has attracted world-wide attention, Taiwan’s democratic experience under duress was a profile in courage. President-elect Chen Shi-bian has repeatedly expressed his sincerity and good will toward China for establishing peaceful relations. It is hoped that China will reciprocate in the same spirit.
Taiwan is eager to walk out from the shadow of the humiliation of colonialism and participate in international society. The people of Taiwan do not belong to a regime controlled by others, not will they submit to such a regime. They will forge their own path.
In nineteenth century France, the scholar Renan in his book What is a Nation? Enunciated a statement that echoes through the ages: “A nation in a soul, a spiritual principle. Two things which are really one and the same make up this soul … One is the possession in common of a rich heritage of memories, and the other is actual agreement, the desire to live together, and the will to make the most of the joint inheritance.” This statement stresses the motivation of a felt community of interests. Applying this to Taiwan, the people of Taiwan have a common destiny. They aspire to unbind the fetters of past history and escape from the international confinement constructed by the big powers. They will be reborn with a new countenance and a revitalized spirit, and strive to create prosperity and peace for their future generations.
Taiwan has been a society of immigrants, past and recent. Sooner or later, immigrants grasp the truth that they cannot look backwards to the nation of their origin, but must build their home in the new world they live in the present. An immigrant society is a society full of energy. The vibrancy of Taiwan’s modern society and the ability of Taiwanese businessmen to carry their enterprise throughout the world are testament to this.
Taiwan also holds a population that is among the top five in the world in educational attainment. It is number one in the world in the rate of population travelling abroad. Adding to this Taiwan’s position as one of the foremost nations in electronics and high technology industry, who can deny that the people of Taiwan hold the key to advancement?
A further characteristic of the people of Taiwan is their altruism and their energetic commitment to charitable activities, through which they have raised their own spiritual character. The demonstration of concern for our own people that was shown in the relief for the great September 21 earthquake, as well as the humanitarian activities of several Taiwanese foundations around the globe, for instance Tzu-chi, has gradually changed the opinion of the people of the world towards Taiwan.
Let us put forth even greater effort in the future to help the people of the world who need our succor. The twenty-first century is awaiting the leadership of a new nation --- Taiwan.
In our view, Taiwan is trying not to become a country of success, but rather striving to become a country of value. Taiwan needs your support.
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Yours Sincerely, 
Yang Hsu-Tung. |
