Unite nations ' unjustice on Aug 26, 2004

Row erupts over local boy's stamp design

`MISUNDERSTANDING': China has been accused of interfering in the UN peace stamp competition, in which a design featuring the ROC flag was rejected

By Ko Shu-ling
STAFF REPORTER
 

The UN Postal Administration (UNPA) has dismissed allegations that it succumbed to pressure from Beijing to abandon a Taiwanese boy's design that was thought to have been selected for printing in a competition to create a special postage stamp.

In addition to expressing its regret, the UNPA offered an explanation on its Web site about how designs were selected and what the "actual reasons" were which led to the "misunderstanding."

The UNPA said in a statement that it selected designs through its Stamp Advisory Committee, made up of 10 members from its New York, Geneva and Vienna offices. In this case, the committee shortlisted eight designs from the 24 merit award winners of the Lions Clubs International's competition to design a peace poster.

One of the eight shortlisted entrants was Yang Chih-yuan, a 15-year-old high school student from Taipei County.

The UNPA said that printed proofs were made in order to see all eight designs at stamp size so that the reproduction quality could be determined. The advisory committee selected six designs for the UNPA's Peace Stamps series, which is to be issued on Sept. 21.

Yang's design was not among the final six.

"However, due to an internal misunderstanding and miscommunication, Mr. Yang's proof got publicized in error as one of the six stamps intended to be issued," the statement said. "This error was detected and hence a corrective broadcast has been made."

The statement contradicts local media reports, which claimed that Yang's painting had been selected to be circulated as a commemorative stamp, but was disqualified following objections from China.

China's protest was reportedly triggered by the national flag of Taiwan being shown in the boy's design. In the picture, two children are riding a dove, symbolizing the escape from war and progress toward a peaceful nation. The right side of the painting shows a scene of war, with homeless children crying amid looming tanks, while the left side shows a joyful earth painted in vivid colors.

A spiral resembling a strand of DNA and comprising national flags winds around the dove. The ROC flag is among them.

Yang said that his painting was inspired by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the US.

Following the incident, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement criticizing China's apparent intervention.

The Taiwan chapter of the Lions has conveyed its protest to the UN over the issue.

The chapter's lawyers have also been looking into the legal issues involved in authorizing the local circulation of Yang's design as a stamp.

Postal authorities have suggested using Yang's painting on a stamp in Taiwan, pending authorization from the Lions Clubs International, which holds the copyright to the design.

The Presidential Office has also suggested that Yang's design be issued as a stamp.

If the authorization is granted, it will be the first design by a student to be published as a stamp in Taiwan. In the past, only the work of well-known artists has been used.

Singaporean PM's views are valid

On Monday, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong used his National Day speech to relay his thoughts on his recent visit to Taiwan. He pointed out that there is a real risk of war breaking out in the Taiwan Strait and criticized the leaders of both the pan-green and pan-blue camps. He also said Taiwan's media are too concerned with domestic politics and ignore Taiwan's position in the world, slamming the idea that China wouldn't resort to a military solution over the issue of independence.

Lee also said that Taiwan may not have a very good understanding of the international situation. He pointed out that the US is deeply involved in dealing with the war in Iraq and the resolution of the North Korean nuclear crisis and needs China's assistance to resolve these sensitive issues. The implication is that Taiwan may be overestimating US determination to assist it in the event of war.

We will not comment on the diplomatic dispute that has broken out between China and Singapore over Lee's visit to Taiwan, nor do we want to offer any guesses as to how this dispute may have affected Lee's comments. We do, however, thank Lee for making public his reflections on his visit. His statement also offers the nation an opportunity to respond to the blind spots in his conclusion.

For a long time, the people of Taiwan and the international community have been wondering whether China will attack Taiwan. Dealing with this question has consumed the vast majority of the nation's efforts in facilitating dialogue across the Strait, as it seems there is no better way to resolve this deadlock. In the end, all but a few nations have come down on the side of China and its armed threats -- and sometimes acting as apologists for this aggression.

Is a Chinese invasion inevitable? To answer this we must seek an answer in China's historical character and its recent military development. The answer is a guarded "yes." Since ancient times China has used its armies to expand its territory. It only takes a casual acquaintance with Chinese history to realize this.

As for the US, it is bound by the Taiwan Relations Act and President George W. Bush's promises to defend Taiwan. We do believe that if China did invade Taiwan, the US would come to its aid. After all, the promises of great powers are not made lightly.

With China's propensity for using military might, we agree that it may well act has Lee suggests -- but in no way do we take the US' defense promises for granted. For this reason, Taiwan has been working to improve its defensive capabilities and is actively seeking the purchase of AEGIS-equipped destroyers and other advanced military systems from the US.

Taiwan's efforts to improve the livelihood of its people should not be constrained by the uncertainty in the Taiwan Strait, nor should its national development be conceived under the shadow of invasion. The development of diplomatic relations, creating a vibrant economy, raising the level of education, striving for ethnic harmony and strengthening national identity should not be neglected because of cross-strait tensions.

It is as Lee said: only by visiting Taiwan and understanding the thinking of both its government and opposition is one able to make an accurate assessment. This cannot be done simply by reading reports and newspapers. We fully agree with Lee and welcome him to visit again. We also echo Lee's "hands on" approach and call on leaders in China, the US and our own to visit one another. Only through increased communication will leaders be able to make wise decisions and avoid the chance of a conflict in the region.