Posted on 08/14/2002 7:37:21 AM PDT by Enemy Of The State
Taiwan's independence, which was endorsed by Mao Zedong in 1936, is a reality despite that fact that the government of the PRC, of which Taiwan has never been a part, threatens Taiwan's freedom; and many nations in the world fail to recognize Taiwan formally for fear of upsetting China.
Capitalizing on a difficult situation, former president Lee Ten-hui recognized the wisdom of pursing "democratization" rather than "independence" or "unification" and he succeeded brilliantly.
Taiwan is today a free-market democratic republic whose security is threatened by an outside power, but is protected by the strategic national interests of the US and Japan, who do not want Chinese hegemony threatening the sea lanes of the southwest Pacific Ocean.
Like Lee, Chen does not have to choose "independence" or "unification," but he can afford to move beyond "democratization," which has been largely achieved.
Instead, Chen should boldly and proudly proclaim his "solidarity" with the US-Japan alliance in general and his unconditional support for the US global war against terrorism in particular.
Taiwan's support for the US-Japan alliance is certainly in its own national interest. Although Taipei is making and hopefully will make even greater efforts for its own defense, Taiwan's security, like Israel's, is hard to imagine without the deterrent power of the US vis-a-vis, in Taiwan's case, China.
Ever since the outbreak of the Korean War, the US has set forth the power of the Seventh Fleet as a shield protecting Taiwan from a hostile military takeover -- and that commitment by then-president Harry Truman is equally credible under President George W. Bush. The fact of Taiwan's economic success and its political modernization make America's resolve all the firmer, but the fundamental reality of the American commitment remains national interest.
America is trusted by Japan and Korea, which welcome 100,000 US troops to their shores and which fear that, without a US military presence, China would threaten their interests tomorrow the way it threatens Taiwan's today.
Although Taiwan has not been invited formally to become a member of the US-Japan alliance, Taiwan can pledge its solidarity with and support for the alliance without any need to declare independence or to cease cross-strait negotiations.
Without formally joining the alliance, Taiwan can still perform important missions appropriate for an alliance partner.
Specifically, Taiwan can provide much needed intelligence on China, which is very important to the US and Japan. With the US stretched thin in its efforts to deal with global terrorism -- which targets prosperous countries such as the US, Japan and Taiwan -- Taipei can help ease America's burden militarily by increasing its local defense efforts in and around the Taiwan Strait.
Although the US is committed to defending Taiwan and it's in America's national interest to do so, the US greatly appreciates Taiwan's efforts to make its efforts at deterrence more efficient and less costly -- just as Israel's robust military efforts strengthen American solidarity with that country.
The most immediate and cost-effective measure Taiwan can take is to procure command and control capabilities so that its naval and air forces can have "real time" communication with US and Japanese naval and air forces.
How will China react to Tai-wan's declaration of support for the US-Japan alliance and for the US global war against terrorism?
Certainly Beijing will not welcome such a courageous statement of principle, but there is little doubt that such a statement is not a declaration of independence and is a statement of Taiwan's national interest.
And America's allies, who, other than possibly the UK, are reluctant to express their solidarity with the US even while Saddam Hussein continues to develop weapons of mass destruction, will hopefully be embarrassed by Taiwan's realism and courage.
Indeed, the fear these nation's have in expressing support for US action in Iraq is somewhat comparable to their timidity in recognizing Taiwan's legitimacy as a sovereign state.
Poland's former president Lech Walensa founded "Solidarity" while his country was still under communist occupation. Mother Theresa told former US president Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary what she thought of their unwillingness to protect the life of unborn children.
At the time others did not echo these courageous words, but admirers and detractors alike respect those who stand up for their principles -- especially principles of freedom and human rights in the face of the threat of force.
Lee realized the total unacceptability of forced unification and the lack of necessity of declaring independence, and he succeeded in making Taiwan a working democratic republic.
Now in the 21st century, Taiwan can again move forward by recognizing its national interest and declaring its solidarity with the US-Japan alliance and the global war against terrorism.
James Auer is a professor at Vanderbilt University and former special assistant to the secretary of defense for Japanese affairs.
No State Department or diplomatic statements need to be made prior or after.
But until then, defend Taiwan's independence, with guns, ships and nukes if need be. I am only sorry our government is not standing with Taiwan like America is.
Regards, Ivan
The Republic of China was founded in 1912 by Sun Yat-sen.
The Peoples Republic of China was founded in 1949 by Mao Zedong.
Taiwan has never been a part of the PRC, thus is not and has never been a "renegade province".
The PRC broke from the ROC, and is therefore a "renegade province".
China is now quite unstable: Its unemployed swell in number and their riots grow in size.
China's maniacal repression of old women meditating in parks reveals its deep fear of revolt.
China exaggerates its growth and conceals three-quarters of its arms spending.
The disparity between wealthy party elites and the working poor is the greatest in the world--and is increasing.
China's four banks are based on 50% bad loans--China faces the mother of all savings and loan debacles.
Jiang will not yield his three posts of party head, president and chair of CMC.
All of Asia fears Chinese hegemony.
Just as there are no atheists in foxholes, there are damned fewer anti-Americans when China bullies all.
In the 96 crisis it was widely revealed that Taiwan and its defenders had no communications link with U.S. forces.
Dennis Blair called Taiwan "the turd in the punchbowl"--Gertz reported it online, and it was cut from his hardcopy Inside the Ring until I emailed him and he reinstated it the following week.
The battle for Taiwan must first be won by smacking the U.S. fifth column Beijing butt-boys.
A good start was booting Berger and traitor-rapist42 and Cohen the eunuch.
Bush and Rumsfeld will defend their end of the Taiwan case; and with our aid and advice, Taiwan can bring its force up to speed.
Let us have a Senate reversal and the continued supplying of Taiwan's needs.
At one point it was rumored the Air Force was reassessing a return to Clark, and I saw an email from Hackworth confirming this.
Matters have got quite serious since 9/11 and there is not the same mob cry to chase us from Oki.
Let's get some people looking at Taiwan.
Let's have President Chen Shui-bian visited by Condi Rice.
Red lights flashing, klaxons screaming, Mr. Jiang's Glorious Stroke.
Lucky Numbers 2, 4, 8, 17, 29, 33.
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