While I agree completely with Chen Fang-ming's (陳芳明) assertion in a recent commentary in the Taipei Times ("China's new colonialist approach," Dec. 28, Page 8) that "Taiwan will absolutely not become a Chinese colony," his statement that, with the return of Hong Kong and Macau, "more than 100 years of humiliation inflicted on China by imperialists have now come to an end" does not agree with historical facts.
It is one thing for the Chinese to willingly suffer collective amnesia and believe that the return of Macao ends China's humiliation from un-equal treaties. But it is another for a Taiwanese university professor to repeat the lie.
For the uninitiated, I would suggest they look beyond today's Chinese borders.
To the north and west, Russia has occupied a large swath of land that was under Chinese control for much, much longer and far earlier than Taiwan was. The Treaty of Nerchinsk and the Treaty of Kuldja, both with Russia, document these usurpations in detail. Chinese history textbooks remind us that there were many other such treaties with Russia.
And then there is Mongolia, a Russian puppet state which was let go by the KMT regime early this century under extreme pressure from Russia.
To the south, what about the area in today's northern Vietnam that was called Annam county under the rule of the Ching emperors and was absurdly given away to the French?
For obvious reasons, the Chinese government is in no position to negotiate or threaten the use of force for the return of these lands and would have no qualms that its people have no recollection of these "lost" territories.
If the Chinese genuinely accept the fact that these lands do not belong to them anymore, they should also accept, as a matter of consistency and rationality, that neither does Taiwan. Then and only then can we celebrate the true ending of the era of imperialism, be it Western or Eastern.
Charng M Liu
Boston, Massachusetts
The hazards of driving
I just returned from a trip to the beautiful east coast of Taiwan (from Fengkang to Tawu) and I have a wish for the New Year. Would it be possible to introduce real driving lessons here, because the roads are getting worse?
The main culprit seems to be an increasing number of large cars (of the Jeep type, I think they're called SUVs) with big wheels, powerful engines and drivers whose ego is matched only by the size of their cars and their inability to master their machines.
Maybe they need to learn that driving isn't a virtual reality arcade game, but rather one that must obey certain laws of physics.
Perhaps having stringent driving tests for all drivers in Taiwan might help.
It might be a good thing: the government could obtain more revenue and the roads here just might become safer.
O. Rossi
Kaohsiung
Taiwan-US relations
I would like to respond to a recent commentary in the Taipei Times regarding the impact of Chen Hsi-fan's (陳錫蕃) role as Taiwan's de facto ambassador to Washington and his report to the Legislative Yuan on the March presidential election ("About Face in Relations Between US, Taiwan," Jan. 2, Page 8).
The writer made some interesting points, specifically in emphasizing the significant role played by the US in influencing Taiwan's election.
While the writer's views are well-taken, Washington has been reiterating its non-involvement principle in Taiwan's domestic politics. The most recent case was Richard Bush's comment of US support for the next Taiwan president, no matter which party he is from -- the ruling party or an opposition party.
The presidential candidates could not help but take Bush's announcement as a way to add more political points for themselves. This is exactly an example of external influence on domestic politics.
It seems to me that as the election approaches, issues related to cross-strait relations and Taiwan's national security will become increasingly hotly debated.
Every presidential candidate not only has to offer his own concrete policy to the voters, but also has to assure Washington that once he is elected, there will be no potential crisis between Taipei and Beijing.
But since KMT presidential candidate Lien Chan (連戰) so far hasn't been able to walk out of President Lee Teng-hui's (李登輝) shadow in terms of directing Taiwan's policy toward China, that constitutes one of the major concerns of the US.
The announcement of the "special state-to-state relationship" between Taiwan and China by Lee last July has created an "identity crisis" for Asian policy decision-makers in the US State Department.
Their concerns were that Lee was an "unpredictable" person who might make some reckless move to provoke tensions cross the Taiwan Strait.
Given that Lee will still be the KMT's chairman after he steps down as president, even if Lien is elected, the prospects for cross-strait detente will not be good.
Since Taiwan has to rely on US support, it is necessary for the next president to make more efforts to clarify any misunderstandings between Taipei and Washington.
Jason Lee
Taipei
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