Eight Taiwanese were killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the US. Taiwan shares the grief of Americans and people around the world for the victims of those attacks as well as their resentment of terrorism. President Chen Shui-bian (
The Sept. 11 attacks led the international community to a new way of thinking about global security and a willingness to take concrete action against it. Taiwan's anti-terrorism efforts are not limited to helping in the search for terrorists, or taking action against drug-trafficking and money-laundering or exchanging intelligence on terrorist groups. Its measures involve pushing the establishment of a regional peace and security mechanism.
China's military is the biggest threat both to Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific region. China's development of an "unlimited war" strategy goes beyond the People's Liberation Army's missiles and amphibious-landing power.
Taiwan can't rely on China's benevolence for its security. Taiwan has waited more than 50 years for Beijing's goodwill without seeing any results. Yet many people still pin their hopes for peace on Beijing. This is unrealistic. The ROC is an independent, sovereign country. Only the 23 million people of Taiwan have the right to decide on changes to the country's status quo. They also have the right to use democratic procedures, including a referendum, as a defensive measure when necessary.
Taiwan's security needs to be integrated in a broader international framework. Taiwan is now seeking to establish a "Taiwan Foundation for Democracy," which will promote the continued development of democracy within the country and establish alliances with similar organizations in other democratic nations. It will also promote the establishment of a democratic alliance in the Asia-Pacific region to promote democratization across the region and Taiwan as a base for non-governmental organizations in the region.
Chen's statement at the Sanchih meeting echoed his three cornerstones for Taiwan's security -- freedom, democracy and prosperity. It also highlighted the fundamental differences between Taiwan and China in terms of democracy, freedom, peace and human rights. As long as there is authoritarian rule in China, its people will have no human rights or freedom. As long as China does not renounce the use of military force against Taiwan, a vast chasm will continue to exist between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan has a responsibility to serve as a catalyst for the development of democracy in China and to promote peaceful change in that country. This task necessitates a monitoring and evaluation system for democratization and human rights in China -- a system that will present regular reports on the human rights situation in China and invite Chinese citizens to visit Taiwan to see for themselves Taiwan's free life and democratic elections and take that experience back home with them and use it to promote grassroots democracy in China.
Perhaps some people will think this is a fool's dream, but look at how Taiwan has changed China's economic development over the past decade or so. For Taiwan, peaceful change is not only a promise to the world. It is also a mission.
Recently, China launched another diplomatic offensive against Taiwan, improperly linking its “one China principle” with UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 to constrain Taiwan’s diplomatic space. After Taiwan’s presidential election on Jan. 13, China persuaded Nauru to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Nauru cited Resolution 2758 in its declaration of the diplomatic break. Subsequently, during the WHO Executive Board meeting that month, Beijing rallied countries including Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Belarus, Egypt, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Laos, Russia, Syria and Pakistan to reiterate the “one China principle” in their statements, and assert that “Resolution 2758 has settled the status of Taiwan” to hinder Taiwan’s
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As Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu’s party won by a landslide in Sunday’s parliamentary election, it is a good time to take another look at recent developments in the Maldivian foreign policy. While Muizzu has been promoting his “Maldives First” policy, the agenda seems to have lost sight of a number of factors. Contemporary Maldivian policy serves as a stark illustration of how a blend of missteps in public posturing, populist agendas and inattentive leadership can lead to diplomatic setbacks and damage a country’s long-term foreign policy priorities. Over the past few months, Maldivian foreign policy has entangled itself in playing