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Editorial: Boeing goes boing-boing

US aircraft manufacturer Boeing has canceled a visit to its Seattle facilities by Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) at the last minute. Obviously the sudden change of schedule was not Lu's fault. Having been a leader of the global aircraft manufacturing industry for decades, Boeing certainly knows the political significance and consequences of canceling a visit by a country's vice president.

Since Boeing has opted to risk retaliation from Taipei for the sake of its economic interests elsewhere, it obviously does not care about Taiwan's dignity. Without mutual trust, it will be inappropriate for the government to continue its business relations with Boeing.

Is Boeing thinking of canceling the contract it signed with China Airlines (CAL) last year for the sale of 10 commercial jetliners? If it did, we believe neither the government nor CAL would demand inordinate amounts of compensation from Boeing. Apparently Boeing believes it can sacrifice Taiwan's market to secure larger economic benefits, so the immediate cancellation of the contract would be in both sides' interest. This will prevent more serious disputes -- whether political or commercial -- in the future. Such a clean-cut solution will also prevent further mutual suspicion and its endless undesirable consequences.

What's most deplorable about this incident is not the attitude of either Boeing or the US government. Rather, it is the infantile mentality exhibited by the pan-blue camp.

They do not believe the humiliation accorded to Lu is a humiliation for all Taiwanese. On the contrary, they claim that the incident was a result of what they call Lu's "erroneous" trip. Such an attitude is the root cause of the chaos facing politics in this country today.

The opposition may disagree with the government on many domestic policies, but Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Lu are elected leaders. They were elected by the people through a legal and democratic procedure. How can the blue camp not understand this simple and obvious reasoning? Anyone who shows disrespect to Chen and Lu is showing disrespect to Taiwan. It is shameful for the pan-blue camp to aim their guns at Lu at such a critical moment. It seems as if they are speaking for the Beijing regime.

Don't forget: the DPP cannot possibly stay in power forever. Any party has a chance to win power as long as it works hard to win the hearts of the people. If the pan-blue camp carries on with its vendetta, it will mean any president or vice president -- no matter which party they are from -- are likely to be trampled upon by the opposition parties in a similar manner. In fact, the opposition parties and pro-unification media have never been respectful toward Chen and Lu. Perhaps their erratic behavior and distorted reports have been the reasons why Boeing has treated Taiwan with such contempt.

People who do not respect themselves will be humiliated by others. The Boeing incident is perhaps a wake-up call for the Taiwanese. Where exactly does your loyalty lie? What stance do you take when a leader of your country is humiliated? It's time for the people to think about this question.
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