Weir's biases are showing
Would someone care to explain Taiwan's unshakeable admiration of all things American? Yes. It wouldn't be complicated for Tony Weir if he could look past his anti-American bias to historical and military fact (Letter, Aug 22, page 8). It's simple gratitude and friendship, as Weir did touch on, though inaccurately.
Before the Korean War, China was indeed poised to pounce on Taiwan. At that point it is unlikely that Taiwan could have held China off. The presence of the US fleet helped Taiwan then, and our continuing friendship and military commitment have been of great aid to Taiwan since. Without it, at worst Tai-wan would have become another abused province of the Communist party; at best, it would have been subject to far greater military pressure then it has known since then.
Apparently Weir does not understand this gratitude; perhaps I should not be surprised. After all it is a cold world, as Taiwan well knows from the many cruel blows it has received from the international community over the past century. Per-haps Weir simply thinks that Taiwan should ignore its friends and submit to whatever hand the uncaring world deals it.
I do not find it surprising that Taiwan does not feel this way. But Weir can think what he likes. His facile distortions of history and common sense are another story though. China has plainly not destroyed Taiwan. Call me cynical, but I think it's safe to say it's not due to any goodwill. That they have not done so is because they do not have the ability to do so. Taiwan has well-trained and well-armed forces. The US presence in the region is large and the combination of the two simply is too strong for Beijing to feel confident of defeating.
Economic factors are subordinate in what is a nationalistic issue for the Chinese. If defeat by China were "inevitable" as Weir claims, it would have occurred long ago. Dialogue and negotiations with the Chinese can obviously only successfully be undertaken from a position of strength. Weir looks ridiculous spouting these shopworn Chinese propaganda lines.
In addition, Taiwan's location is an indisputable asset. Weir, in his haste to engage in "dialogue" with China, seems to not have noticed that the the two states are separated by a body of water known as the Taiwan Strait. The "massive ground attack" he blithely envisions would have to cross a 145km body of water. I believe the Chinese ground forces had better start practicing their swimming.
Obviously, Taiwan is also in a body of water defended by the strongest air and naval power in the world and potent local forces. Submarines and other weapons may seem like high-tech junk to the confused Weir. However technology has been a determining factor throughout the history of warfare. Recent history has done nothing to overturn this long-standing truth. Weir goes on some more about Nicaragua, paranoia and 155 channels.
Personally, I feel he could have stated his case much more succinctly by saying "I don't like the US. Friendship and commitment means nothing. Taiwan should recognize that the world cares not a whit for it, lay down and beg China for its favor."
I would not have agreed with him, but after 14 years in Taiwan I have become used to hearing such nonsense and would have not felt the compulsion to argue with him. However, I have to admit to hoping that in the future he will spare us the bizarre distortions of fact which his feelings have somehow spawned. Finding them in my copy of the Taipei Times was rather a disturbing experience.
Joe Schwartz
Taipei
Tony Weir made several good points, but at times he sounds like a pan-blue propagandist. The Chinese navy unbeatable? He should have listened to US Pacific Fleet commander who said, "Let's not make them 10-feet tall." The US has many weaknesses but helping to defend Taiwan is not one of them.
If China were smart, it would call for a peaceful solution and be willing to respect Taiwanese self-determination. Taiwan could then declare itself the "Switzerland of the east;" it wouldn't have to take sides or buy more arms.
Alas, the Chinese spent a lot of time and energy fighting among themselves in World War II. Even today, 58 years after the war, they want to fight Taiwan.
Weir suggests Taiwan be on guard against the US, instead of China. Like many pan-blue politicians, what Weir considers "unequivocal" in Taiwan's "return" to the KMT cannot be backed by any historic or legal documents. Two generations of Taiwan's leaders tried to find such documents, to no avail. If Weir has anything to back his "unequivocal" claim, perhaps he could share it.
Incidentally, obesity is one complication of American life that I am not proud of. Yet one can appreciate the US farm community's pride in its ability to feed the whole nation. If it were not for corrupt regimes such as those in China, North Korea and Africa, American farmers could feed the whole world. Obesity cannot be used to write off all American values.
Finally, if not the US model, then what -- France, Russia, China, Japan? It would be nice if Taiwan could create its own model. Weir must know Taiwan is the only nation in the world to be excluded from UN, despite its size and achievements. How realistic is it for him to think Taiwan can walk its own path without alliances with great friends such as the US?
Chen Ming-Chung
Chicago, Illinois
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