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Letters:

Nameless recognition

While name rectification and name preservation are back on the political stage of Taiwan, the government should take this opportunity to go one step and hold a nationwide letter-writing campaign to urge all members of the US Congress and President George W. Bush to establish a full diplomatic relationship with Taiwan, without touching on the name issue.

Previously, calls for normalization of relations with Taiwan were done in the form of civilian actions. Since President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) took office, such actions have been diminishing drastically for one simple reason: citizens defered to Chen on diplomatic matters. But the results were not what they expected.

Diplomats from Taiwan are handcuffed by the bureaucratic nature of the Taiwanese diplomatic modus operandi and therefore lack not only creativity, but also lack the energy to initiate policy changes. In short, the diplomatic mechanism is just too frozen to handle the aging but sensitive issue of normalization.

Last week, for the first time in history, a US Representative officially called on the White House to pursue full diplomatic relations with Taipei ("US congressman calls for diplomatic recognition," Aug. 31, page 3). I hope the government, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, catches Representative Peter Deutsch's ball nicely and keeps dribbling it as long as possible until it can be passed to other pro-Taiwan players on the international playing field.

Name rectification is a contentious issue domestically, but establishing diplomatic relations internationally is an issue that can gain full support.

A mechanism to mobilize the society on full diplomatic ties with nations of the world via appealing to foreign politicians would take little effort. The approach may be primitive, yet it is useful, powerful and generates solidarity. Besides, there is no better time than the present.

The action can be duplicated in Europe and elsewhere. Focusing on the US is merely to propagate the idea. Politicians of many countries lack knowledge about the issue between Taiwan and China. Many of them do not even know that Taiwan is a sovereign country.

It is a pity that Taiwan is viewed as a non-governmental organization in the international arena at present.

Joshua Tin
Taipei
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