Who's the boss?
The pan-blue camp scored an historic victory on Nov. 27, following its still-resented defeat in the presidential election of 2000.
They forged a restrictive Referendum Law (
The rancorous feeling among the members of the KMT and PFP is abundantly evident from their constant attacks at all costs on the administration of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) since the day he took office.
In a case of arm-twisting in the legislature, the pan-blue camp passed its Referendum Law.
We now know that the Referendum Law is useless to the people. It does nothing but insult them.
The actions of the pan-blue camp in the legislature confirm my theory that if they cannot rule Taiwan from the office of the president, they intend to do so from the legislative body instead.
Beware: The pan-blue camp has sent a very clear message to the people of Taiwan about who's the boss.
Ching Li
Changhua
US can't fall into China's trap
In the period of a few weeks, the George W. Bush administration has gone from supporting President Chen during his visit to New York to expressing doubt over its Taiwan policy (US' Taiwan policy in doubt: academic, Dec. 4, page 1). One has to wonder how promoting democracy, free speech and free elections by free people -- in an election or a referendum -- could ever be considered "provocation."
What the Bush administration is trying to tell Taiwan is: "Not so fast."
Consensus will come, and things could be different, but only if Chen is re-elected by a majority vote and Taiwan has a credible deterrent to Chinese invasion, without total reliance on the US.
Appeasement of a lying, terrorizing, dictatorial regime such as the PRC is not a better option for foreign policy. Yet Taiwan has to do much more than it has so far.
China has not been able to influence the Taiwanese electorate in its favor in the past, so this time it is trying its luck with the Bush administration instead, with more threats than before. It would be a big mistake for the US to do or say anything to achieve that goal for China. If Chen is not re-elected, Taiwan will most certainly backtrack on its democracy to a risky point of no return.
Therefore, for the Bush administration, perhaps the best policy now is not change, but rather to maintain the "status quo" and not fall into the trap of China's trickery and aggression. Generations of Americans have done their share of helping democratic countries against tyrants, and now is not the time to change that.
If Bush thinks appeasing China will benefit his chances of being re-elected, that would be another big mistake. Judging by his record, Bush's moral commitment is solid, unlike some of his predecessors. Yet it is not hard to be influenced by advisers of lesser commitment.
Therefore, I appeal to Bush to not change now.
Chen Ming-chung
Chicago, Illinois
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