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US' origins like Taiwan's

Should Washington propose, as seems more and more likely, a policy of outright opposition to Taiwanese independence and any perceived or real moves in that direction (such as referendums), perhaps it should first consider how the United States came into being.

The US as a concept relies heavily on the history of the country's foundation by groups of British and Irish citizens, who fled a land where they opposed the existing regime and faced persecution, and built a new nation for themselves across the waters, which through economic expansion and democratic principles they made their own, and in which they eventually came to live in harmony alongside the native peoples of that land.

Hasn't the modern Taiwanese nation, if we decide to radically simplify a very complex history, come about in the same way?

If only the irony of these two countries' strikingly similar backgrounds were to reach the American consciousness, would the American people themselves oppose any democratic move toward independence? No. Would they empathize? Yes.

The US administration has, in the case of Taiwan, prioritized its own unstable, unpredictable, and now more than ever invaluable relationship with the Chinese government. This relationship is understandably important to them not only in terms of trade, but with regards to the US' position in Iraq and in the North Korean talks. But in doing so it is forgetting all the principles on which its own freedom was built.

To the Taiwanese government and media: Feel free to make the position of your people and their right to direct democracy known to the world. Educate the international public and then sit back and watch the kind of democracy you crave work its magic as citizens of the US fight against their government's policy of bowing down to China.

Charlotte Foster
Taipei

Japan shifting Taiwan policy

For the first time in a few years China has issued a warning about possible military action if Taiwan were to declare independence.

More significantly, however, according to some analysts Japan is in the middle of a review of its Taiwan policy. In certain quarters it is being said that the policy of appeasing China is yielding no real results and that, since China is an emerging superpower in the region, they had better play the Taiwan card more strongly.

They have also criticized Japan's (in their view) semi-tributary policies toward China on the Taiwan issue. This will no doubt arouse China's attention and possibly its displeasure, even as the Japanese cut back their aid to China.

Japanese aid has in the past sometimes served as leverage over China, and lowering the level of aid could mean an increased possibility that China would start making decisions without being as concerned about Japan's interests as they are now.

This also comes at a bad time for China-Japan trade relations. China is threatening to slap tariffs on Japan, the US and South Korea for imposing quotas on their textiles exports and, from the US, steel exports. Economics and political agendas are crossing swords at an awkward moment.

Tai Wei Lim
Singapore

Curing the chaos

Politically Taiwan is in chaos. The ongoing irrational confrontation between the pan-blue and pan-green camps has resulted in gridlock in the Legislative Yuan. Taiwan's people are the victims.

If the confrontation cannot be resolved in the next election, predictably, no matter which camp wins or who is elected president, the chaos will be there to bring Taiwanese four more years of nightmare.

To cure the chaos in Taiwan, the confrontation has to be ridden out and replaced by reconciliation and competition. Since the confrontation resulted from the difference of ideology regarding Taiwan's national identity, the issue has to be resolved in the next election, so that Taiwan's next president will not suffer an outrageous boycott from its opposition party.

This would allow Taiwanese to live with more ease and hope over the next four years.

Luckily the controversial "birdcage referendum" law provides a possible solution to end all this confrontation and nightmare for the Taiwanese.

That is provision 17, as pointed out by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁). Taiwanese will be given a chance to have a say about the country's future and to express displeasure with the current chaotic situation.

Provision 17 is defensive, not offensive. Taiwanese can no longer escape their responsibility and hope society will be peaceful and stable or that the problem will go away by itself.

The real judge is the people of Taiwan. They are the master of their own fate, not the parties, China or the US.

The world is watching. If the Taiwanese cannot even vote for a defensive referendum due to China's threats, then they are betraying themselves and might as well prepare to live with the consequences: They might as well put on the shackles and kowtow to China.

Yang Ji-charng
Columbus, Ohio
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