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Kerry must be clear

It is somewhat depressing to read US Senator John Kerry's opinions regarding Taiwan's proposed referendum ("Bush failed Taiwan: Lieberman," Jan. 8, page 1). A Massachusetts resident and former Kerry intern myself, I have met the senator on more than one occasion and was impressed by his articulation and deep understanding of domestic and foreign issues. However, since having read this article, I have begun to reconsider my support for him in the upcoming Massachusetts Democratic primary.

I congratulate Senator Joe Lieberman on his support for Taiwan, stating that the US must stand and unite on com-mon principles of democracy and freedom, despite China's overwhelming presence, and approve the right of the Taiwanese to hold national polls on issues regarding their national security. After all, would you feel safe if there were 500 ballistic missiles aimed at you? That is exactly what Taiwan is protesting and the defensive referendum is in no way an attempt by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) or any member of any political party in Taiwan to alter the status quo or stray from Chen's inaugural pledge to abstain from formal independence unless there were an attempted Chinese invasion.

Is Kerry really condoning the failure of a "one China" policy that has become so evident in Hong Kong? Does he actually think that Taiwan can continue the push towards the democracy he praised under a one-party system that he says the US must continue to adhere to?

This position by Kerry knocked the wind out of me. I found it difficult to believe that an experienced and decorated war veteran like himself under-estimates the real threat escala-ting in the Taiwan Strait and cannot recognize the importance of Taiwan that his mentor, the late US president John F. Kennedy, understood. Yes, times change and people change, but the threat posed by China's regime has not.

Though Kerry is bright and well-educated, and I have a great deal of respect for the majority of his priorities, it is far more refreshing to see Howard Dean and Senator John Edwards have expressed on behalf of the country in which I have been residing for the past two years, and their declaration that a defensive referendum is what Taiwan wants and needs, and that they will respect whatever outcome is reached in this March 20 milestone.

Kerry is right to acknowl-edge that Taiwan is a true demo-cracy and that the country must never slip back into martial law or be subject to invasion. But for him to add that the "one China" policy is right and that the US would consider any declaration of independence unacceptable just adds further ambiguity to an already imperfect China-Taiwan-US imbalance.

Kerry should clarify his position to his constituents because, at the moment, it appears as though he will stand by Taiwan, but, given his contradictory statements, who can really be sure? This would be the best way to win back admirers, such as myself.

Geoff Merrill
Taipei

Spotlight China's tyranny

The US, through State Depart-ment spokesman Richard Boucher, voiced support for more democracy in Hong Kong after Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa (董建華) failed to address the issue in his recent speech on the territory's future. Now Beijing has told the US to back off and stop interfering in China's internal affairs. It is the typical statement of an infantile, weak and cowardly regime, the bully that can't stand to be told to its face how awful it is.

The regime that fears words must be insecure, and must have something to fear. China's fear of democracy, or even talking about democracy, is merely the reflection of the weakness in its system of government.

The US, all democratic na-tions and all people who believe in democracy should continue to talk loudly about the tyranny in China, about the ruthless government, about the executions, the repression, the human rights violations, the suppression of religions, the eugenics policy in Tibet, the imperialistic aggression towards and disregard of human rights in Taiwan, the suppression of freedom of speech, freedom of belief, freedom of the press and the long, long list of other freedoms that China lacks.

Bringing outside influences and information to China will lead to its ultimate reformation. While we loathe it, we must embrace it. While we criticize it, we must enlighten it. While we shun it, we must befriend it. Kudos to Boucher for telling it like it is. Now let's hear something about the thriving democracy in Taiwan, and how the rest of the world must prevent China from putting its dictatorial paws on this shining example of free enterprise and freedom.

Lee Long-hwa
United States
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