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Taiwan's democracy has need of America

US President George W. Bush has enough headaches in taking care of the US. The war in Iraq is not over. The nuclear disarmament with North Korea is much more complicated. The war against terrorism never seems to end. Therefore, Bush was in a disturbed mood when he announced that he did not want Taiwan to hold a referendum during its March presidential election to address the future of Taiwan. His announcement was an attempt to please Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (溫家寶) when he paid a visit to the White House early last month. The US needs Beijing's help to persuade North Korea to drop the development of nuclear arsenals.

Taiwan is a democratic country. People there are as free as the people in the US. As a matter of fact, Taiwan is ranked the No. 1 free country in Asia.

China is a dictatorship. Bei-jing's policy is set by only a handful of people who are not chosen by the citizens. It currently has 496 missiles aimed at Taiwan. China will invade Taiwan by force if Taiwan declares independence through a referendum chosen by the Taiwanese people.

The US threatened the war against Cuba when Havana obtained missiles from Russia, which were aimed at the US during the Kennedy era. Eventually Russia dismantled the missiles and ended the crisis.

The Taiwanese in Taiwan want -- through the referendum -- China to dismantle those missiles. This is simply an exercise of democracy and an expression by the people to defend their own country.

Bush does not have to be nervous or uneasy about this situation. I believe on this issue his reaction was unexpected and a complete surprise. Rather, we expect that he will support free people to exercise their own will without intimidation.

Moreover, we expect Bush, peace-loving Americans and all other rational people on Earth will join the effort to denounce China for its terrorist act to have missiles aimed at a neighboring country. After all, the value of democracy, peace and human rights will connect everyone together and the dictatorship will be outlawed.

Cheng Tien-chu is a member of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission.
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