Print

Mail

wiki links

US must take a firm stance

China has warned Taiwan again. This time, China's rubber-stamp parliament passed the so-called "Anti-Secession" Law requiring Taiwan to surrender its sovereignty peacefully or face an invasion. The law, a coercive act aimed at bringing Taiwanese to their knees, would unilaterally change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait and constitutes a serious challenge to the US' Taiwan Relations Act.

The passage of the Anti-Secession Law proves the "one China" policy is broken. The propositions that held this three-decades-old policy together are no longer sustainable. Taiwan, no longer under Chinese Nationalist authoritarian rule, is now a vibrant democracy. Reunification with China is only a myth, as Taiwan's independence is no longer a taboo subject. Most people in Taiwan consider themselves to be Taiwanese and wish to join the UN and enjoy the right to live in a sovereign country.

The US cannot allow a democracy like Taiwan to fall into the control of a backward autocracy like China, which is an irresponsible rogue country that has spread the technology to build weapons of mass destruction into the hands of Iran, Pakistan and North Korea.

To ensure the US' security and combat the threat of terrorists, US President George W. Bush pursues a policy of spreading democracy. Bush said in his State of the Union address that "when you stand with liberty, we will stand with you." This is a noble sentiment.

Taiwan has stood together with the US for a long time. It is about time that the US keeps its pledge. The US Congress should pass a law and urge Bush to officially recognize Taiwan so that an equal-footed dialogue across the Strait would be meaningful and possible.

The Taiwan issue will not go away, and the passage of the Anti-Secession Law presents a critical challenge not only to Taiwan, but also to the US. The law shows the true colors of China's hegemony, which has codified the possibility of an invasion of a democracy.

The US has to be firm and resolute when it comes to defending freedom, democracy and liberty. There is simply no room for ambiguity.

Yang Ji-charng
Ohio
This story has been viewed 2625 times.