It will be to the benefit of China as well as to other countries when Beijing respects human rights, well-established international practices and the wish of the freedom-loving Taiwanese to be masters of their own destiny. When peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is assured, the Chinese government can then devote its full efforts to China's continuing economic development and to the care of its people's well-being.
Chen Ching-chih is professor emeritus of history at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and a researcher with the Los Angeles-based Institute for Taiwanese Studies.
RSS