Letter: Chen must stick to his guns

The US State Department issued a warning against President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) recent proposals to draft a new Taiwanese constitution, seek UN membership and dump the National Unification Council.

The statement is consistent with current US strategic interests in the Southeast Asian region. However, it is against the founding principles of the US and contradicts US President Bush's State of the Union address, in which he preached the values of global freedom and democracy.

Taiwan responded calmly and firmly. Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) said that the people of Taiwan will have the ultimate say in their fate. This means that Taiwan, as a sovereign country, will exercise its democracy freely in seeking the best interests of its people, rather than live under the mercy of the US and China.

This is the correct approach to adopt against a superpower. Taiwanese can no longer bear the pain of living in a status quo created by the US and China.

The rights are on the side of Taiwan. Taiwan should first consolidate the resolve of its people and then present its case forcefully to the world.

The world will definitely sympathize with the plight of the Taiwanese people. But if Taiwan gives in to outside pressure, it will be deemed a coward. And no country will feel sympathy for a coward. This rings especially true for the cowboy sitting in the White House.

Yang Ji-charng

Ohio