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Letter: What Rice needs to know

I am forwarding a copy of a letter I have recently sent to the US secretary of state:

Dear Madam Secretary,

I write with a deep concern for the US position regarding the future of one of our most trusted allies, Taiwan. The pressure from China seems ominous and the situation is made more worrisome with China's obvious intent to eventually annex this freedom-loving little republic.

If their anti-secessionist law [sic] is a nefarious attempt to intimidate Taiwan, China has upped the ante and in fact has altered the status quo that keeps the peace between the two. A continuing military build-up in southern China appears to signal continuing efforts at intimidation.

The arrogance to call this an internal affair is even more blatant. But you already know this. The world knows that an independent Taiwan is no threat to China. It is obvious that China seeks to divide Taiwan's voting public in order for a future election to bring a leadership that will annex Taiwan to China. The term re-unification is also a travesty in itself since the Republic of China (ROC) has never been a part of the People's Republic of China.

Taiwan should be encouraged to shed the title of ROC and like a butterfly struggling to escape from its cocoon, pursue the full potential of The Republic of Taiwan. At the same time, China must be pressured/encouraged to recognize that it is in their best interest to accept Taiwan as a fully independent neighbor and allow the thriving little country to use its full capability as a partner in solving the problems confronting the neighborhood.

This would also ease Taiwan's concerns for depending on the US for national security and minimize the US commitment. Nobody gains in perpetuating the present tension.

I urge you, Madam Secretary, with your unique and courageous ability of persuasion to press for Taiwan's membership in the UN and lean on China to recognize the benefits that an independent Taiwan would be as an ally.

Ray Womack
Olalla, Washington
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