It is extremely saddening to see the Chinese Communists attempting to destroy an ancient culture and assimilate its peoples. Among all human rights abuses found in China, Tibet surely is among the worst of all cases.
As for the Qinghai-Tibet railway being a "road to heaven, ladder to the sky and the construction project of the century," this is just a flimsy cover for China's oppression of the Tibetan people. The railway will only bring tears and blood to an already badly oppressed people.
Does anyone seriously want Taiwan to undergo similar treatment when it finally has direct links with China? This is not a far-fetched plea concocted by some conspirator -- it is an entirely reasonable fear. Chen Yi-shen (陳儀深, "Consider Tibet when calling for direct links," July 18, page 8) is right about Taiwan needing to consider the examples of the Qinghai-Tibet railway and the plight of the Dalai Lama before doing anything that could hurt the nation in the future.
Aaron Cheong
Richmond, Canada
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