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Letter: Confusion on China

Recently, as reported by the Chicago Tribune on Feb. 20, a spokesperson from the US State Department denounced Taiwan's decision to rename many of its government-owned companies, substituting "China" for "Taiwan."

Although historians claim that Taiwan has never belonged to China, the author of the article gave a couple of examples of areas where the lines have been blurred. His article pointed out that while on an official visit in the US, Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) cringed when the announcer at an official ceremony said that the orchestra would now play the national anthem of the Republic of China (ROC). And China Airlines, the main Taiwanese carrier, does not fly to Beijing, nor anywhere else in China, for that matter.

The State Department's lack of support for Taiwan's efforts to reclaim its identity is a significant shift in opinion since 1971.

That was the year when the US Congress enacted the Taiwan Relations Act in order to protect Taiwan from the People's Republic of China (PRC). This followed the UN's decision to hand over Taiwan's seat at the UN to the PRC.

If then US president Jimmy Carter and the US Congress were comfortable referring to the ROC as Taiwan back then, why is it that the State Department is suddenly so sensitive about it today?

For the past 20 years Taiwan has had significant name recognition in the US, inspiring consumer confidence among Americans who scoop up everything from clothing to high-tech electronics when they see a tag that says: "Made in Taiwan." Taiwan is the fourth-largest import and export partner of the US.

Sharing the same values as the US -- democracy, human rights and the social well-being of its people -- Taiwan is without a doubt a democratic country where the people have proudly elected their president three times in the past 12 years.

Taiwan has been an advocate in Central America as well as Africa for economic freedom and industrial modernization, proving it is a supportive ally in what is increasingly becoming a boundary-less global village.

The rising economic and diplomatic powers of the PRC, combined with the growing complexity of international politics, has caused Taiwan to become increasingly isolated.

If the global community starts to confuse Taiwan with China, it would open the way for China to take Taiwan over by force.

Why the US, a friend of democracy, would encourage a communist regime that has committed human rights violations to take over a democratic country is incomprehensible.

To oppose Taiwan's efforts to preserve its name and identity and distinguish itself from China goes against US values of choosing, fostering and supporting democracy.

Tien Cheng
Chicago, Illinois

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