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EDITORIAL: China doesn't need missiles

In addition to stealing Taiwan's allies and thwarting the nation's attempts to participate in international organizations, China attempts to ensure that Taiwan is practically invisible.

Late last month, Malawi yielded to the old carrot-and-stick routine and abandoned 42 years of diplomatic relations with Taiwan in favor of ties with China. Within days, the Malawian minister responsible for brokering the deal has reportedly fled the country with millions of yuan meant as a "sweetener" for his president.

In such times of crisis, Taipei routinely berates Beijing for practicing "checkbook diplomacy." But the reality is that Taiwan's "financial aid" simply can't compete. As a result, Taiwan has lost nine diplomatic allies in eight years.

And yet, China is still not satisfied and never misses an opportunity to belittle Taiwan on the world stage. The most recent example of this occurred during the Women's World Cup of Golf this week at Sun City, South Africa, where Taiwan's Wei Yun-jye (魏筠潔) and Amy Hung (洪沁慧) finished third. China's team, which finished 13th, convinced the hosts that our national flag should not be displayed.

Together with the "autonomous regions" of Xinjiang and Tibet, Taiwan is claimed by China, which insists that no other country should meddle in its "domestic affairs."

In this light, it is odd that China has asked the US to condemn Taiwan's referendums on UN membership. It is even stranger that Washington has happily obliged, with everyone from American Institute in Taiwan Director Stephen Young to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice saying the plebiscites are unnecessary, provocative and of no real benefit.

Despite Taiwan's dutiful attempts to play a responsible role in the world, it seems most countries are happy to humor China by not publicly contradicting its claim to Taiwan. It is sad that so many nations lack the courage to do the right thing.

In his New Year address last month, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said China now has more than 1,300 missiles aimed at Taiwan. This is a significant increase from the 200 or so aimed at Taiwan in 2000.

In view of this imminent threat, it is remarkable that Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) and his Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) counterpart Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) are competing to see who can best implement cross-strait flights.

Yes, increased trade with China may boost the economy. But that does not mean that the threat posed by China should be laughed off. And yet that is the message being sent by the country's presidential candidates, notwithstanding Ma's recent lecture on boosting the military.

Hsieh may be trying to neutralize Ma's "it's the economy, stupid" argument, but that makes his actions only marginally more forgivable.

If this is the mindset of the men who are competing to lead this country, then China doesn't need missiles to annex Taiwan: All it needs is patience.
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