The gap can’t be bridged
I agree with the points expressed in the Rand Corp study released last week (“Study warns PRC patience may be tested,” Sept. 25, page 1), but does this come as a surprise? The US should understand Taiwan’s national aspirations.
Many members of the Taiwanese community in the US see this coming. I wonder if the powers that be in the US government see the conflict in values and identity between China and Taiwan as a clear and present danger?
Taiwan is not some place to brush off and consider a remnant of some civil war. There is more to the story that what the Chinese like to say.
China policymakers in Washington either lack foresight or are caught in wishful thinking. China acts like a rogue nation whenever it doesn’t get what it wants.
Although Taiwan and China are pursuing detente, there is a limit as to how far this will go. The Taiwanese have a limit as to how far they want to see bilateral ties increase. This will not lead to unification as hoped by China. That is the zero-sum game China wants, but the strong sense of Taiwanese national identity will not permit Taiwan to become part of China. The fact that Taiwan is a democracy and that the Taiwanese consider their country sovereign amounts to a rejection of unification. There will be a clash in values.
China has hundreds of missiles pointed at Taiwan. The Chinese do not believe in letting Taiwan determine its own future. It does not matter which party governs Taiwan: actually none of them want Taiwan to become a part of China. What will China do next? Launch a military attack?
The US, Japan and Taiwan need to be ready to respond. With so many world leaders concerned about Iran’s nuclear program and its oppression of the democracy movement there, it is important to note that China behaves no better.
It is a joke that China has a seat on the the UN Security Council and makes decisions regarding other nations. It cannot even get its own house in order. Places like Taiwan do not want to be part of it.
KELLVAN CHENG
Dallas, Texas
Hitler comparison ridiculous
Kaohsiung City Councilor May Zai-hsin (梅再興) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) recently compared Uighur rights activist Rebiya Kadeer to Osama bin Laden and Adolf Hitler (“Chen Chu gives support to film, human rights,” Sept. 22, page 1). He seems to have misunderstood history and geography.
May would have done better to compare Hitler, Europe’s darkest symbol, with Chinese leader Mao Zedong (毛澤東).
Mao’s actions led to the deaths of 70 million or 80 million people. Germans and other Europeans are reminded daily of their dark past. The things that happened should never happen again.
Why doesn’t May suggest punishment for any commendation of Mao rather than making undue comparisons?
ENGELBERT ALTENBURGER
Kaohsiung County
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