America the addict
Paul Lin’s (林保華) commentary regarding the territorial dispute over the Senkaku Islands was very insightful (“Diaoyutais incident a litmus test,” Sept. 27, page 8). In addition to the three actors in this drama (the Japanese government, the Chinese government and the Chinese people), I would like to mention a fourth actor — the US government [Editor’s note: Taiwan also claims the Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台)].
The Chinese government has become increasingly aggressive in challenging its neighbors. Whether it be unilaterally exploring for oil in unresolved exclusive economic zones, claiming land that is administered by another country or declaring the entire South China Sea to be its backyard, the underlying reason for its expansionist behavior is the weakness of the US government.
The US government is unable and unwilling to get its financial house in order. It basically functions like a spending addict now, begging China to loan it more money so that it can continue to consume the “credit” drug. In essence, peace, security and the principle of freedom are taking a backseat to the effort to obtain more credit for those who benefit from the US’ profligate habits.
Unfortunately, this addiction has dramatically affected the security of Japan, which is the linchpin of US-Asia policy. The current US administration has been less explicit than the previous administration in stating that the Senkakus fall under the US-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. This softer approach has emboldened China to bully its neighbors further. Even after Japan released the Chinese crew and subsequently the captain it had detained, four Japanese nationals remain detained in China for supposedly gathering intelligence [Editor’s note: China released three of the Japanese on Thursday]. Cultural activities have been canceled and cargo shipments delayed. On top of these shenanigans, China has the gall to demand an apology and compensation.
This upside down, twisted behavior by China is made possible by the US government’s unwillingness to encourage Japan to stand up for itself — by declaring that the US will assist Japan diplomatically and back it up militarily if needed. Just like a drug addict who neglects his family and steals money to get high, the US government would rather take another hit from the Bank of China crack pipe than support its ally. The US government has abdicated its position as the leader of the free world and as a consequence, it won’t be long before China transforms from a dog that barks incessantly to a dog that bites rabidly.
Carl Chiang
Richmond, California
Ma working for unification
Step by step, Taiwan is being pushed closer to China, as shown by several recent events.
These include the continuation of the Diaoyutai Islands territorial dispute (“Tread carefully in Diayutais dispute,” Sept. 24, page 8), the passage of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), the patterning on the West-East Germany unification experience, the increased teaching of Chinese history and the cessation of bids for UN membership.
The Diaoyutai Islands are located 190km northeast of Taiwan and southwest of Japan — far from China. Any territorial dispute should be between Taiwan and Japan. China’s claim over these islands, based on its claim of Taiwan, only complicates the dispute and destabilizes East Asia. The US urges that any dispute over these islands should be settled peacefully between Japan and China — ignoring Taiwan.
Taiwan will be chained to China with the implementation of the ECFA. The ECFA is a stepping-stone for future political negotiations and agreements, possibly including the “ultimate unification.”
China will reportedly help the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) to win the five mayoral elections in late November and the presidential election in 2012.
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), in a recent meeting with an expert on the German unification, suggested that the relationship between Taiwan and China should be patterned on the West-East Germany experience. Ma forgets that German unification led to democracy for both Germanys, but unification of Taiwan and China will only end up in totalitarianism and communism for Taiwan.
The KMT government will teach Taiwanese students more Chinese history than Taiwanese history. Chinese students in Taiwan will also receive more scholarships than Taiwanese students. Their scholarships are even higher than the average starting salary of Taiwanese college graduates.
Ma is also the first president to adopt the policy of giving up applying for Taiwan’s admission to the UN. Taiwan’s identity will be lost under his policy of “truce in diplomacy.”
Charles Hong
Columbus, Ohio
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