An unfair label
US Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen’s hearings on Taiwan run the risk of degenerating into yet another round of excessively partisan congressional investigations. As the Taipei Times said in a story (“US foreign policy ‘wolf’ bares her teeth,” Feb. 8, page 7), Ros-Lehtinen is viewed by some Americans as “a right-wing extremist.” The first hearing opened on June 16, with Ros-Lehtinen’s allegation that “there is a new spirit of appeasement in the air.”
All witnesses invited to the hearing, although highly respected, could be described as close friends of Taiwan. Not one of the alleged “appeasers” was invited to provide balance or answer tough questions (unless we include US government officials who failed to show up). Without providing any names, Ros-Lehtinen claimed she had organized the hearings because “some politicians” had begun to pressure the US government to “abandon” Taiwan. However, under the close questioning of US Representative Gerald Connolly, one witness conceded she was “not sure” if anyone in policymaking circles was actually talking about “abandoning” Taiwan.
Connolly replied: “I just wanted to get that on the record because no one is talking about that.”
During the most recent hearings, Ros-Lehtinen blasted US President Barack Obama for “cozying up to Beijing with a wink and a nod.” The US Congress needs to hold serious and deliberative hearings on the US’ relations with Taiwan. After all, oversight of the Taiwan Relations Act is an important congressional responsibility that must not be shirked, but criticizing Obama and his administration as “appeasers” who want to “abandon” Taiwan is unfair. And I fail to understand how turning Taiwan into a “political football” is going to help matters.
Dennis Hickey
Springfield, Missouri
Centennial of fictional nation
As I was watching Aborigine children singing songs during the Double Ten National Day celebrations, I could not help notice the irony (or perhaps the staged public relations message) of the moment. Paying homage to the Republic of China (ROC) and President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九)? What did the ROC ever do for Taiwan’s Aborigines, aside from stealing their land and killing countless Taiwanese?
The purpose of this charade by the Ma administration was to create the impression of an all-inclusive ROC, but truthfully, whether Ma believes the ROC is China (which is likely) or Taiwan (which he says, but does not mean), neither China nor the ROC is inclusive. In China, minorities are punished, repressed and oppressed. Examples begin with Tibet and Xinjiang, continue with Falun Gong and Catholics, and end with dissidents, activists and hundreds of millions of countryside dwellers whose household registrations prevent them from taking up a better (perhaps) life in the big cities.
In Ma’s ROC, it is again a one-party system masquerading as a democracy. Ma’s views on the ROC are utterly out of touch with the opinions of an overwhelming majority of Taiwanese, who consider their nation Taiwan, not the ROC, which is Ma’s not-so-secret code word for “China.”
I was also struck by the irony that the only countries on Earth that parade their military equipment on their national day are either communist regimes, ruthless dictatorships or military regimes all sporting goose-stepping soldiers paying homage to the “dear leader” or some other dictator. However, on this day, Ma stood at the podium like one of those dictators or perhaps like an emperor, receiving the military “might” of the ROC. Why copy this in a democratic nation like Taiwan?
As I watched tanks, amphibious vehicles, marines, missile launchers and other equipment and personnel, and listened to the emcees alternating in Chinese and English, with excited descriptions reminiscent of a product launch, I couldn’t help but think this was like a shopping channel, showing the Chinese Communist Party what they could expect to receive upon unification.
Maybe that was the point; or could it have been Ma’s way of more political posturing on Double Ten National Day to try to convince the populace he believes in a strong defense? I expect a stronger defense from Ma against Taiwanese independence than against unification with China.
Did Ma think this parade would strike fear into the heart of Beijing? Exactly what was the purpose? Only insecure regimes have these military parades (generally to either impress or scare the public, not enemies). Did Ma think Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) would quake in his boots at the sight of a few fighter jets, tanks and missile launchers?
Hu would quake at the threat of democracy, not war, at the thought that its closest neighbor is a democratic nation with freedom, democracy and human rights, none of which exists in China. Ma does not represent these values at all.
The festivities left me with an empty feeling, like I was watching a puppet show, where the puppet master is some unseen evil. I appreciated the hard work and performances by so many people, especially the children, who displayed their talents. I was heartened seeing them and proud that Taiwan has so many, many incredibly talented people.
It was a shame they were performing for a man, a party and a fictional nation — the ROC — all of whom consider these performers’ nation — Taiwan — a conquered parking place until their own “homeland” — China — is available once again.
Lee Long-hwa
Taipei
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