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US commentator calls for revision of China policy

A well-known US political commentator said on Saturday that the US should revise its "one China" policy as both the policy and Beijing's so-called "one country, two systems" formula are out of date and do not meet with the current political situation nor the interests of Taiwanese people.

Bruce Herschensohn, who once served as a deputy special assistant to the late US president Richard Nixon, made the comments in a speech entitled "One China Policy and the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA)," to local Taiwanese expatriates in Hacienda Heights near Los Angeles at the invitation of Ted Anderson, president of the Friends of Taiwan, a pro-Taiwan association in the US.

Talking about US President George W. Bush's upcoming visit to China which will begin next week, the commentator said that although Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) will mention the so-called "one China" policy while meeting with his US counterpart, Bush will surely reiterate Washington's longstanding stance by emphasizing that it will continue to respect the TRA.

Misunderstanding

According to Herschensohn, the "one China" policy actually stems from a misunderstanding of a few phrases in the "Shanghai Communique" which was signed by Nixon and Chinese leaders, which he said has never been debated nor contemplated in US academic circles or among US lawmakers.

Unfortunately, he continued, several pro-China officials in the US State Department intentionally explained the communique incorrectly so that the "one China" policy has become an operating principle in US-Taiwan-China relations.

Noting that the "one China" policy and the so-called "one country, two systems" formula are out of date, the commentator said that "they also go against the wellbeing of Taiwan people's and should be abandoned entirely."

He also described the "Anti-Secession" Law passed by China in March of this year as a "bad law," saying that this can be proved by the fact that the EU suspended its discussions related to lifting its arms ban on China after the law was passed.

US pledges

Pointing out that the US would certainly help Taiwan to defend itself in accordance with the TRA if China were to start a war against Taiwan, the commentator said that if Washington does not do as it promises, it will not only violate the spirit of the founding of the state, but will also go against the pledges made by many US presidents advocating freedom and democracy in the world.

Besides actively helping Taiwan to defend itself and providing it with sophisticated military technology, the US should also use the term "Taiwan," the correct designation for the island, when referring to Taiwan, he concluded.
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