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Editorial: Toward a more realistic policy

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) used his "one country on either side" statement to clarify the status of bilateral relations between Taiwan and China and reiterate his government's position. This certainly is the president's duty and it reflects the political status quo across the Taiwan Strait. Chen called for the enactment of a referendum law to resolve major political issues, including Taiwan's status, and to prevent unexpected conflicts. This is a democratic mechanism for protecting the rights of the people. These are right and proper principles for people who believe Taiwan is an independent sovereignty.

However, the Chinese Communist Party was quick to fire up its propaganda machine and stoke the flames of Chinese nationalism, hurling invective at Chen and making military threats. The attempts by Beijing and its pro-unification toadies in Taiwan to harass Taiwan's democratic system explains how utterly unrealistic the international community's expectations are of a peaceful transition of political power in China.

After Bill Clinton became US president, academia and political circles in the US reversed the political, military and economic sanctions adopted by the previous president, George Bush, after the Tiananmen Square massacre. They started a new pro-Beijing bent, talking about a peaceful transition of power within the communist regime. Massive amounts of US capital and technology moved into China. Europe, Japan and other Asian nations were quick to follow, thereby fattening China with foreign investment and solidifying the Communist Party's hold on power. Beijing was able to continue its brutal suppression of demands for democratic rule and violations of human rights, while the People's Liberation Army (PLA) rapidly modernized with the support of foreign capital and technology.

However, the US idea of using economic incentives to promote systemic change in China is doomed to failure because the PLA has been the biggest beneficiary of the country's dramatic economic growth, solidifying the military's loyalty to the regime. The party's monopoly on power remains unchanged. In fact, with the standard of living improving in China's coastal regions, what urgent need is there for the party to change the status quo?

However, the modernization of the Chinese military is planting the seeds for armed conflict in Asia, especially in the Taiwan Strait. To reverse the effects of past US policy mistakes, Washington needs to maintain a military balance in Asia and help Taiwan improve its defense capability in order to prevent the Chinese military from becoming too arrogant and threatening.

The US should therefore change its ambivalent "one China" policy because it will only mislead the international community and perpetuate Beijing's delusions about Taiwan being its territory. The US should clearly state that it will respect the people of Taiwan's choice regarding their future, so that they can exercise their free will and choose between unification and independence by means of a public referendum. The US should also help the people of China free themselves from communist rule and formulate its China investment policy with a longterm view, so it won't shoot itself it the foot by aiding in the creation of a military power capable of threatening Asia.
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