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Support the president at this critical juncture

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) stated only the obvious when he described Taiwan's relationship with China as being one between sovereign "countries on each side" of the Taiwan Strait. Chen clearly articulated this reality on Aug. 3 via telecast to an audience of overseas Taiwanese in Tokyo.

Moreover, the democratic referendum for which Chen avowed support during the same telecast is consistent with international law on the principle of self-determination, which is enshrined in the UN Charter and consistent with the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty. In fact, the San Francisco Peace Treaty, in which Japan formally ceded sovereignty over Taiwan after nearly 50 years of occupation, left Taiwan's ultimate status to be subjected to a future decision that would take "the wishes of the Formosan population into consideration."

Furthermore, post-war history shows why Chen's statements cannot be falsified: Taiwan was not part of the Chinese Civil War in the 1940s. Taiwan became an unhappy party to that conflict when the losing side, Chiang Kai-shek's (蔣介石) KMT moved to the island and became its custodian in 1945 on behalf of the Allied Forces after the defeat of Japan.

Fast forward to the 21st century, the age of globalization: After nearly half a century of martial law, Taiwan has since undergone democratization. The Taiwanese are no longer constrained by circumstances of war and conflict; they now freely elect their leaders and live in a vibrant democracy without external pressures except for China's looming, but unsubstantiated, threat.

In this regard, peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region can be guaranteed only by the acknowledgement of the reality that indeed there is "one country on each side" of the Strait. Those with a vision of what is best for the balance of power in Asia know full well that only with the recognition of Taiwan as not only a de facto but de jure sovereign democratic state, independent from China or any other country, can the impractical matter of Taiwan's ambiguous status be shelved once and for all. With Taiwan's international status crystal clear, international society can then focus on the fruits of globalization, the integration of economies that enable all sides involved in transnational exchanges to gain economically, socially and culturally.

Hundreds of millions of dollars can be saved and there would be more to be gained each year with the normalization of relations between the two sovereign states, Taiwan and China, especially since Taiwan's sovereignty vis-a-vis China is already an undeniable reality. All told, only with the international community's acknowledgement of -- and continued support for -- Taiwan's sovereignty and autonomy can the fruits of internationalization be truly savored.

In this regard, Taiwanese Collegian urges the international community to publicly support President Chen. Support for Chen at this critical time, as China continues to mobilize its military and economic resources against Taiwan, is also support for the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region, and hence, the world.

Taiwanese Collegian further urges the international community to insist that China renounces the use of force and accepts Taiwan as a friendly neighboring state instead of perpetuating the outdated hostility and rivalry that dates back to the Chinese Civil War. Accordingly, Chen should be supported and applauded by the US and the Western world, as well as by the people of Taiwan itself for seeking to create a constructive environment where democracy, security and full and equal membership in the international community are ensured for Taiwan, and peace and stability are guaranteed for the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

The Taiwanese Collegian is a non-governmental student organization for overseas Taiwanese students around the world.
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