It is unusual for a newspaper columnist to write an "open letter" to a foreign head of state. However, Jim Mann of the Los Angeles Times is no ordinary columnist. He is a longtime Taiwan watcher. In a recent book titled About Face, Mann revealed many inside stories and insights about US China policy. However, Mann's suspicions about President Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) -- the Times column was headlined "A President Caught in a Whopper" -- revealed a lack of understanding about Taiwan. Actually, the columnist's lopsided concern seems to be a whopper itself.
In a kind of in-your-face finger-pointing, Mann said he suspects Lee might try to touch off a military conflict with China during his remaining months in office, in order to create an excuse for putting off the election and keep himself in power. We have heard this kind of theory before, in rumors churned out by pro-unification factions here. Only someone who does not understand Taiwan's democratization process could come up with this kind of fantasy -- not to mention that it is an insult to Lee's character.
As Mann wrote, not a single US official, scholar or expert has voiced any fear of instability following the KMT's fall from power. As Taiwan gets used to regular elections and becomes mature enough to accept political parties taking turns governing, we owe much of the credit for these accomplishments to Lee's efforts to democratize Taiwan over the past 10 years. Even Lee's opponents wouldn't deny this.
Lee caught both the US and China completely flat-footed on July 9 when he spoke of the special "state-to-state" model. While many China experts in the US were caught by surprise, others criticized Lee for provoking China. They worried that Lee would cause more trouble for China and pull the US into the conflict. They were especially concerned that Lee would legitimize his "state-to-state" model by enshrin-ing it in the Constitution before he steps down -- a move that will keep some Americans awake at night.
In fact, Lee's "state-to-state" model is by no means a change in the status quo. Rather, it is the description of a reality. Therefore, it is impossible for Lee to retract it. Nor is there any need to amend the Constitution in this regard.
Lee's fondness for lively language and style sometimes surprises people. However, overwhelming public support for the "state-to-state" model indicates that Lee was only reflecting public opinion, as would any democratic head of state.
Tensions across the Taiwan Strait have their source in China's increasing military threats. Given that Taiwan already has its hands full trying to ensure its self-defense and self-preservation, why would it ever look for more trouble by a deliberate provocation aimed at Beijing?
Perhaps Jim Mann was indeed concerned about Taiwan's security. But his column erred by not to discussing China's threats and its diplomatic siege of Taiwan. His silence on these issues can only be called misguided.
Taiwan is only asking to be left alone, so that it can develop into a mature democracy. However, the Taiwanese people are not so naive as to expect -- as Mann assumes they do -- that the US will come to their aid in case of a conflict with China. We know we will have to be realistic about self-defense. We know better than to rely on the opinions of old China hands in the international media.
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