Lee's Japan trip is negative
Regardless of his prestige as a former president, Lee Teng-hui's
First, Lee openly expressed his distrust of the presidential medical group. This severely damaged the group's reputation, especially since it has been chiefly responsible for his health for years.
Second, his application put the Japanese government in a difficult position. Japan obviously has an awful headache, faced as it is with pressures from both China and domestic public opinion. Under the current circumstances, if Japan permits the entry visa despite China's protests, Lee's visit is bound to have a negative effect on Taiwan-Japan relations. The aftermath of Lee's 1995 visit to the US is still fresh in people's memory.
Third, the issue increases tension in the already strained relations between China and Taiwan. If the DPP government intends to improve its relations with China, it should not get involved in the personal affairs of a civilian. In addition, people have reason to doubt the seriousness of Lee's condition, having recently seen him on TV playing a vigorous game of golf. In other words, people have reason to believe that this is a political, rather than a medical trip. It is fine for Lee, as a civilian, to pursue any personal political goals. It is absolutely not fine, however, for the entire nation to be held hostage.
Liu Kuang-hua
Instructor, NDU
The US owes China nothing
There is absolutely no reason to pay compensation to anyone for the EP-3 flight. China's military activities must be monitored in order to maintain security in East Asia for the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, Korea and Japan. The only problem in East Asia is the absence of an East Asia Treaty Organization, an Asia Monetary Union and an Asia Common Market to provide rational security and economic structures for the region. The real opportunity and challenge exists in beginning to establish these structures.
The strike on the Chinese embassy in Belgrade was tragic, yet China supported the war waged by Milosevic against the Kosovars. China also violates international law in its claims of sovereignty over its so-called 321km exclusive economic zone as a basis for flight intercepts.
The US has bent over backwards to accommodate the PLA and the Politburo, as well as the juvenile and irrational nationalism of Beijing University. We invite 54,000 students from China to study in the US. Today, citizens of China can emigrate to the US and become US citizens and return to work in China, should they so desire.
No reciprocity exists in China to provide for the permanent and secure residence in China of US citizens as permanent residents with full political and economic rights. While many retired US citizens would like to establish retirement residences in south China, fear of the PRC government prevents this.
Market share does not justify abrogation of fundamental human rights. It does not justify allowing the Politburo and the PLA to interfere in the sovereign affairs of other nations, including South Korea, Japan, the US, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.
Greater China is a region, which includes the PRC, the SAR Hong Kong, the ROC and even the Republic of Singapore. It even includes the Overseas Chinese, if you will. The Republic of Singapore is a multi-ethnic republic. The ROC is the other sovereign state of China itself. The Overseas Chinese have many countries of citizenship.
The PRC is only one state among many and cannot claim sovereignty over any of these others.
The US has nothing to regret in maintaining the responsibility for peace in Asia, other than in what we have failed to do already in the development of that peace and security for the region. We owe no compensation to anyone.
Bill Clinton is a man of generous spirit and understanding. He is also a man of vanity and ambition, whose statements and actions with respect to China occasionally exceeded authorized limits and the judgements of reason. His "three no's" in Shanghai, for example, have been rendered null and void by the US Congress and has no basis as a part of US policy toward the China.
Eric Hands
Seattle, Washington
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