Wed, Jun 06, 2001 page8

• The right to choose your guests

  • By Doug Bandow
  • • 
    • 
    • 

  President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has finished his trip to the US, and the Chinese government is upset. It considers Taiwan to be a part of China, so how dare Washington allow the head of a "renegade province" to land in the US, even if only on his way to and from Latin America?

  It's not the first time a president of Taiwan has visited America, of course. But it is the first time one has been free to see more than an airport or hotel and the first time one has met with US political figures.

  In 1994, then-president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) stopped at a military base in Hawaii, also on his way to Latin America, and he stayed at the facility.

  A year later Lee wanted to return to Cornell University, his alma mater, for an alumni gathering. The administration was inclined to reject his request, but congressional pressure forced it to relent. Nevertheless, the State Department insisted that he avoid any "political" activities.

  Last year, Chen wanted to change planes in Los Angeles at the mid-point of a trip to Latin America. The Clinton administration reluctantly granted him permission, but only on the condition that he sit in his hotel room for his entire 16-hour stay.

  He had to cancel a planned meeting with four congressmen. One, Representative Dana Rohrabacher, a California Republican, came anyway. Yet despite the administration's timorous behavior, Beijing declared that the Chen visit might "severely" damage Sino-American relations.

  Beijing has similarly pressured other nations. Earlier this year Lee requested permission to visit Japan for medical treatment. Only after an agonizing delay did Tokyo approve his visit. Similarly, last year China bitterly protested Britain's willingness to grant a visa to the Lee. London went ahead, but Beijing made an ugly scene.

  Chen's latest US visit particularly galled China because he was accompanied by 40 reporters from Taiwan and met with at least 20 members of Congress. He also dropped in on New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and visited the city's Metropolitan Museum of Art. On his return, he attended a dinner in Houston hosted by House Majority Whip Tom DeLay.

  This time, Beijing said little publicly. It "firmly opposes" such visits "under any excuse," said its foreign ministry. But both Taipei and Washington are bracing themselves for further protests.

  The US-Chinese relationship is already testy. The Chen visit adds another irritant on top of the reconaissance plane incident and the Bush administration's decision to sell a variety of weapons, including submarines, to Taiwan. Relations with Beijing are important, of course, and a military confrontation between the US and China over Taiwan or anything else would be in no one's interest. But while one can legitimately debate what wea-pons to sell Taipei, or whether to defend Taiwan, there can be no compromise over allowing visits like that by Chen.

  There may be no more basic element of statehood than deciding who can enter one's country. And there is no doubt what decision should be made by a people who purport to be free.

  The head of a foreign community, irrespective of its formal international status, that is both capitalist and democratic, should be welcome in the US.

  But this issue isn't likely to go away. Chen will undoubtedly be back, later in 2001 or beyond.

  Similarly, in future years his successor will certainly want to stop in the US on his way to Latin America, where most of the countries that diplomatically recognize Taiwan are located.

  Washington should therefore settle the issue once and for all. It should inform Beijing politely but firmly that the US, like China, does not appreciate outside interference in its internal affairs.

  Which means that Washington will issue a transit visa to whomever and whenever it desires. In deference to China, the US will keep any visit private by ensuring that no administration official meets with any visiting Taiwanese figure or figures.

  But Washington will not attempt to prevent him or them from meeting with members of Congress, journalists, or anyone else. The US might not be able to prevent the Beijing government from suppressing human rights in China. But Washington certainly will not suppress human rights in the US at China's behest.

  Groveling is never good policy. Especially when it comes to the right of Americans to govern their own affairs.

  Doug Bandow is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and a former special assistant to former US president Ronald Reagan.
• Most Popular

  • 1

    Referendum, 26 recall votes could cost NT$1.62 billion

  • 2

    Conference on rebuilding Ukraine opens in Italy

  • 3

    Dispute between US, Brazil escalates

  • 4

    MOFA welcomes remarks by NATO’s Rutte

  • 5

    TSMC’s materials executive quits