For the past nine years, I have had the privilege of working for Taiwan's two staunchest supporters in the US government: Senator Jesse Helms and the late Representative Gerald Solomon.
With the passing of Congressman Solomon, Taiwan has lost a dear friend. Indeed, Taiwan has lost a patriot. Yes, Jerry Solomon was a patriot of Taiwan. Allow me to explain.
Congressman Solomon was known in Washington as perhaps the most openly patriotic American politician. He was called a flag waver. This was a derogatory term for some, but the US flag lapel pins that he started wearing decades ago are now, in the post-September 11 world, the most fashionable piece of apparel in America.
Congressman Solomon's patriotism was no mere symbolism however, it was a deeply ingrained faith in America. For him, America was not just a chunk of land, not just a place to do business, and certainly not a mosaic of different ethnic groups. America was an idea -- the idea that human beings were born to live free.
To Congressman Solomon, this idea was self-evidently universal, applicable to all human beings, especially those who were engaged in struggle with tyrannical governments or aggressive neighbors. Not to support such people would be a betrayal of American values, un-American. Thus, in his view, the only truly American policy toward a place like Taiwan was to defend her as though she were a part of our own country. In this way, Congressman Solomon's patriotism passed seamlessly from America to Taiwan.
When I first started working for Congressman Solomon in 1992, the first assignment he gave me was to read and hold dear the Taiwan Relations Act, which he helped draft in 1979. He told me that his foreign policy philosophy rested on an essential principle: supporting and defending our democratic friends abroad from would-be aggressors. That dictated that we support countries like Poland, the Baltic states and Taiwan.
As a person to whom loyalty was a priority, Congressman Solomon always appreciated Taiwan's efforts during our struggle with communism. The Pentagon may have rejected Taiwan's offer to provide troops during the Korean and Vietnam wars, but Congressman Solomon did not forget it. He was fond of saying that he considered Taiwan one of the strongest links in the chain of defense against communist aggression during the Cold War. To him, that deserved loyalty in return.
Few issues consumed Congressman Solomon as much as the threat posed to Taiwan by Communist China. As that threat increased during the 1990s, he sponsored no less than 12 Taiwan-related measures and cosponsored dozens more. He championed Taiwan's just cause for representation in the UN. He agitated for more and better arms sales to Taiwan. He fought for measures to stem the money flows from the West which subsidize China's threatening military buildup aimed at Taiwan. He made clear that he felt the US had a moral obligation to defend Taiwan if China ever attacked. Strategic ambiguity just wasn't his style.
Nor was personal ambiguity. Congressman Solomon said what he meant and meant what he said. Everyone was clear where he stood and what he wanted. And when he wanted something, look out. Along with his clear vision came a driving passion. That made him a formidable foe. People stood in Jerry Solomon's way at their own peril. This worked to Taiwan's benefit on a couple of occasions.
In 1995, Congressman Solomon sponsored a resolution supporting Taiwan's membership in the UN. When a House subcommittee refused to hold a hearing on the resolution for several months, Congressman Solomon informed members of the subcommittee that if they didn't hold a hearing, they would never get any of their legislation through the Rules Committee, which he chaired. The subcommittee held the hearing.
In early 1996, as China ramped up its military threats against Taiwan, Congressman Solomon co-authored a resolution by Congressman Chris Cox which stated that the US should militarily defend Taiwan if China attacked or blockaded the island. Though the resolution was overwhelmingly popular, a member of the House leadership staff was trying to delay the measure. When I informed Congressman Solomon of this one day on the House floor, he turned red, walked briskly over to the staffer and began speaking in a, shall we say, matter of fact tone. I remember being glad that I was not that staffer. The resolution moved to the House floor shortly thereafter and passed overwhelmingly.
Congressman Solomon's direct and sometimes forceful approach was a product of his deep convictions. When he knew an idea was right, such as supporting Taiwan, he relentlessly pursued the cause. Likewise, when he knew an idea was wrong, such as communism, he opposed it with all of his vigor, regardless of what anyone else said or thought.
During his 1992 reelection campaign, Congressman Solomon posted huge billboards in his upstate New York district that said "Taxpayers Love Him Because He Has the Guts to Say No," a reference to his willingness to reject the demands of special interest groups that constantly clamored for more taxpayer money. A foreign policy variant of this could say "Communists and Dictators Hated Him Because He Had The Guts to Say No."
When the Soviets wanted trade concessions, Congressman Solomon said no. When the Soviets and their American supporters wanted the US to disarm, Congressman Solomon said no. When the Soviets began to encroach on the western hemisphere in the late 1970s, Congressman Solomon said no, and began to agitate for an aggressive policy of resistance. This Just Say No approach to communism became official US policy under Ronald Reagan, and the Soviets collapsed within a decade.
In the coming years, Taiwan will come under increasing pressure from China, from the Taiwanese business community, from east Asian neighbors, and possibly even from the US to make concessions to China for the sake of economic progress and "peace." If it is to survive, Taiwan must adopt a Solomonesque willingness to say no to these pressures.
Congressman Solomon continued to work on behalf of Taiwan even after he left office in 1998. In fact, he and I were in frequent contact right through August, trading and supporting each other's ideas on how best to maintain Taiwan's security and freedom. Though he was no longer in a position of power, Congressman Solomon would not leave the issue of Taiwan alone. He couldn't. He was a patriot. At his memorial service, his lovely wife, Freda, told me that she and the congressman considered Taiwan their second home.
Until his dying days, Jerry Solomon never forgot Taiwan. Taiwan must never forget him.
Jim Doran served as a foreign policy and defense staffer to Congressman Solomon from 1992 through 1998. He is currently a senior professional staff member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
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