Taiwan should stand up
After the cessation of ties with the Republic of Nauru on July 23, there are now only 27 countries that have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Meanwhile, China has official diplomatic relationships with 162 of 189 members of the UN. It appears that Taiwan is facing an uphill battle with China for diplomatic recognition. China has gained more and more economic power and started to use money diplomacy in the same way as the KMT did in the past.
Taiwan is also struggling on the front lines of non-governmental diplomacy. The Lions Clubs International, for example, changed the membership name of the Republic of China branch to "China Taiwan" without Taiwan's consent. Obviously, Taiwan is not doing well in either governmental or non-governmental international organizations. What is the root of the problem?
The answer is quite obvious. It is the name that Taiwan uses in all of these organizations. Those who still believe that ROC is a legitimate name for Taiwan in the international community are absolutely wrong. UN resolution 2758 of Oct. 25, 1971, clearly stated that there is only one China in the world and that is the People's Republic of China. In theory, all UN members must adhere to this policy. Therefore, it is understandable that the some organizations are under the pressure from China to change the name ROC to something else, such as "China Taiwan."
This should be a wake-up call to all people in Taiwan. Taiwan's government and people must understand the implications of using the name ROC in all these organizations. ROC implies a "two China" policy, which is not allowed under the UN resolution. The government must quickly act to change its name from ROC to Taiwan in all non-governmental organizations before China joins. Otherwise, the fiasco at the Lions Clubs International may be repeated in other organizations. In a Taipei Times article ("It's all in a name for `Taiwan,' July 15, page 3), it was reported that the Junior Chamber International's ROC branch changed its registered name to JCI Taiwan in 1997. In a recent vote, the ROC Rotary Club International overwhelmingly supported changing its name from ROC to Taiwan in a 90-to-1 vote. It is obvious that the people in Taiwan have demanded an official name change to Taiwan in non-governmental organizations to survive oppression by China. This is the only way that Taiwan can stand up in the international community with grace and dignity.
Taiwan's government must act immediately.
Wayne Chung
Orange County, California
KMT, end your hypocrisy
Once again the KMT is issuing calls for President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) to "clarify" remarks that "hint" at Taiwan independence. Well, then, the KMT should take its own advice and clarify its position on "one China."
Will its members reject the leadership of their own party so that they can take orders from the Communist Party leadership in Beijing? Will they send their taxes to the PRC, and their children to schools on the mainland? Will they openly reject democracy and accept one-party rule? Will they boycott the next presidential elections? After all, how can they claim to elect a president for a country that doesn't exist? Will they submit a motion to the legislature asking for Taiwan's armed forces to be disbanded? Of course a province cannot maintain an army solely for protection against its own national government, can it? And most importantly, will KMT lawmakers past and present show true one-China spirit by returning their paychecks and pensions? After all, they surely don't work for the national government of a non-nation, do they? Or, instead, will they confess that Taiwan the nation is a fait accompli, honestly embrace democracy and begin to serve in the best interests of the people of Taiwan who elected them? Please, KMT lawmakers: End your hypocrisy. Allow your president to lead a country, not a non-entity, and to engage with China and all other nations as a sovereign equal.
Gavin Magrath
Chunghua
Punish sidewalk vendors
I am a student who recently moved to Taipei from Chicago. Although I am impressed with the city's progress, I feel that one unnecessary annoyance could be simply solved.
Taipei's public spaces are frequently seized by individuals for personal profit. Taipei's police do ask these individuals to cease their activities, but they return when the police leave. I believe that a simple public-policy initiative could end this problem immediately.
The police should be given a small bonus (say NT$5,000) for every arrest and confiscation of goods from an illegal sidewalk vendor. The offenders would be relieved of their products and charged a small fine (say NT$5,000) upon their arrest. This system would be a cost-neutral scheme that gives police officers an incentive to make arrests while discouraging individuals from appropriating public space. This simple policy could play an important role in Taipei's development into a great international city.
Garry R. Perkins
Taipei
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