Fri, Aug 16, 2002 page8

• Editorial: Fighting the diplomatic battle

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  Whenever Taiwan's president or vice president visit another country, China immediately mobilizes its diplomatic forces to suppress and harass them. This has become a routine diplomatic war between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. Since former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) visited Singapore in 1989 -- his first visit abroad as president -- Beijing's intent to suppress Taiwan's space in the international community hasn't changed. We do not need to despair on account of a small frustration, nor to heap scorn or pour cold water on Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) for trying to break through China's diplomatic siege.

  In fact, Taiwan's current diplomatic dire straits are a legacy of the KMT's 50-year rule. After Chiang Kai-shek's (蔣介石) regime dropped out of the UN in 1971, severing diplomatic relations with countries that established ties with China became a frequent affair for Taiwan, so frequent, in fact, that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs became jokingly known as the "ministry of severance" (斷交部). The number of Taiwan's diplomatic allies also dwindled quickly from well over 100 to today's 27. It is therefore ironic that KMT and PFP leaders who defended and implemented the Chiang regime's policies are now criticizing the DPP government for not doing a good job with diplomacy.

  No matter what great difficulties are facing Taiwan's diplomats today, government leaders should continue to work hard despite detractions from the outside world -- to "do what we should do," to quote Lu's words. The denigration of the Republic of China's status began on the day it was expelled from the UN -- long before any Taiwanese head of state was blocked at the gates of another country. Now that the KMT regime Chiang brought from China has been replaced by local political forces, Taiwan's government and public need to double their efforts, to let the international community understand the fact that Taiwan has been separated politically from China for more than 100 years, and that the Taiwanese will never accept communist rule.

  Taiwan should never dance to Beijing's magic wand, nor should it give ground to Beijing's harassment in the international community. The more Beijing tries to suppress Taiwan, the harder Taiwan should strike back. Only then can Taiwan highlight its independent sovereignty and the serious problem of Beijing's intimidation. Obviously, Taiwan at times will suffer denigration in the process of seeking more diplomatic victories. This is the price Taiwan must pay for the Chiang regime's mistaken policy. We must not get depressed because of this. It's like a basketball match. We can't give up the match just because a forward loses the ball.

  Think about it. The Chiang regime managed to keep the PRC out of the UN for more than 20 years. Before taking over the KMT government's seat in the Security Council, Beijing suffered a diplomatic blockade just like Taiwan does today. It was a struggle between the KMT and the Chinese Communist Party, a struggle in which the people of Taiwan unfortunately became embroiled. The people of Taiwan became hostages in this struggle between two Chinese political parties. Today's government must clarify to the international community that the Chiang regime that held the people of Taiwan hostage and claimed to represent China no longer exists. The people of Taiwan have regained their freedom and have no territorial ambitions toward China.

  The PRC's claim of sovereignty over Taiwan is off the mark. Beijing's leaders should quit the mentality of the Manchu dynasty, whose emperors view themselves as heavenly rulers and everything under the sun as their property.
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