With the presidential election rapidly approaching, and with popular support for the candidates as reflected in opinion polls closer than ever, the issue of security in the Taiwan Strait has become the biggest focus of debate between the pan-blue and pan-green camps.
To ensure security across the Taiwan Strait, President Chen Shui-bian (
This is the so-called "five noes" statement.
However, Chen recently indicated that as China continues to deploy missiles targeting Taiwan and to expand its military, the conditions under which the "five noes" were formulated have long ceased to exist.
He went on to indicate that the defensive referendum to be held in March of next year will not violate the spirit of the "five noes."
This is the biggest concession and the most sincere compromise that Chen is making for the sake of national security, the popular good and peace in the Taiwan Strait.
But if China fires missiles as it did during the 1996 presidential campaign, the "five noes" will truly vanish.
In view of Chen's commitment and firm position, we express our deep support.
Some have noted that China's missile deployment and military expansion did not begin just today. Of course we admit that that is true. But China has been rapidly increasing the number of missiles it is aiming at Taiwan. That is why Chen openly stated recently that China has 496 missiles targeting Taiwan. This was to make the people of Taiwan understand the seriousness of the military threat posed by China.
The reality is that China is a threat to all countries in the Asia-Pacific region. But no one feels more threatened than Taiwan, which is only a short distance away from China. In addition, the economic interests of the people of Taiwan are tied up with China. Any conflict will change the existing economic structure and balance of power. This is not something that people on either side of the Taiwan Strait would be pleased to see.
After Chen took the initiative by expressing goodwill through his "five noes" statement, China responded by saying that "it will listen carefully to Chen's words, and closely observe his conduct." The hegemonic mentality evident in this statement, in addition to China's continued missile deployments, military expansion and espionage campaign against Taiwan's military intelligence, as well as a series of verbal threats and attacks, make us question how much of the goodwill expressed by Chen is being reciprocated.
How much longer must the people of Taiwan live under the threat of a missile attack? As the people of a sovereign country, aren't we entitled to choose the way we want to live? What is wrong with the government's enacting the Referendum Law (
To throw cold water on the enactment of the Referendum Law, and to keep Taiwan from proceeding with a referendum that has nothing to do with the independence-unification issue, China tried to use the US against Taiwan.
Such high-handed tactics by China can never be accepted by the more than 23 million people of Taiwan.
After Chen disclosed that China is targeting Taiwan with 496 missiles, a Hong Kong newspaper began to spread lies about China's arrest of alleged Taiwanese spies, saying that the arrests had much to do with Chen's disclosure of the number of missiles. This is an obvious attempt to blacken Chen's name and discredit the government.
What we do not understand is this -- why can't China accept the reality that Taiwan is not part of China? Why can't it recognize the reality that Taiwan is a sovereign country?
This is not to mention that the most important cause of the split across the Taiwan Strait is the actions of China.
The fact that an ROC president has been elected by the people he represents proves that neither side of the Taiwan Strait belongs to the other side. This is reality. If China cannot even recognize reality, what grounds does it have to talk about "peaceful unification?"
Considering that China disapproves of Taiwanese people's right to hold referendums, and considering its verbal attacks on and belittlement of the nation's leader, China's diplomatic siege, its missile deployments and military targeting of Taiwan -- all moves that run counter to the popular will of Taiwanese people -- what right does China have to talk about "placing hope in the people of Taiwan?"
China was the one that violated the conditions for the "five noes."
How can pro-unification media and political parties ignore this fact and not condemn China but instead criticize their own government, as well as seize on opportunities created by the rumored arrests of Taiwanese spies to divide the Presidential Office and the military intelligence system?
Since the precondition for the "five noes" -- that China "does not intend to use force against Taiwan" -- is not being met, is there any security left across the Taiwan Strait?
Taiwan's crisis has existed for several decades. Only pro-China politicians would be naive enough to think that we can place our hopes for peace on the Chinese government.
After years of waiting, the people of Taiwan can finally decide how they want to live by casting votes.
Through the referendums, a strong consensus will emerge, strongly expressing the will of the people of Taiwan. Against a backdrop of Chinese opposition and a lack of support from the US, the importance of the defensive referendum next year is highlighted.
A referendum on March 20th is inevitable. China will surely try to interfere as usual. Is the crisis in the Taiwan Strait about to boil over? That depends on the wisdom of policymakers.
However, we must not ignore the real causes of the problem.
As indicated by Chen, as long as China displays goodwill and indicates a willingness to withdraw its missiles and renounce the use of force against Taiwan, there is no need to hold a defensive referendum next year.
If China displays such goodwill, a potential crisis could actually become a positive turning point.
China has become the hegemon of Asia. Taiwan has never been a threat to China, being preoccupied with seeking development and stability in Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu.
If China is at all sincere, it should withdraw the missiles that are targeting us and immediately renounce the use of force against Taiwan, so that the people of Taiwan will no longer be required to live under the threat of force from China.
This would allow the two sides of the Taiwan Strait to ponder their future rationally and seek a mutually advantageous path on an equal and peaceful footing.
We also hope that as the pillar of world peace, the US can extend fair treatment to Taiwan, so that people here can enjoy liberty and democracy just like other countries.
For the sake of world peace and the common interests of mankind, the US should continue to follow the "Taiwan Relations Act" in supporting Taiwan's path to democracy. After all, ensuring the development of Taiwan and stability in the Taiwan Strait is truly compatible with the national interests of the US.
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