Thu, Aug 28, 2003 page3

• Nation must be assertive, says think tank head

  Edwin Feulner, president of the Washington-based think tank the Heritage Foundation, believes the six-party talks in Beijing on the North Korean nuclear crisis will not harm Taiwan's relationship with the US. Feulner, in Taipei on a visit, shared his views with `Taipei Times' reporter Melody Chen on how Taiwan should react to China's growing economic might and deeper political involvement in regional diplomacy

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  Taipei Times: How should Taiwan respond if China-US ties become closer as a result of the success of the six-party negotiations on the North Korean arms crisis? The nuclear crisis has, in a way, boosted China's relationship with the US. Does it mean the US will be more conciliatory toward China in handling cross-strait relations to repay Beijing for its help in resolving the crisis?

  Edwin Feulner: The six-party talks in Beijing are significant because you have five countries who have a fundamental common interest in stopping North Korea from developing weapons of mass destruction, nuclear weapons in particular.

  

  PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES

  Beyond that, though, each of these five countries has a different set of reasons why they are there.

  The fact that these five countries have come together to say to North Korea that it has to behave like a responsible member in the international community is very significant. The US is pleased that China and Russia are part of the talks.

  I do worry that some people in the US government might think the fact that the US and China are on the same side in this issue means that somehow we can consider China our ally across the board. I don't believe that. My colleagues don't believe that. We are there for a specific purpose, which is to bring stability and to eliminate the prospect of nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula.

  I have to say there are areas where we can work with China, like these talks and trade issues. There are areas, however, where it is China that has to behave like a responsible member of the international community.

  That means it can't let the People's Liberation Army sustain its arms build-up across the Taiwan Strait. It is not in our interest, let alone Taiwan's interest.

  I will continue to stress that when you find areas of agreement with other countries, that doesn't mean you agree across the board.

  Are there people in Washington who would like to use this [the talks] as a reason to build a closer political relationship between the US and China? Yes.

  I think if China were to give indications that it would reduce the number of missiles across the Taiwan Strait, instead of increasing them by redeploying some of its military assets away from the Taiwan Strait, that would be a much more hopeful sign than what they are doing.

  We are very realistic about this, both in the Heritage Foundation and throughout the Bush administration. President George W. Bush has said very positive things about Taiwan and believes very strongly that we have an obligation here under the Taiwan Relations Act.

  TT: Is it safe to say the six-party talks in Beijing will not in the least affect Taiwan-US relations?

  Feulner: I think it is safe to say so. We who watch it from the outside will certainly continue to stress that these are separate issues that have to be dealt with separately.

  TT: China, with its vast economic strength, has apparently begun to take the initiative in regional diplomacy. Given that it is a communist regime, is China's ambition to play such a role a good sign for other Asian countries?

  Feulner: I think it is a good sign that China wants to be a responsible member in the international community. A year ago, China was telling us they wouldn't have anything to do with this kind of multi-party talks on Korea.

  The fact that they came to our side and said they would not only participate in the talks but also host them is very positive. This doesn't mean I want leadership from China on every issue in Asia.

  TT: As China's economic strength grows and it starts to take the initiative in international affairs, is Taiwan facing a crisis of being marginalized in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of politics and economics?

  Feulner: Taiwan has to constantly reassert itself both politically and economically.

  You have good friends in Washington who worked very hard to make sure you came into the WTO virtually simultaneously with China.

  Because of the Taiwan Relations Act, we are willing to work closely with you in terms of your defense.

  Taiwan has to do enough on its own in terms of defense by spending money on defense and making sure you are willing to bear enough of the cross.

  You can't always count on the US umbrella to protect you when it starts to rain. One of the concerns we have is that some people in the political arena here in Taiwan think as long as the US is around, they don't have to spend much on defense. They can just count on the US. It doesn't work that way.
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