Thu, Jun 02, 2005 page8

• US should take a side in the Strait

  • By Paul Lin 林保華
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  In visiting China, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) not only submitted to Hu Jintao (胡錦濤), but also brought the power of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) into Taiwan's domestic politics and reduced the effectiveness of US influence in the Taiwan Strait.

  Statements made by the US State Department have generally taken an approving line about these visits, and US President George W. Bush has even suggested that Hu meet with Taiwan's legitimately elected President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁). Now that the CCP's influence is a fact in Taiwan's domestic politics, it has been left up to the National Assembly to bring stability to a government that lacks direction.

  The situation has developed in a manner that the US did not predict. This is largely due to the US' incorrect assessment of the KMT and the PFP. They believe that the KMT is still the same as it was under the two Chiangs or under Lee Teng-hui (李登輝): namely, that it favors the US and opposes China. But the "pro-US, anti-China" stance of both Lien and Soong was only a matter of expedience, and not a matter of political principle. Now that they have lost power, they see that the US, which advocates democracy, will not help them win it back. Meanwhile, China is wooing them through its "united front" strategy, through which it aims to co-opt allies in Taiwan and sow division. It therefore comes as no surprise that Lien and Soong have pinned their hopes of regaining power on China.

  In order to cozy up to China, the two opposition parties have no choice but to adopt an anti-US position, for the principles and systems of the two countries are antithetical. Since the KMT lost power, its members and those of the PFP have sought to make trouble in the Taiwan-US relationship, even though Lien and Soong have not personally taken part in this process.

  A constant stream of criticism has been directed at the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for relying too heavily on the US. The opposition parties have clearly shown themselves willing to sell out Taiwan, and to favor China over the US.

  They have even obstructed the special arms procurement bill as a favor to China, endangering Taiwan's security and making themselves accomplices in China's expansionism.

  It is unfortunate that the US government has been unaware of this. They see Taiwan's party politics as being the same as those in the US, forgetting that Taiwan's democracy is still in its infancy and that the KMT has yet to adapt itself to operating in a democratic system. Meanwhile the "China factor" is pulling the KMT toward a reliance on a dictatorial government to avoid a painful transition to democratic politics.

  Now that the opposition has come out into the open about their policy to join with the CCP against Taiwan, it is only a matter of time before they make plain that they will join with the CCP against the US as well. The US needs to realize this.

  Fortunately, the US is not totally unaware of the problem. Congress is monitoring the situation and has adopted some measures in response.

  Representative Henry Hyde, chairman of the US House Committee on International Relations and 33 other members of Congress signed a strongly worded letter to Lien asking him to support the passage of the arms procurement bill that is currently being held up in the legislature.

  Second, the US Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act requesting more latitude regarding the rank of military officers permitted to visit Taiwan. Currently, serving generals and deputy assistant secretaries of defense and above may not visit Taiwan.

  Third, the US House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations approved an amendment in the 2006/2007 National Defense Authorization Act to allow the legitimately elected leader of Taiwan to visit the US without restrictions. This article states that direct contact with Taiwan's legitimate leaders including the president, vice-president, foreign minister and defense minister are beneficial to US interests.

  Regarding arms procurement, American Institute in Taiwan Director Douglas Paal invited the three conveners of the legislature's National Defense Committee to discuss the issue privately, but his invitation has already been refused by some of those invited. After all, the pan-blue camp has only just "broken the ice" with China. If they passed the arms procurement bill at the US' request, wouldn't all their effort to cozy up to China come to nothing?

  As to the letter from the 33 US Congress members, the KMT has simply sought to avoid the issue. Prior to categorically turning against the US, they clearly want to keep up appearances.

  As for the second and third proposals, these are a long way from being formal policy, but their significance should not be totally discounted. For the sake of US interests and world peace, this is clearly the way to go.

  This could even be taken one step further: The three outdated joint US-China communiques could be discussed to free up US policy in the Taiwan Strait and allow it to introduce more necessary measures.

  For example, if the US were to elevate Taiwan's international status as a means to counter China, and if other countries followed suit, this would greatly assist in ensuring peace in the Strait.

  Ultimately, in the battle between democratic Taiwan and tyrannical China, the US should not see itself as a referee, but should actively take sides and participate.

  Paul Lin is a freelance writer based in New York.

  Translated by Ian Bartholomew
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