In the US, July 4 is known as Independence Day, a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Coincidentally, two former US presidents who had made major contributions to their country, second president John Adams and third president Thomas Jefferson, passed away on the 50th US Independence Day. Former US senator Jesse Helms also passed away on Independence Day this year.
Evangelist Billy Graham has said that for people who have fought for the freedom of people and a free market, Independence Day is the perfect day to leave this world.
An editorial in the Wall Street Journal said that Helms’ passing on Independence Day was especially meaningful because he had fought for freedom all his life and was strongly opposed to communism. The editorial stated that Helms had been a Cold War hero just like former US president Ronald Reagan because, during his 30 years in office, Helms stood up for what he believed in and fought communism in the face of constant pressure from the left wing.
In the mid-1990s, Helms proposed economic sanctions on Cuba, which legally assured that the US did not deal with Fidel Castro’s regime. These were mandatory sanctions and were aimed at ending the dictatorship in Cuba. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Helms gained notoriety for openly criticizing China. He presided over congressional hearings on human rights abuses such as the use of prison labor in China, and was one of the few US senators who openly opposed China hosting the Olympic Games. Helms believed that a dictatorship focused on eliminating freedom should not host an event that symbolizes freedom.
Helms also became a close ally of Taiwan during his fight against communist China. He firmly supported the passing of the Taiwan Relations Act and later proposed the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act to further secure Taiwan’s safety. At a launch party for Helms’ memoirs, Here’s Where I Stand, published in 2005, the first female US ambassador to the UN, Jeane Kirkpatrick, made a speech praising Helms for his firm support of Taiwan. In his memoirs, Helms accused both former US president Jimmy Carter and former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger of betraying Taiwan. He also urged the American people not to be misled by Beijing’s political tricks and to spare no effort to prevent Taiwan’s annexation.
When Helms retired, then-president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) presented him with the Order of Propitious Clouds with Grand Cordon. The senator said that he was glad to have helped safeguard Taiwan’s sovereignty, security and democracy.
Helms was not afraid of being different. He opposed the Martin Luther King Day bill in 1983, saying that King had two associates with communist ties, while also questioning King’s private life. He severely criticized the UN, saying it was corrupt and inefficient and even criticized it when he was invited to speak there, saying that the UN should not even entertain the idea that Washington would tolerate the UN depriving the US of its rights. In terms of UN membership fees, Helms said that the payment of membership fees was not a form of charity; he thought it was an investment that had to have some sort of return.
The Chinese media denounced Helms, saying that he severely damaged China’s international reputation, while the US left-wing media also denounced him as a troublemaker. However, these comments show exactly what sort of power and influence Helms possessed. To those who value freedom, Helms was a hero and champion.
Cao Changqing is a writer based in the US.
TRANSLATED BY DREW CAMERON AND EDDY CHANG
It is almost three years since Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) and Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a friendship with “no limits” — weeks before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, they have retreated from such rhetorical enthusiasm. The “no limits” language was quickly dumped, probably at Beijing’s behest. When Putin visited China in May last year, he said that he and his counterpart were “as close as brothers.” Xi more coolly called the Russian president “a good friend and a good neighbor.” China has conspicuously not reciprocated Putin’s description of it as an ally. Yet the partnership
The ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu (孫子) said “know yourself and know your enemy and you will win a hundred battles.” Applied in our times, Taiwanese should know themselves and know the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) so that Taiwan will win a hundred battles and hopefully, deter the CCP. Taiwanese receive information daily about the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) threat from the Ministry of National Defense and news sources. One area that needs better understanding is which forces would the People’s Republic of China (PRC) use to impose martial law and what would be the consequences for living under PRC
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) said that he expects this year to be a year of “peace.” However, this is ironic given the actions of some KMT legislators and politicians. To push forward several amendments, they went against the principles of legislation such as substantive deliberation, and even tried to remove obstacles with violence during the third readings of the bills. Chu says that the KMT represents the public interest, accusing President William Lai (賴清德) and the Democratic Progressive Party of fighting against the opposition. After pushing through the amendments, the KMT caucus demanded that Legislative Speaker
Beijing’s approval of a controversial mega-dam in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo River — which flows from Tibet — has ignited widespread debate over its strategic and environmental implications. The project exacerbates the complexities of India-China relations, and underscores Beijing’s push for hydropower dominance and potential weaponization of water against India. India and China are caught in a protracted territorial dispute along the Line of Actual Control. The approval of a dam on a transboundary river adds another layer to an already strained bilateral relationship, making dialogue and trust-building even more challenging, especially given that the two Asian
RSS