Taiwan President

The Clinton Administration’s decision to let President Lee Teng-hui of Republic of China visit the United States is an unfortunate mistake (editorial, May 24). It casts a great shadow in the minds of other countries regarding the sincerity and the ability of the U.S. to honor its international treaty obligations. The erosion of confidence in the U.S. will further jeopardize the global stability in the post-Cold War era.

Let us not pretend that Lee’s visit is a private one. The whole issue is politically motivated. According to Taiwan’s propaganda, this visit will strengthen its claim to be an independent country. Allowing Lee’s visit is a direct violation of the U.S. commitment to the “one China” policy that has been the foundation of the Sino-U.S. relationship since 1979.

One hundred years ago China was forced to sign the Treaty of Shimonoseki, in which China ceded Taiwan to Japan. It is a historic lesson that the Chinese will not easily forget. Taiwan is a fundamental interest of any Chinese regime, Communist or non-Communist. The Taiwan problem should be left to Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to solve.

VICTOR CHANG

Institute of Sino Strategic Studies

Los Angeles

* China claims that Taiwan is one of its provinces. However, China seems to forget that no government in China has had any sovereignty over Taiwan for the last 100 years. Taiwanese people may forgive China for conceding Taiwan to Japan in 1895, but they never forget the way thousands of Chinese, Tibetans and the students in Tian An Men Square were slaughtered, and do not have any desire to be part of China. “One China, and one Taiwan” is perfectly fine to the Taiwanese people.

WENCHENG LIN

Hacienda Heights