Clinton Administration Policy on China

President Clinton is playing a cruel hoax on Martin Lee, the Hong Kong pro-democracy activist, by meeting him at the White House (April 19) and making empty promises through his spokesman that “there would be consequences for any erosion of the freedom and liberties that are currently enjoyed by the people of Hong Kong.” China knows abundantly well by now that Clinton is a paper tiger held hostage by the advocates of “business at any price,” and will either dismiss this latest bravado out of hand or, just to tweak Clinton’s nose, clamp down some more on Hong Kong.

Lee and his colleagues should remember Hungary and Czechoslovakia. The tragic fact is that the people who count and who have power in Hong Kong are those whose only interest is “to get rich,” as exhorted by the recently departed Deng Xiaoping, not to promote democracy.

RAYMOND L. CHUAN

Hanalei, Hawaii

How a nation that produces high school graduates unable to write one-page essays can expect to shape the governance of a nation of 1.2 billion people is beyond fantasy. George Will (Column Right, April 17) focuses on the “what” of U.S. foreign policy without considering the “how” of U.S. foreign policy. This may be a new exercise for America’s elite but it is about time they started.

Today America enjoys an economy capable of sustaining a powerful Navy that flies America’s flag on the oceans of the world (including the Yellow Sea and Taiwan Strait). Tomorrow this will not be the case, as the brainpower industries of the Information Age become decisive in the economic competition between nations. The first goal of the U.S. must be to make its educational system work. With its current failing educational system and no reform in sight, America no longer has the luxury of aggressive foreign policies based on its vision of right and wrong.

American foreign policy experts and commentators should keep in mind that the Pacific Ocean is no larger than it was on Dec. 7, 1941. Back then, American high school students could write essays and understand newspaper commentaries.

RICHARD P. ROMERO

Van Nuys

* Does Will offer a single notion of how we’re supposed to “break China to the saddle and bridle”? No. So here are a few suggestions:

* Lob in a few tactical nukes.

* Boycott all Chinese-made goods. That’ll teach ‘em.

* Declare Taiwan the one true China and be done with it.

* Finish the Great Wall to fence the Chinese in.

* Annex China as the 51st state.

Or maybe we’ll get lucky and the Chinese will laugh themselves to pieces over Will’s content-free saber-rattling.

ROBERT SCHMIDT

Culver City