Kissinger on Taiwan

In “The Folly of Bullying Beijing” (Opinion, July 6), Henry Kissinger suggests that Taiwan would possibly “rekindle the Chinese civil war.” This is ludicrous. Taiwan, unlike the People’s Republic of China, has renounced any intentions of using force in dealing with the Taiwan/PRC issue. Taiwan is currently trying to convince Beijing to reopen talks in order to decrease tensions and come to a position where peaceful and constructive negotiations in several realms can take place. It is the PRC that continues to be unwilling to sit down and communicate in this manner. In fact, our intentions are the opposite of wanting to “rekindle civil war.” Our goal is the eventual reunification of China under the umbrella of prosperity, freedom and democracy.

Further, Kissinger wonders whether Taiwan will see China’s dealings with Hong Kong as a challenge or as an opportunity. First, Kissinger’s rosy view of how autonomous Hong Kong is being allowed to be and will be allowed to be in the future is dubious. Second, it is simply incorrect to suggest a parallel between the Hong Kong and the Taiwan situations. Hong Kong was a British colony while the Republic of China on Taiwan has been a sovereign state for more years than have most of the U.N. member countries.

Taiwan maintains its view of China as a single nation divided into two different sovereign units. Taipei has no intention of increasing cross-strait tensions and is, in fact, putting a great deal of effort into rekindling a constructive, peaceful coexistence between the ROC and the PRC with the goal of eventual reunification.

LI-SHAN CHANG

Assistant Information Division

Taipei Economic & Cultural Office

Los Angeles