U.S. Policy Toward China and Taiwan

Despite repeated official denials, the changes in the U.S. policy toward Taiwan and China have been quite drastic and alarming. It is hardly recognizable that the biggest democracy in the world still has the will to support freedom and human rights against totalitarianism and oppression.

Thanks to the accurate analysis of Jim Mann (Nov. 10) and Greg Mastel (Opinion, Nov. 14), we now know the reasons for such major policy changes. The Clinton administration, teamed up with multinational corporations, would like to trade the Taiwanese people for the potential market benefit from China. The real question is, now that the People’s Republic of China has become quite savvy in the ultimate capitalist game of lobbying, has the U.S. learned anything from repeated failure in dealing with the biggest communist country?

HUNGYI SHAU

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* I think Mastel’s comments are off the target. China is not trying to change the present democratic system in Taiwan. China is benefiting from the capitalist system in Taiwan by getting a lot of investment resources from Taiwan right now. China only wants a symbolic sovereignty over Taiwan. Taiwan even can keep its armed force. Nothing would change except a few names. China is promising an even looser association with Taiwan than with Hong Kong.

The peaceful reunification of China and Taiwan is in the best interest of the U.S. In a recent survey, over 90% of mainland Chinese people said they were willing to go to war to reclaim Taiwan. China is 60 times bigger than Taiwan. Taiwan will not be able to defend itself without major manpower support from the U.S., regardless of how many weapons we give them.

We have gone to war with the Chinese in the Korean War and Vietnam War. Americans’ blood should not be spilled again because of some name changes.

PETER HUGH

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