Bush on Taiwan: Calling China’s Bluff?

* Chalmers Johnson’s admonition of our president is misleading (“Ally Chastens Bush Over Taiwan Outburst,” Commentary, April 29). When President Bush said that the U.S. would defend Taiwan against a Chinese attack, he was only reiterating our 20-plus-year policy.

So what if there are those who think we are antagonizing China. President Reagan antagonized the Soviet Union with his “evil empire” remark and look what happened. And so what if the promised destroyers are being manufactured by Litton Industries, one of Sen. Trent Lott’s “top 10 contributors”; at least Bush is not taking campaign contributions from the Chinese Communist People’s Liberation Army.

CHRISTOPHER T. HICKS

Long Beach

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* By calling China’s bluff, Bush only gained back the bargaining chips that President Clinton threw away over the years. Johnson also neglected to point out that the most recent survey indicates the majority of Taiwanese oppose rather than favor annexation with China, as Johnson implied. Furthermore, former Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui postponed his visit to the U.S. because of his heart surgery, not due to any political reason.

HUNGYI SHAU

Cerritos

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* It’s simple--the president is telling the Chinese, “Don’t mess with Taiwan.”

JOHN L. GRIFFITHS

Los Angeles

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* The human tragedy of what happened when Sen. Bob Kerrey’s squad raided that village in Vietnam in 1969 could have been avoided if he were flying combat patrols over the skies of Texas instead. If the Bush administration’s saber-rattling sparks a war with the People’s Republic of China, I’d like to reserve my spot with the National Guard now. Enclosed please find a suitable donation check to the Bush 2004 campaign.

JOHN MALONEY

Anaheim