WHEN Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao said last week that ``the U.S. side should uphold the one China policy'' and thus ``brush aside the disruptions'' in bilateral relations, Hu confused the subtlety of the U.S. policy with the absoluteness of his government's ``one China principle.''

The United States has been most rigorous in upholding its one China policy, but Hu does not seem to understand that the United States does not accept the People's Republic of China as the ``China'' of this policy. The United States sees Taiwan and the PRC as equal entities, and it believes that it is up to them to come to a peaceful, mutually acceptable resolution of what ``China'' might mean. The United States adds that because Taiwan is a democracy, the people of Taiwan have to consent to this resolution.

Hu would do well to treat Taiwan as an equal partner. The firmness of U.S. support for Taiwan helps create peace and stability in East Asia. We support Taiwan because we defend the freedom of the people of Taiwan just as we defend our own freedom.

Kuor-Hsin Chang

President, Formosan Association for Public Affairs

Northern California Chapter

Sunnyvale