Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (12/17/03)

In making his warning to Taiwan, President Bush committed a major mistake: accepting China's definition of a "provocation" ("Bush has warning for Taiwan," Dec. 10).

China has 496 missiles aimed across the strait at Taiwan; Taiwan plans to hold a straightforward, democratic referendum. Which country is being provocative trying to change the "status quo"?

It is distressing to Taiwanese-Americans to see the United States turning away from this great country's founding principle of democracy and freedom and kowtowing to China's bullying. In its eagerness to get potential support for U.S. policy on North Korea, the Bush administration is now allowing China to call the shots on our Taiwan policy.

During the 1996 Taiwan election, when China threatened Taiwan by firing missiles over the island, President Clinton sent U.S. warships to the Taiwan Strait to signal China to back off. Clearly, China got the message. This time, as Taiwan's 2004 election approaches, the Chinese are sitting back and getting the U.S. to do their dirty work in warning the people of Taiwan not to exercise their democratic rights.

The U.S. walked the same road of self-determination itself, and Taiwanese people should also be allowed to determine their own future.

Grace Tseng
New Berlin