Outlook for Taiwan-U.S. ties

Re "What's good for Taiwan," Opinion, March 29

April 3, 2008

I applaud John R. Bolton for advocating full diplomatic recognition of Taiwan.

Taiwan has long satisfied all the criteria for statehood, according to the 1933 Montevideo Convention to which the United States is a signatory. Ma Ying-jeou, the president-elect of Taiwan, would be supremely suited to first proclaim Taiwan's wish to be so recognized. Ma and his Nationalist Party have for decades professed to desire Taiwan's "ultimate reunification" with China.

Only when Ma publicly supports an independent Taiwan will all the people of Taiwan go along. Recall the 1972 U.S. rapprochement with China: It took dyed-in-the-wool communist basher President Nixon to accomplish the feat.

President Bush hailed Ma's election as a "fresh opportunity" for Taiwan and China to engage each other. Indeed, it is also a fresh opportunity for Bush to re-engage Taiwan by formally recognizing that truly free and democratic island nation.

Bob I. Yang

Overland Park, Kan.

The writer is president of the Formosan Assn. for Public Affairs.