It's up to China

 San Jose Mercury News 

Monday, March 12, 2001 

By Chang Kuor-hsin 

WHILE China's position on U.S. arms sales to Taiwan is well represented in a recent Mercury News article (``Selling arms to Taiwan may harm U.S.-China ties, Beijing warns,'' Page 4A, March 7), it is important to note the obligation that the United States has, under the Taiwan Relations Act, ``to provide Taiwan with arms of a defensive character.''

As a Dec. 18 Pentagon report states, ``The United States takes its obligation to assist Taiwan in maintaining a self-defense capability very seriously. This is not only because it is mandated by U.S. law in the TRA, but also because it is in our own national interest.'' Peace and stability in East Asia are key goals of U.S. policy, and Secretary of State Colin Powell recently affirmed that a strong Taiwan is ``the foundation of stability and security in that part of the world.''

The U.S. position regarding Taiwan is clear: Any resolution of the Taiwan Strait issue must be peaceful and mutually acceptable to both Taiwan and China. Because China has steadfastly refused to renounce the use of force against Taiwan and has, as the Pentagon has documented, between 200 and 300 missiles currently pointed at the island, U.S. arms sales for Taiwan's defense are a necessity.

It is China which is "riding its wild horse right to the edge of the precipice,'' not the United States. The ball is in China's court for ending an arms buildup across the Taiwan Strait. If China were to stop its military buildup focused on forcing Taiwan into China's embrace and were to renounce the use of force, there would be no need for further U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

Kuor-Hsin Chang

President, Formosan Association
for Public Affairs
Northern California chapter