News Journal of Wilmington, DE.

April 5, 2001

To the Editor: 

The Taiwanese American community of Delaware was heartened by President Bush's reminder to visiting Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen that the U.S. has "an obligation under the Taiwan Relations Act" to provide defensive weapons to Taiwan. (3/23"Bush pledges to be firm, fair with Beijing.") The new Administration has, rightly, focused on stability in East Asia as a key goal and sees a strong Taiwan as, in Secretary of State Colin Powell's words, "the foundation of stability and security in that part of the world." Arleigh Burke destroyers, equipped with the Aegis battle management system, can coordinate enough information to track and seek to block some 100 attacking weapons. There is no military answer to the Taiwan Strait question, but these destroyers would provide some balance to what is now, thanks to China's military buildup, a tilted playing field that could destabilize the region. The clarity of U.S. intent will tell China that an attempt to destroy Taiwan will not be tolerated by any civilized society. 

Sincerely, 

Zen-Yu Chang 

President Delware Chapter 

Formosan Association for Public Affairs