|
The
following is FAPA Headquarters Iris Ho's response to Wu Xinbo's
article on November 10th International Herald Tribune.
The letter to the editor appeared on International Herald
Tribune on November 24.
I find
Mr. Wu's article disturbing. Despite his claims, the Taiwan
issue is not a matter of nation-building for China. Taiwan
is not like Macau or Hong Kong - two territories that were
returned to the People's Republic of China based by bilateral
treaties.
Taiwan
is not like Tibet either. Tibet is still under China's Communist
rule. I, as a Taiwanese, have never lived under the rule of
the People's Republic, not for a single day. I, like the 23
million people of Taiwan, use New Taiwan dollars, elect my
own Taiwanese president and travel the world with my own Taiwanese
passport.
It is unrealistic
and without any legal basis to claim that the Taiwan issue is
an internal affair of China. As a matter of fact, when the Japanese
left Taiwan after World War II, Taiwan's status remained undetermined.
.
However,
Taiwan meets all the qualifications for statehood as defined
by Article 1 of the Montevideo Convention on the Rights and
Duties of States (1933), which says: "The state as a person
of international law should possess the following qualifications:
(a) a permanent population; (b) a defined territory; (c) government;
and (d) capacity to enter into relations with the other states."
Taiwan is an independent sovereign state.
.
In his article,
Mr. Wu opposes the U.S. intention to deploy a missile defense
in the Pacific and the U.S. determination to increase arms sales
to Taiwan. He ignores the fact, though, that U.S. policy on
these matters is based on its deep-rooted doubts and distrust
vis-à-vis China. Since China repeatedly breaks its promises,
and violates the treaties it concludes with other countries,
the United States will remain cautious and reserved. So will
the rest of the world.
.
Only people
who live under democracy truly appreciate and cherish the merits
of democracy. Whether China likes it or not, Taiwan has developed
into such a true democracy.
.
By freely
and democratically electing a new president this March 18, the
people of Taiwan have demonstrated that the will of the people
of Taiwan cannot be coerced. The right of self-determination
of Taiwan's people cannot be sabotaged.
.
The new American
president indeed will need a new China policy. A new U.S. China
policy needs to be clear and must reflect the reality of the
Taiwan Strait - that the People's Republic is the People's Republic
and that Taiwan is Taiwan. Indeed, the U.S. "One China
Policy" needs to be replaced by a "One China, One
Taiwan Policy," a policy that reflects reality.
.
IRIS HO.
Washington. |
