Editorial»
US ‘One-China’ policy
DEC 26 - On December 9, 2003, as President Bush courted a politically novice Chinese Premier, Wen Jaibaoa in the Oval office, he delivered a stern warning to the Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian over the island’s desire to hold a referendum over China’s massive missile build up against the tiny island. As far as Mainland China is concerned, Taiwan is just a breakaway province. And if it is the wish of Beijing, Taiwan should become a province of China. However, the Taiwanese folks have other “smart” idea and that idea runs counter to Beijing politicians. This week we just witnessed one small episode concerning this big problem. The Bush administration was drawn into this contentious issue over Taiwan’s much desired independence.
Taiwan, which used to be called Formosa, was once occupied by the Japanese military during the Second World War. The island is situated 100 miles (160 km) off the southeast coast of mainland China. China, or National Chinese, who also claim jurisdiction over the entire mainland China, governs the island. On the contrary, China claims jurisdiction over Taiwan. Both governments agree that Taiwan is a sheng (province) of China.
In the aftermath of communist takeover of Beijing and the rest of the mainland, the Nationalist or Kuomintang party leaders and many high officials loyal to General Chiang Kai-shek left mainland China fearing reprisals by the communists; they found a safe home in Taiwan. The Nationalist under General Kai-shek quickly formed a parallel government in Taipei claiming to be the rightful leader of the entire China. At that time, the US government lent their support to Chiang Kai-shek’s government.
During the Cold War period, Taiwan became a US darling. We all know how President Eisenhower’s Secretary of State, Mr. John Foster Dulles, treated the Chinese Premier Chou En-lai as the former encountered the lanky Chinese premier. The Chinese never forgot that maltreatment their prime minister had received in the early 1950s from the US Secretary of State. In retaliation, they helped both North Korean and Viet Cong guerrillas with guns and moral support in their fight against American soldiers.
Nonetheless, all the animosity between the two nations came to an abrupt end in the early 1970s. America’s rapprochement with China was undertaken in part to take advantage of the growing Sino-Soviet rift in the late 1960s and to give Nixon more leverage in his dealings with the Soviet Union. Thanks to “ping-pong diplomacy” of Secretary Henry Kissinger. The two nations normalized their relation in 1975 establishing consular offices and embassies in respective capital.
President George H W Bush served as the ambassador to China at the time. The nationalist leader, General Chiang Kai-shek, was a broken-hearted president of Taiwan who knew what was coming further down the road. He died in the same year. A year later, General Kai-shek’s archenemy, Chairman Mao Tse-tungthe communist leader also died. A new era was spawned.
In post-Mao Tse-tung and Chiang Kai-shek days, America trod a middle path still maintaining their “one-China” policy. Many lawmakers in Washington DC had applied pressure on American government not to abandon Taiwan as America was opening its door for mainland China. America’s corporations were very eager to establish business in mainland China to take advantage of China’s cheap labor under the pretext of “globalization.” China also started to reform their society and to usher in market-oriented economy. China’s economic development starting from early 1980s led to the rise in double digit GDP rate. China also forgot for the time being what to do with their renegade province. Nonetheless, they never dismantled the rockets and other arsenals aimed at Taiwan. This had become a contentious issue in Taiwan. Opposition politicians in Taiwan played on the fear factor to capture the power. The nationalist ruled the island nation since 1949 but in recent days, their power had waned. The leaders of the most political parties are Taiwan-born Chinese who cared less about the blood feud between the Kuomintang and the communist supporters. The new leaders in Taiwan are tired off the status quo. They think America is neglecting them and favoring the mainlanders. We see this frustration among Taiwanese leaders. Therefore, during election campaign the independence issue perks up in campaign speeches. With this backdrop let me analyze the events of the second week of December 2003 vis-à-vis Sino-American relationship.
As Chinese Premier Wen Jaibaoa came to meet president Bush for the very first time, the Taiwanese President felt he should do something to play between US and China. Ane he did. President Chen Shui-bian has become a seasoned politician in Taiwan by now. The former Taipei mayor was elected to the highest office of the island in 1999. He and his party are gearing to run one more time in the upcoming general election. Thus to excite voters and to embarrass rival China he proclaimed that Taiwan should have its first ever referendum over Chinese missile build-up. That however irked the Beijing politicians. Mr. Bush was also irritated by the remarks of President Chen Shui-bian.
Reporter William Foreman of Associated press recently wrote, “The most stinging thing about it was that Bush dressed down Chen while China’s new premier, Wen Jiabao, sat by his side in the White House.” The political reality for Taiwan is that Beijing can be boldly challenged but America should not be vexed. President Bush never did oppose the referendum planned for March 20, 2004. On that day, Mr. Shu-bian seeks re-election. For the time being America wants to maintain status quo as far as Taiwan’s relationship with the US is concerned.
Mr. Bush’s tough-talk aimed at Taiwanese president Shu-bian provoked a furious debate in Washington DC Quite a few conservative critics of Beijing are very unhappy about the way Mr Bush handled the matter. These hawks accused the Bush Administration of rewarding “Beijing’s bullying” while remaining reticent about China’s massive missile buildup and threats of war against Taiwan. Mr John Tkacik, a China expert at the conservative Think tank organization Heritage Foundation asserted by saying, “he (Bush) has lost his bearings” on the Taiwan issue. Mr Tkacik further commented that President Bill Clinton would never have gone this far.
Many critics of Mr Bush have said that from one side of his mouth the president is promoting the cause of democracy in the Middle East, whereas, from the other side of the mouth he is rebuking one of the star democratic nations, Taiwan. Mr Tkacik wrote, “It is incongruous for an American president who just gave a speech on democracy in the Middle East to tell the people of Taiwan who they can elect.” An unnamed White House official had conceded that Bush’s statements might be perceived as a “tilt toward China.” The Bush Administration considers President Chen Shui-bian’s statement provocative specifically the island nation’s plan to hold the referendum to protest the missiles. Mr Bush failed to criticize publicly China’s actions towards Taiwan even though America is committed to the “one China” policy and the Taiwan Relations Act, which considers military action against Taiwan would be deemed a “great threat” to security.
SAN-Feature ServicePosted on: 2003-12-27 04:50
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