Mr. Bush's Kowtow

In the meeting with China's premier on December 9, 2003, Mr. Bush, yielded to China's pressure, and has officially opposed the proposed referendum in Taiwan. President Chen of Taiwan is considering the first referendum on March 20, 2004, demanding that China remove the five hundred missiles aimed at Taiwan, and to stop the threats of war against Taiwan. The referendum is for peace and does not represent any kind of "decision unilaterally to change the status quo." China opposes any referendum in Taiwan because it's democracy and may be the precedent of the future referendum of Taiwan independence. Mr. Bush yields, because he needs China's corporation mainly in dealing with North Korea's nuclear crisis which is also China's crisis.

For decades, people of Taiwan have strived for self-determination, and have looked to the U. S. for support and inspiration. By siding with dictatorial China against democratic Taiwan, America's credibility as the world's leading champion of democracy has been damaged. The Iraqis, on particular, will be hard to convince that U. S. will live up to its promise. Appeasement of a dictatorship simply invites further attempts at intimidation. Standing with democratic Taiwan would secure stability in East Asia. Seeming to reward China's bullying will not. It is hypocritical that Mr. Bush is for democracy in Middle East and in Iraq, but not in Taiwan. Mr. Bush's opposing the exercise of the democratic self-determination by the people of Taiwan is very disappointing, especially for Taiwanese Americans.

Ken Lin
Danville