Taiwan should vote on U.N. referendum
In Condoleezza Rice's State Department news conference, she rebuked Taiwan's effort to vote in a referendum on its United Nations membership. A referendum is an invaluable tool used by democracies worldwide to gauge and implement the will of the people on any issue confronting a country or state.
The United States has an inconsistent record in the support and promotion of democracy. For example, the U.S.: supports the recent referendum by the good people of Kosovo to vote on independence; allows the good citizens of Puerto Rico to vote at least twice in two referendums whether it wished to be independent from the U.S.; and sends our troops at great cost to Iraq, liberates the Iraqi people and plants the seeds of freedom in the Muslim world.
Taiwan is a vibrant democratic country. In stark contrast to the People's Republic of China which is a totalitarian communist regime, the Taiwanese people have enjoyed free elections after the death of the Chiang Dynasty, more than 16 years ago. Although Taiwan has never belonged to China, this Communist regime has led the world to believe that it simply owns Taiwan.
After exporting SARS to Taiwan, China denied the World Health Organization's attempt to send its health experts. More than 100 Taiwanese people died. Taiwan's annual applications to world communities like the WTO and United Nations have been obstructed and denied by China. This totalitarian regime has deliberately isolated Taiwan from the international community.
Taiwanese are a peace-loving people; they abide by the rule of law. They participate and actively contribute to the good cause of liberty and human rights. The referendum slated for March 2008 is a matter of survival for the Taiwanese people. They are threatened by 1,000 missiles aimed at Taiwan right now. Ms. Rice calls the referendum "provocative," but who is the real threat or troublemaker here?
Are we not infuriated by the recent discoveries in lead and asbestos tainted products exported to our country by China? Is this deliberate or coincidental? Have American big business interests compromised our own national interests and security? Shouldn't these questions be the key issues for our top government officials?
I don't believe my fellow Americans will agree with Secretary Rice in her denouncement of Taiwan people voting on their right to join the United Nations. Secretary Rice's message is inconsistent with our national agenda and stated goals for the world we live in.
Tien C. Cheng
Libertyville