The Washington Times published FAPA's letter on Mainland Affairs Council head Lai's claims about support of Ma's China policies...In an interview with The Washington Times, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council Minister Shin-Yuan Lai states that 92 percent of the people of Taiwan agree with their current Kuomintang Nationalist government's policy toward China -- one generally characterized as "China-friendly" ("Military buildup worries Taiwan," World, July 16).Actually, I heard through the grapevine that Lai was actually misquoted by the Washington Times -- a very suggestive misquote since it dovetails with Washington's absurd swoon for Ma Ying-jeou -- that what she had said was 92 percent support the status quo. When urged by a local Taiwan reporter to correct paper, she shrugged the whole thing off. The original Washington Times piece is here.
This is simply incorrect. While most people would agree that a reduction of tension in the Taiwan Strait is a positive development, many are deeply concerned that Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou's drift toward communist China comes at the expense of Taiwan's sovereignty and of freedom, democracy and human rights.
According to the latest polls, which happen to be commissioned in April by Ms. Lai's own Mainland Affairs Council, 35 percent of the people in Taiwan support "status quo now and let's decide on unification or independence later." Twenty-seven percent support status quo forever. Fifteen percent support the status quo now and want to declare independence later. And 7.6 percent support the status quo now and unification later.
When looking at these polls, it is important to keep in mind that the status quo equates to "de facto independence." The People's Republic of China, since its founding 60 years ago, has never exercised any control over Taiwan whatsoever -- not for one single day. Ms. Lai's polls demonstrate that the people of Taiwan intend to keep it that way -- independence from China.
In addition, poll numbers on cross-strait relations are heavily influenced by the fact that China continues to aim some 1,400 ballistic missiles at Taiwan and refuses to renounce the use of force against that island nation. China's military coercion imposes a psychological terror over the people of Taiwan.
Targeting these missiles at Taiwan is akin to pointing a gun at the head of Taiwan's people. This explains the large support in Taiwan today for the status quo. If this threat were removed, the people on the island would overwhelmingly choose for Taiwan to be a full and equal member of the international community of nations.
BOB YANG
President
Formosan Association for Public Affairs
Washington
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92% approve? I'm sorry, but that's absurd. All my relatives and family friends (both in the States and back in Taiwan) are adamantly opposed to Ma's policies, and I know we're not unusual in this.
ReplyDeleteIn this case the reporter's mistake might be understandable. Reading both the offending paragraph and the preceding paragraph we see
ReplyDeleteSince adopting what Ms. Lai called a "status quo" framework one year ago, Taiwan and Beijing have conducted three sets of high-level talks and signed nine agreements.
Reaching an all-time public opinion high, 92 percent of Taiwanese agree with the administration's policy toward China, she said.
The reporter, and Mrs. Lai, may have been intending to say that 92% of Taiwanese agree with the policy of maintaining the status quo, which is prety close to being correct.
A bit sloppy perhaps, but at least it's not kowtowing to China.
It's good to see that FAPA followed up and the Washington Times printed the letter.
China Times's reporter Liu-Ping reports:Jerome A. Cohen said Chen Shui-bian and his wife made him disgusted.
ReplyDelete(http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/090927/4/1rviw.html)
To be frank, I don't buy it. Do you happen to know anything about this ＦＡＰＡ conference?