Open letter to the US

Dear Madam Secretary Clinton,

On the eve of your scheduled overseas trip to Asia, I, a retired history professor of Taiwanese descent, would like to bring to your attention an important matter that concerns my motherland, Taiwan, as well as the US.

With hard work, perseverance and the ingenuity of the Taiwanese, post-World War II Taiwan has emerged to become one of Asia’s most advanced economies and one of its most free and democratic countries. Indeed, Taiwan simply is a success story and a true multiparty democracy.

The US and Taiwan have been important allies for decades. The freedom-loving Taiwanese treasure this valuable and mutually beneficial relation. In the minds and hearts of the great majority of the Taiwanese, Taiwan is a sovereign democracy with all the characteristics of a sovereign country. In addition, survey after survey has unmistakably shown that the great majority of Taiwanese do not wish Taiwan to become part of China.

We should not fail to notice the strategic importance of a democratic Taiwan for its intrinsic value and for its catalytic role in the promotion of democratic values in East Asia, particularly in China. In addition, the island nation is clearly of continuing value as a security partner of the US in the Western Pacific.

Over the last few decades, the heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait were nothing more than a direct result of China’s territorial ambition against Taiwan. China today has more than 1,000 missiles targeting Taiwan — a 25-fold increase from 40 missiles in 1996 when China launched missiles near Taiwan.

In addition, China has been steadily upgrading its nuclear-capable military to include a deep-sea navy. The Chinese military modernization is posing a threat not only to Taiwan but also to other Asian countries. Recognizing China’s ambition to be the dominant power in Asia, Japan, for instance, has perceived China’s rise as a threat to its security. Even Pentagon reports over the last few years point to China’s heavy expenditures on weapon systems whose only use would be against the US military.

It would indeed be a serious mistake to believe China’s claim that it is striving for a “peaceful rise.”

We have been reassured by US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, who in a written testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee late last month affirmed that the US is developing military capabilities to counter recent improvements in China’s ability to threaten US forces in the Pacific. With the US committed to help Taiwan defend against any Chinese attack, and also to help defend Japan and South Korea, this country certainly needs to keep pace with technological advances by China’s military.

Your scheduled travel to Asia on your first voyage as the chief diplomat of the US demonstrates the US’ refocusing on Asia. It is hoped that you will employ the US’ considerable “smart power” to encourage China’s leaders to respect the wishes of Taiwanese, as this offers the only meaningful solution to the Taiwan-China impasse.

In short, it is in the US national interest to help protect free and democratic Taiwan from being annexed by authoritarian China. History will show that when the US steadfastly sides with freedom and democracy, the US exerts greater influence on humanity.

I wish you great success in your Asian trip.

CHEN CHING-CHIH

San Marcos, California