From: changhp@engin.umich.edu (Hsiou-Ping Chang)
Subject: Re: more than 50% support TI
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 92 15:43:35 EST
Organization: The University of Michigan
Reply-To: echang@engin.umich.edu
Originator: changhp@fijan.engin.umich.edu


In article <2B4345DA.16640@news.service.uci.edu>, tao@balboa.eng.uci.edu (Eric Yihching Tao) writes:
> In article <1992Dec31.163230.1413@cbnews.cb.att.com> liaohen@cbnews.cb.att.com (Heng-Hsin Liao) writes:
> >
> >One example, how do we get some radio bands for our own research use
> >even though we have our own satellite? Taiwan is not a member in UN
> >and almost all of its suborganizations. We even don't have a chance
> >to apply for radio bands. Re-enter international society is one of
> >the most important keys to our economic reform. Independence is
>                                                  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> >a better reason and a better way for us to reach the goal. Whether
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> >someone can introduce a better reason and a better way?
> >
> >Heng-Hsin
> 
> Let me just humblly re-iterate the line, Independence won't get us back to
> UN. again,
> 
> Independence *won't* get us back to UN!!!
> 
> I don't understand why some people fail to recognize this unfortunate fact.
> The better way? Actually it is happening now, people from Taiwan (among other
> places) are investing in mainland china. Sooner or later (sooner I hope), a
> sizable middle class will be established in mainland, then demacracy won't
> be too far away, till then, most of the problem memtioned above will say bye-bye.
> So, in addition to further developing Taiwan, help mainland to be prosperous
> and democratic, that is the buttom line of all these mess. According the 
> speed of progress in mainland, it won't be so far away. Mark my words,
> within 10 years, we will see a semi-democratic gov't in mainland.
> 
> Eric
> 
> 

In a short term, you are right, it's very difficult to get back to UN.
But if you insist that in the long run, it is still impossible, I will strongly
disagree with you.  
	Your arguments is incomplete in the sense that you didn't mention 
what will happen if China wants to send its governor to Taiwan?   Your 
prediction that China will become semi democratic  in 10 years seems too
optimistic to be accetable.  Even if that is true, by then Taiwan's democracy
level will be higher.  It's very questionable that Taiwan will be willing to
unify with China.  Don't take me wrong: I didn't say all your optimisms are impossible; I am asking you what if these won't happen (let alone very soon)
and what if China changes its attitude toward Taiwan?  
Shouldn't we prepare ourselves to the unpredictable? Shouldn't Taiwan look for
various options and select one that fits better given a particular situation?

TI doesn't mean we won't help China; TI means we want to protect ourselves
from the bloody hand of Communists.  We should prepare ourselves for TI and use
it as our support to tell CCP if it wants to force us to unify, the trend 
toward TI will accelerate, because we prepare for it and we mean it.
If we don't prepare for it, we don't have the option for TI.  What we can do
is pray that China will become a more democratic state and accept the 
fate when CCP put its knife on our throats.

TI is a very feasible option that Taiwan should have.  If you are confident
about our level of democracy, you should support to put TI into our national
agenda. (I'm not asking you to support TI, but to support the right of TI
to compete with unification.)  The more options we have, the more adaptive
Taiwan will be able to adjust itself in the changing world.  Put all the
possible options in front of people of Taiwan, and let the wisdom of
people of Taiwan decide what they want to do.



Hsiou-Ping
Newsgroups: soc.culture.taiwan