From: yang-allan@CS.YALE.EDU (J. Allan Yang)
Subject: Re: Insensitive mainland chauvinist view. (Was: Who Cares 150 F-16s.)
Organization: Dept of CS, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-2158
	<1992Sep10.221622.10037@cs.yale.edu>
	<18qc6pINN8p4@stanley.cis.Brown.EDU>
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 14:09:55 GMT

I tried my best to convey my opinion and feel with rational words. I
will try once more.

 >     Who says that Beijing owns Taiwan ? What do you mean ? Both Beijing
 > and Taipei Governments agree that there is only ONE China and Taiwan is
 > a part of it.

I meant Beijing claims that it has the governing right over the
people in Taiwan.

As you must have learned now, Taiwanese dislike being governed by
Beijing as much as much as overseas Chinese. And yes, all major
countries and UN now acknowledge there is only one China and Taiwan
is part of it and Beijing is the only legitimate government of
China. But 20 years ago this was not the case.  Who knows 20 years
later this will still be the case? Do not take me wrong that I am
for TI, in fact I am not.  But I hope you understand that your idea
of "... one China and Taiwan is part of it ..." is is based on the
shaky recognition of an ever-changing interest-driven international
community. There is really no true law in international politics.
What is recognized today may not be recognized tomorrow. It is the
interest and only the interest that concerns each individual
country.

What really matters? The wellbeing of the people in both China and
Taiwan should be at the forefront of our concern. How do we improve
their living? How do we bring real democracy to both places? Taiwan
has certainly made much more progress than China on these issues,
and they don't want to see a radical Beijing government someday
ruins this hard-to-come-by achievement like what they did at
Tienannmen. As long as the China government remains an oppressive
and totalitarian one, Taiwan should stay away from unification with
it.

 >    Who is forcing Taiwanese to return to China? Taiwanese will all stay
 > in Taiwan ! 

Why are Hong Kongese who are capable of leaving either have left or
are trying to leave? Do they not all get to stay in Hong Kong even
after Beijing takes over? Please, do not be so naive.

 >     Give me a break ! Simply  because the living standerd in mainland is
 > not as good as that in Taiwan, then mainlanders want a war? You must
 > be out of your mind (if you have one). 

Did manilanders want to crush those students in Tienannmen with
tanks? I believe not, but see what happened. The problem is at the
very way of how Beijing reaches its decision. So many times it
showed no respect for human lives at all when struggled to stay in
power. Taiwan wants no part of it.

 > ...
 >     Suppose Guangdong wants to be indepedent some day and pass
 > a referendum, is that O.K. ? 

Yes, and with good reasons.

 > Then maybe other Provinces will follow.
 > There will be some thirty countries on mainland, is that what you want ?
 > ...

No. But if that is what people in Guandong or anywhere else want I
will respect their will on their own fate and ask myself why instead
of resort to killings to keep them under my unpopular and brutal
rule. Why is there not a forceful independent movement in, say,
Hawaii, Alaska, or California? Are they just stupid or is Washington
oppressing them?

 > |> Forget about the notion of a "Unified Great China" which many
 > |> Chinese and Taiwanese were educated to embrace by CPP and KMT alike.
 > |> What is so great about a unified China if her own people (YOU
 > |> included) does not even want to live in it?
 > |> 
 > 
 >    If Taiwan becomes an independent country,  that will be permanent. In 
 > 30 years, when mainland becomes acceptable to most Taiwanese, it will
 > be very very difficult to unite again.  Why do people want to unite ?
 > You can ask that to Germans or Koreans. Don't give those shortsighted,
 > small-minded and superficial any chance !!!

The deep rooted notion that a country can not be separated is
something that the government pumped into your head during your
primary education so that you will be naive enough to be used when
the government (CPP and KMT alike) wants you to die for it. Think
about it again deeply. Ask yourself why? What is the purpose of a
country anyway? It's supposed to be something to protect her people
and promote their wellbeing. When it is failing on this very reason
of of its existence, are its people obliged to be stuck with it?
Remember that there were many countries created and broke up in the
history. Were all the break-ups bad for the civilians or were it
just bad for the few in power? 

Do not take me wrong that I prefer a split-up China. A big country
has the economy of scale and the momentum of size. If China was
truly democratic and strong, it's to Taiwanese's benefit to be part
of it. At the very least, the costly defense system can be pooled
together and shared (just like what European Community is doing).
Taiwan can not afford to develop top-notch defense system by herself
and no country is going to sell you the most advanced system. That's
why I am not for TI. But at this very moment with the current
Beijing regime, we (Taiwanese, Hong Kongnese, and overseas Chinese
alike) all know what we want.


IN CONCLUSION: 

Please do not dismiss the right of the Taiwanese to protect themselves
from an oppressive regime and do not support any action that tries
to disrupt Taiwan's purchase of defensive fighters. This has nothing
to do with the unification issue at all.

Regards.

- Allan
Newsgroups: soc.culture.china