From: laiichung@vtcc1.cc.vt.edu (L. D. ROPER)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.china,soc.culture.taiwan
Subject: Re: People who pursue democracy and human rights.
Date: 23 Jul 92 20:08:00 GMT
Followup-To: talk.politics.china,soc.culture.taiwan
Organization: Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.40

In article <76392@ut-emx.uucp>, joe@astro.as.utexas.edu (Joe Wang) writes...

 = OK , If this is your " B-Unific " , I have no big objection with that . But
   allow me mention one point : future of Taiwan must be decided by people in
   Taiwan and no one else . This is my first principle . As a matter of fact ,
   if Taiwanese choose Unification through public voting in Taiwan , I still
   agree with their decision . 
   I also agree with you in promoting mutual understanding in sports , economics
   , culture....etc . Sometime it's pretty good thing in sharing those experien-
   and help each other in EQUAL STATUS ground . But this can also be done in two
   countries . Well , you think these steps will naturally lead to Unific- . But
   I don't think so . I think this is one big difference between us .
   I always focus TI in political status . I don't bring other factors such as
   culture , nationality ...... into this argument . Because ideology debate
   usually leads nothing but hatred . People who think themselves as Chinese 
   can't convince people who think themselves as Taiwanese to give up their 
   self-identification and vice-versa . After the debate , both sides will find
   there's no common ground that they can cooperate with . That's why I never 
   talk about culture ...... this made people thought I thought myself as a 
   Chinese rather than Taiwanese , even I really treat myself as a Taiwanese ,
   not Chinese .
   I think one other question will clarify the difference in our view . Do you
   agree that Taiwan joins your " Big China " in an indept country status ?
   Because I saw a lot of culture and economic description in your " Big China 
   " . Also , do you agree that Taiwan moves toward indept country but it won't
   forbidden the possibility of Unification with China ? 
   I think the international status of Taiwan is a real issue . CCP's claim and
   the economic transition all push Taiwan to have a choice right now . After 
   1997 , CCP will bring much more pressure on Taiwan . It's military threat 
   will become pretty possible when it finished its " military modernization ".
   ( The local military supority will be changed a lot ) . If we still claim
   unification , this will just lead to unify with CCP . Your " Big China " is
   pretty attractive , but we gotta face the reality : what kind of China we
   wana unify with ? The " Big China " still seems more like a pretty good 
   dream than reality . In a forseeable future ( 20-30 years ) , it is not that
   possible to happen .
   But at this time , Taiwan needs to progress too . You can't just ask Taiwan
   paying his attention in helping China hoping that China will change someday.
   America has ten years direct trade experience with China and it still can 
   not affect China pretty much . How could you expect from Taiwan ? That's 
   why your kind of unification is not practical now . TI , right now is as a 
   way to save Taiwan from being a dead meat of China . Your unification claim
   will lead to the confusion of other contries that think we like to unify
   with China ( CCP ) right now .

   Even we have a lot of different opinions , but I think there's some common 
   places between us , don't you think so ?

                                                              I Chung Lai

Newsgroups: talk.politics.china