From: sl26@ellis.uchicago.edu (sangjin  lee)
Subject: Re: All you d*ckhead friend-betraying Koreans!!!
Reply-To: sl26@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: Dept. of SPhysics, University of Chicago
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1992 19:44:00 GMT

I remember that the United States did the similar thing to the two Chinas
about twenty years ago. The United States "restored" the relationship with
the Mainland Chinese government during the time of Nixon, and as far as I
remember, they accepted the Mainland China into the UN Security Council
REPLACING Taiwan. I'm not saying that the decision of the Korean government
was just or something like that. What I want to say is the politics is not
the exact analogy to the personal relationship. It's much more complicated
than that.
I've seen the picture that a Twainese student(?) trotted over the Korean
national flag lying in front of the Korean embassy in Taiwan(in New York
Times today). I could understand the feeling of betrayal they have now
towards Korea. What is worthy of notice, however, is that the Taiwanese
government is holding firmly the policy of "One China", which means that
there is only one legitimate government in China, the Kuomin Tang
government, and the mainland China is still "unrestored land" occupied by
the Communist rebels. Then you know it's a deadlock. Then every government
outside the Taiwan has to decide one way or the other. Then at 9 out of 10
cases, it has to follow the practical interest admitting the political
reality of the Mainland Chinese government. That's somehow cruel, but all
countries followed the path so far.
I think the best way to do for the Korean government was to find a very
hard way to keep the relationship with these two countries, but apparently
they couldn't find one. Another irony is that perhaps the Mainland China
should reconsider the diplomatic relation with North korea seriously,
because, as you know, North Korea maintains the similar policy of "One
Chosun(Korea)". Suppose the Mainland Chinese government breaks its relation
with North Korea. Then will it be another "betrayal"? I would like to say
these problems are more sophisticated than it appears to be.

Another opinion: I'm much more critical about the foreign policy of the
United States actually. As far as my observation goes, the United States
has been after its own interest more thoroughly and more mercilessly. But
what I don't get is that they keep saying that they are the "Police of the
Free World" and the "Defender of the Freedom and Democracy of the World". I
think it's time that they dropped that wrong titles 'cause they aren't.
Have you ever thought of a situation that a very corrupt and totalitarian
government is warmly and strongly supported by the United States and at the
same time you have to believe that the United States is the defender of the
democracy? I've watched they always supported whatever government whose
interest matches with that of the U.S., and they called whatever government
who is against the U.S. "Dictatorship". I don't have to mention the
numerous examples of Panama, Iraq, Vietnam, Korea, etc. That's why lots of
the Third Worly country people sometimes think that the U.S. as an
Imperialest country 'cause they witnessed it and US had the power to
intervene at any case.
I don't intend to hurt anybody's feeling and I don't have any hatred toward
any person. But I want to criticize the U.S. as a POLITICAL ENTITY. It's
hard to be objective to one's own country, but I think it's high time that
Americans did that. Sorry for long and tedious posting.

"Real compassion for everybody is what we need at this age."
Newsgroups: soc.culture.taiwan