Through decades of sacrifice and struggle, the Taiwanese people have shepherded the transformation of a dictatorial regime to a democratic government in their homeland. Their hard-won democracy deserves the support of the United States which is the leader of the democratic world. If the Taiwanese people choose independence, their wish should be respected. No one, least of all the United States, should attempt to deny this freedom of choice. After all, the principle of self-determination is enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations of which the United States is a founding member.
China is the world's largest Communist country.
It is certainly the world's most unrepentant authoritarian regime. Nobody should wish Chinese annexation upon Taiwan. It is tantamount to appeasement to sacrifice the future of a democratic nation to a Communist state. Loss of Taiwan surely would not serve the U. S. foreign policy goal of peace and stability in Southeast Asia and the western Pacific. The oft-cited importance of commerce with China should be viewed in light of the huge trade imbalance in favor of China, which translates into serious job losses for the American workers.