Taiwan and Israel
Lung-chu Chen
After
Chinese leader Jiang Jemin's recent visit to Israel, it was reported that
Israel has decided to sell China at least one airplane equipped with an
advanced airborne radar system. Once implemented, this sale would upset
the military balance in the Taiwan Strait area, and significantly increase
military threat to Taiwan.
Ever since its establishment after World War ¢º, Israel has been largely in
armed confrontation with neighboring Arab countries, because of ethnic and
religious differences. The people of Israel have impressed the world with
their unity and courage in resisting outside military pressures.
Taiwan is similar to Israel in a fundamental way. As a small island
nation, Taiwan has been living under the continuing military threats of
China. During the recent presidential election, the Taiwanese people
showed their courage in resisting the Chinese military intimidation and
won international admiration. After the long struggle for many decades,
the Taiwanese people have moved their democracy a giant step forward and
are in the process of effecting a peaceful transfer of power.
Unfortunately, Israel, itself as a small nation under the constant outside
military threats, has now acted to help China militarily by enhancing
China's capacity to threaten and endanger Taiwan.
Most recently, the European Parliament passed a resolution, urging EU
members and its commission to set up representative offices in Taiwan so
as to foster closer relations between Taiwan and Europe. This was an
affirmation of Taiwan's defense of its sovereignty and democracy. The
democratic countries in the West are giving encouragement and applause to
Taiwan's progress in democracy. We hope that the government of Israel will
terminate its arms deal with China, involving airplanes equipped with an
advanced airborne radar system. In this way, it would serve the cause of
peace and democracy. |