China should dismantle missiles

Lung-chu Chen

Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen (錢其琛) criticized US weapons sales to Taiwan during his recent visit to the US. Chinese President Jiang Zemin (江澤民) did the same in an interview by the Washington Post.

Basically, China believes US sales of more advanced weapons to Taiwan will further fan the flames for Taiwan independence. The Beijing administration even said it does not rule out the possibility of a preemptive strike against Taiwan.

Riding on its economic development, China has speedily increased military expenditures, deployed missiles, and purchased weapons such as advanced warplanes. This is truly a display of hegemonic militarism. The speedy expansion and strengthening of Chinese military prowess has threatened the US and Japan.

Taiwan, chronically intimidated by China's increased missile deployments and military force, has no choice but to procure defensive weapons to protect itself and maintain peace in the Strait.

China believes that US interference is the reason why the Taiwan issue has remained unresolved. But actually, the crux lies in China's policy of building up its military power at all costs, as well as making military and verbal threats to Taiwan.

Solving the Taiwan-China problem peacefully without resorting to military means is the wish embraced by 23 million Taiwanese. Taiwan's efforts to procure weapons are aimed at self-defense and maintaining security in the Strait, not for an arms race with China.

From the Chinese response to the arms sales, we realize that even though Taiwan's government has constantly shown goodwill, China will never stop intimidating Taiwan as long as Taiwan refuses to bow to it. Hanging on to its "one China" principle and annexing Taiwan has been China's consistent stance.

We want to appeal to China once again. If China wants to solve the cross-strait problem through peaceful means and prevent the US from continuing to sell weapons to Taiwan, the best strategy is to remove its several hundred missiles that are aimed at Taiwan, and to make a public statement that it will never threaten Taiwan by military force.

Chinese leaders should use their immense military expenditures to instead improve people's living conditions and welfare and to initiate democratic reforms.

Only if China responds to Taiwan with goodwill can the two sides become good neighbors and enjoy prosperity on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.

Chen Lung-chu is the Chairman of the Chen Lung-chu New Century Foundation.