When I commenced teaching business in Wuhan, China in 2002, all the new foreign teachers were subjected to an orientation by the Wuhan Public Security Bureau. We were informed that we were precluded from discussing Taiwan, Tibet or Religion with Chinese people, in or out of our classrooms. Having great respect for the rule [...]]]> Taiwan

When I commenced teaching business in Wuhan, China in 2002, all the new foreign teachers were subjected to an orientation by the Wuhan Public Security Bureau. We were informed that we were precluded from discussing Taiwan, Tibet or Religion with Chinese people, in or out of our classrooms. Having great respect for the rule of law, I have never violated this admonition and do not intend to do so here. The purpose of this post is to state my personal opinion and give others the opportunity to state theirs.

Throughout WW II (the second Sino-Japanese war) and China’s efforts to rid itself of the Japanese occupation; the USA lent aid to Chiang Kai-Shek’s democratic Nationalist Government for several reasons. First, Japan was also an enemy of the USA, having conducted a sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Second, the US wanted to support the burgeoning democracy promised by Chiang Kai- Shck. Third, the US paranoia about and vehement prejudice against communism and its desire to help Chiang Kai-shek prevail in the long running civil war against the Chinese Communist Party

After the Japanese surrender in 1945, he attempted to eradicate the CCP, with continued support from the USA.. Ultimately, bolstered by support from Soviet Russia, the CCP defeated Chiang, forcing the Nationalist government to retreat to the Chinese island of Taiwan (Formosa).

The USA continued its hostility towards the CCP right up to the famous Nixon-Mao handshake in 1972. Subsequently the USA has had a policy of engaging communist China while maintaining its treaty to defend Taiwan. There were two primary reasons for engaging China. First, Nixon erroneously believed that this was in the best economic interests of US business in light of China’s hugh population base of potential consumers of US products. Second, the US believed that engagement would bring about eventual democratization of China. Over time, both have proved erroneous.

Although the US recognizes the One China policy and does not support Taiwan’s bid to be an independent sovereign nation, the US continues to sell “defensive” missiles, fighter jets and other instruments of war to Taiwan, an act that strains Sino-US relations.

The US claims to support the reunification of Taiwan and mainland China through peaceful means brought about by the Chinese people. However, US actions belie this claim.

In fact, the US does everything possible to encourage Taiwan to remain independent of mainland China and to resist reunification interests. The US claims it is supporting democracy on Taiwan but this claim is highly suspect. Taiwan is the most forward friendly military position in the Pacific that is closest to mainland China. A friendly Taiwan is the US hope for containing mainland China.

The Taiwan situation is of the US making. The US backed the wrong horse but refuses to admit its error, apologize and move on.

Let us put Taiwan into proper perspective. Taiwan (Formosa) has always been a part of sovereign China. It is a renegade province only because of US support and US missiles.

That is right; US missiles do exist on Taiwan.

Consider Cuba and the Russian missiles incident. Cuba has never been a part of the sovereign US. But when Russia supplied missiles to Cuba during the Kennedy administration, the US was ready to go to war if they were not removed. Why can’t the US see the parallels? China sees US missiles in Taiwan just as the US saw Russian missiles in Cuba. The distance between Cuba and the US is further than the distance between Taiwan and mainland China. US missiles in Taiwan pose a much greater threat to China than Russian missiles in Cuba posed to the USA.

Chinese Provinces are most similar to States in the US. There is absolutely no way any US State would be allowed to have the kind of relationship with a foreign sovereign that the Chinese Province of Taiwan has with the US.

Everything about the US policy toward Taiwan is offensive to China and rightfully so. The US inserted itself into the middle of China’s civil war, backing the losing side, and refuses to apologize and get out.

It is US military interests that fuel US-Taiwan policy far more than the so called preservation of democracy.

Democracy is not necessarily the savior of the world.

It was Communist China that prevented the complete financial meltdown of Asia in 1997 and again it was Communist China that precluded a global economic meltdown in 2009. China’s conservative currency policy and control acted as a buffer against the reckless uncontrolled currency policies of the west.  It was Communist China that saved the global economy from bankruptcy.

The US fights a war in Iraq and another in Afghanistan financed by US treasury bonds sold to China. The US 2009 economic recovery act is also financed by the sale of US Treasury bonds to China.

In the past 30 years the CCP has brought great educational benefits and economic prosperity to hundreds of millions of people. There is no western democracy that could have done so much for so many in such a short time. It is hypocritical for any country to criticize Communist China for its form of Government. No western form of democracy could effectively manage the lives of 1.3 billion people as the CCP has done. The US has not done nearly as much for its people.

It is time for the west to get over its fear and paranoia about communism, time to bury McCarthiesm once and for all, and recognize that Communism is here to stay and is entitled to equal respect right along side of democracy.

Having lived in China for the past 8 years, I recognize certain limitations on my personal freedoms that do not exist elsewhere. However, I fully recognize the need for these limitations either from a historical basis (religion) or current need basis (internet access).

The Chinese leadership has determined that the majority of Chinese people are simply not mature enough socially or educationally to properly handle certain freedoms. Having been witness to several public disturbances to the social order caused by the most basic of misunderstandings, I can fully appreciate the limitations on personal freedoms and have simply adapted.

I readily acknowledge that there are injustices in China, but name one country where there are no injustices.

In the west we say “Let a sleeping dog lie” or “Do not kick a sleeping dog.”  Nixon kicked the sleeping tiger. He should have known better.

In the west we also say “If you create a monster you must either feed it or kill it.” For those who view China as a monster, forget about killing it. China is to big to fail or to be killed.

The solution to the Taiwan issue is really very straightforward and simple. Recognize that it is an internal Chinese matter and get out the way of a Chinese resolution.