LOS ANGELES - Lee Teng-Hui, former president of Taiwan, recently completed a whirlwind two week tour of the United States to bring attention to the tenuous state of democracy in Taiwan and its very survival as a separate sovereign state.
He emphasized the risks Taiwan and other free nations face from a tyrannical China who would like nothing better than to take complete control and strip the small island nation of its current freedoms and democratic form of government.
On October 21, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in downtown Los Angeles, the vibrant octogenarian Lee, in a strong and confident voice, presented his plan for a strategy of freedom in Asia. His plan calls for a quick rise of cooperation among free democracies against the communist military hegemony of China.
Near the end of his presentation before a luncheon crowd of about 100 and a good number of media representatives, Lee stated emphatically that "The Battle between Slavery and Democracy has shifted to Asia."
Lee made a number of references and specific examples as to how China uses slave labor to attract, like a powerful magnet, business investments from countries all over the world. He said that we are witnessing "the abrupt rise of China, the last major bastion of communist dictatorship and so this region (Asia) takes center stage in the final confrontation between freedom and tyranny."
Last week, Congressman Dana Rohrabacher discussed his views after the presentation by Lee Teng-hui. This week concludes the series with comments from Bruce Herschensohn.
Part I of this two part series is located here.
Media Interview with Bruce Herschensohn at Conclusion of Program
Bruce Herschensohn has been a television and radio political commentator for more than two decades. Among his many prestigious government and University positions, he was a fellow at the John F. Kennedy Institute of Politics at Harvard University and a distinguished fellow of the Claremont Institute from 1993 to 2001. He is currently teaching "The World Leadership Role of the United States" at the Pepperdine University School of Public Policy. Two of Herschensohn's books include Hong Kong at the Handover, and Across the Taiwan Strait.
ET: Mr. Herschensohn, President Lee Teng-Hui mentioned that China is trying to divide the democratic nations in their strategy.
BH: Sure, I think there is a lot of merit to that. I think it is very likely exactly true.
ET: Is this something that the United States should be concerned about?
BH: The United States should be aware of it. I think even putting it in his text is important, because what he says is important. And I think that it is important. Look I think there are those people in Washington who are well aware, that those kinds of, that that's going on. But it means something when President Lee says it, it means something when someone very distinguished comes to the United States and makes a statement like that, and I think it is true, I don't think anyone could say, no, no, no, that isn't true. It is true, it's obvious, but people don't talk about it that much.
There is fear, I think there is fear even here of the potential of China. There is certainly fear in Taiwan, there's fear, it is a normal human characteristic to be afraid of a big guy. But if you ever make a decision based on fear, you lose.
ET: Do we have the leadership we need today in regards to promoting democracy and freedom in Asia?
BH: "I believe we have great leadership in terms of President Bush and the administration. Also before 9/11 he said we would do whatever was necessary, you may remember, to ensure that Taiwan was not…, not sure of the precise words, but he said, it was on CBS, that we would do whatever it takes to defend Taiwan, that's what he said.
After 9/11 he didn't deny it or take it back, but he wanted a status quo among all nations that have great controversies between them. It could be militaristic eventually.
The reasoning for wanting a status quo, and still does want a status quo, is because we are putting everything we got into the war against Islamic terror.
Therefore it would be helpful if Turkey and Greece retain the status quo over Cyprus and Turkey and the Kurds retain the status quo and the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) and Taiwan retain the status quo.
However, President Bush is more than aware that he cannot dictate what happens in other countries, he just can't, and my own belief is that Taiwan has to show not only its strength in terms of those things that we think of associated with it, but in strength of principle, it will remain free, period. No matter what it takes, it will remain free, and I think that is important to know. And I think there is some doubt about that.
When you see the KMT (Chinese Nationalist Party) going over to Beijing and making the toast and drinking wine and making all kinds of statements, even including statements to suggest a reintegration with China. It wasn't in those words but it was pretty obvious, I think that's terribly conflicting, terribly conflicting.
Look, the people of Taiwan have three great risks, one of them is obviously the PRC, I think another one is our own policy here in the United States of ambiguity, and that presents a risk, it just does. And the third thing is the KMT. What's known as Pan Blue, that's a risk, and in some countries it would be considered treason.
Because you always let in a democracy, you always let the government in charge speak on behalf of the American people. In other words when President Carter, as much as I didn't like him, made a speech to the nation on December 15, 1978 which I remember well in which he gave up diplomatic relations with Taiwan and took them up with the PRC and that meant that U.S. troops would leave Taiwan, and meant that we would break the mutual defense treaty of 1954. He did that, he was president. I would have no right to go over to Taiwan because I disagreed with him and say no, I am speaking for my people, I can't do that. That isn't the way democracies work. You take it, and if you don't like the president, you vote him out of office, and you go on with your life."
Herschensohn responded to other media questions as well:
MQ: What is the risk with China?
BH: 720 missiles aimed at you is a risk.
MQ: What about military spending by China?
BH: It is immense. Donald Rumsfeld our Secretary of Defense, said the day before yesterday in China that he wanted honesty in terms of how much money they really are investing and why. Who's threatening China? That's a very serious question. Why would any country have such an immense military budget if no one is threatening them?
MQ: So is it a good idea for free nations to cut down trade with China?
BH: You bet, absolutely.
MQ: And what would be the result if they did?
BH: I don't know. I don't feel the fear. Do what is right. Right now, I wouldn't buy, if some stranger on the street wanted to sell me a Rolex for $10, I would not buy it. He stole it. Or maybe he had someone steal it for him. I wouldn't make a deal with him.
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