Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

-- By People's Daily Commentator

A signboard favored by Lee Teng-hui is his "public opinion" shield whenever he tries out his splittism. He likes to give himself the credit being a guardian representing and protecting the interest of the Taiwan people. With his "two states" fallacy put out, he alleges that it "fully represents" the voice of the 22 million Taiwan people. But numerous facts about Lee Teng-hui have told things just to the contrary. That he is an arch traitor of the interest of the Taiwan people. This is Lee Teng-hui now we have come to know on Taiwan.

Investigations by four authoritative Taiwan poll investigation research centers including Taiwan University of Political Science and Sun Yat-sen University Poll Investigation Research Centers into 20 public opinion polls conducted with regard to national reunification or "Taiwan independence" since 1994 show that the majority of people in Taiwan are hoping for keeping status quo and a stable cross-Straits situation of peace between Taiwan and the mainland. So, shortly after Lee Teng-hui dished up his "two states" fallacy in last July, 107 scholars and professors in Taiwan issued a joint statement pointing out that Lee's "two states" fallacy can in no way represent the opinion of the 22 million Taiwan people.

As things stand with developments of cross-Straits relations, by keeping "status quo" as hoped by the Taiwan people is just meant peaceful cross-Straits relations, a quiet and stable settled social environment and a sustained developing local economy to be developed in Taiwan. This is because it is in the interest and the demand of public opinion of the Taiwan people.

It is where the harm has been found from Lee Teng-hui's "two states" fallacy.

Lee Teng-hui's "two states" fallacy has most seriously deteriorated the cross-Straits relations and there has been brought about a thorough demolition to a fine cross-Straits environment with a quiet peaceful life enjoyed by the Taiwan people.

Formerly, due to a concerted effort made by compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits there had already arisen a situation of increased cross-Straits contacts and exchanges of personnel and fine developments of cross-Straits cooperation and supplementarity. Following the "one China" principle, cross-Straits dialogues for improved cross-Straits relations and a strengthening of cross-Straits ties are being hoped. But at such a moment, Lee Teng-hui has with his "two states" fallacy completely undermined the basis for all developments or improvements to that end. Lee Teng-hui has with his fallacy closed the door for any development of cross-Straits contracts and exchanges or dialogue by Beijing-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) with the Straits Exchange Foundation for a peaceful resolution to cross-Straits divergences. There arises accordingly serious political crisis to cross-Straits relations to the grief of people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits. It goes without saying when should unexpected happenings occur the Taiwan people would be the first to be victimized. No doubt, Lee Teng-hui with his "two states" fallacy has directly brought great damage to the interest of the Taiwan people. It will most seriously affect the economic development of Taiwan.

As people know, the prerequisite for an economy to be developed lies in having a stable political social environment. This is all more so for Taiwan for it has an export-oriented type being developed. When a tense cross-Straits situation should occur great losses are expected. This was as shown by cross-Straits crisis that struck the Taiwan Straits in 1996 and the crisis now arising from the "two states" fallacy of Lee Teng-hui.

In last July, since Lee Teng-hui dished up his "two states" fallacy stock markets had experienced a general drop in price. In a matter of a week, it had plummeted 1500 percentage points and with this a great cut in the amount of transactions. The same thing had also happened to all futures markets in Taiwan. People had generally fought for buying and for foreign exchange savings. By now, stockholders have reached over 10 million in Taiwan. For Lee Teng-hui's "two states" fallacy they have become direct sufferers. For losing confidence in the future there is a situation now many have tried in every possible way to move their personal properties abroad. Financiers fear that the "two states" fallacy will give rise to a most serious outflow of capital from Taiwan. Many foreign investors have even desisted from doing business or making investment in Taiwan for various non-economic factors found. It is because they want not to get themselves in all possible "political gambling" of Lee Teng-hui.

In recent years, Taiwan has achieved a fairly fast growth of economy and this has to some extent attributed to stable cross-Straits economic exchanges and cooperation that have been carried out with the mainland. Up to the end of 1998, cross-Straits trade had reached a total of over 140 billion dollars worth of which Taiwan had achieved a surplus of over 90 billion dollars for its favorable balance of trade to an equivalent of Taiwan's foreign exchange reserve accumulated in recent years. When should favorable balance of trade be excluded Taiwan will have to suffer a great trade deficit. For a speedy growth of investment by investors from Taiwan on the mainland a great development of other related industrial production lines along with a restructuring and upgrading of industries has also been made by Taiwan. For the present, for a globalization of economic development and the rising of many and various regional economic groups formed there has been offered a rare fine opportunity for cross-Straits economic cooperation and common development. But a tense situation between the two sides on the Taiwan Straits has seriously obstructed this trend of development. Many businessmen from Taiwan complain that Lee Teng-hui's "two states" fallacy threatens to deprive them of this good opportunity to develop business on the mainland and that when this fine opportunity should be missed it will be most unfavorable for economic development of Taiwan.

In the view of economists in Taiwan, Taiwan's economy has not yet entirely eradicated itself from the low bottom of Asian financial crisis. Since Lee Teng-hui has dished out his "two states" fallacy it will be hard for Taiwan to achieve its set goal for a GDP growth of 5.3 percent this year. Facing such an indefinite factor Taiwan will surely suffer an even greater drop in economy. It goes without saying when should Taiwan still be led on for long by the "two states" fallacy of Lee Teng-hui it will meet greater economic setback. This shows the great harm that has been brought about by Lee Teng-hui's "two states" fallacy. Without doubt, things will become from worse to worse in the days to come in Taiwan.

An old saying is that "when Duke Qing should not die there will be no peace in the State of Lu." With Lee Teng-hui's "two states" fallacy being thoroughly exposed and a deepening of understanding of the harm brought about, after clearing their eyes to have seen through the true features of Lee Teng-hui, the Taiwan people will surely make a correct choice of their own.

Opinion 1999-09-09 Page4

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