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[Page: S15717]

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The reaction in Beijing to this development has been both objectionable and unwise. Even before the DPP acted, Gen. Yang Shangkun on October 9 threatened those advocating independence in Taiwan with the statement that `those who play with fire will be burned to ashes.' Not content with trying to intimidate those who were exercising their right to free speech--a freedom noticeably absent in practice in the People's Republic of China today--the authorities in Beijing subsequently warned the government in Taiwan that it should suppress the `Taiwan independence movement.' Beijing attempted to further interfere in the political process in Taiwan by stating that if the `separatists' continued to try to `split the nation * * * then the Chinese Government will not sit idly by and remain indifferent.'

The regime in Beijing, which has deprived the Chinese people of virtually every political and civil right, has no authority to try to dictate affairs on Taiwan. Intimidation and threats, in particular, have no place in this matter. President Lee Teng Hui rightfully rejected Beijing's implicit threat to invade, noting that it had triggered resentment in Taiwan.

I call on the Beijing authorities to refrain from further actions which would only further inflame passions on Taiwan.

I applaud the process of democratization on Taiwan under the leadership of President Lee that has clearly increased the stature of Taiwan in the world community. But I must also express my concern with the initial reaction of the governing party in Taiwan to the DPP's action. I take no position on the merits of the DPP's position on independence for Taiwan. Nevertheless, I believe any legal action against the DPP for its call for a plebescite on independence would tarnish the positive image Taiwan has successfully built in the international community in the last few years.

I am sympathetic to the fact that the reaction in Beijing on the independence issue has created a sense of crisis and uncertainty on Taiwan. I do not intend to suggest to the concerned parties there how to deal with the issue raised by the DPP's actions. I only urge that they approach these questions with reason and fairness, features which have been salient characteristics of Taiwan's democratization process and which have also been proven effective in maintaining and furthering economic prosperity and social stability on Taiwan.

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