Former U.S. official backs 'state' declaration
Oct. 29, 1999 China Times
Former U.S. Undersecretary of State and Ambassador to the PRC Winston Lord yesterday said that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait constitute distinct political entities, and that President Lee Teng-hui's declaration that relations between Taiwan and the mainland should be conducted on a "state-to-state" basis was an objective description of reality.
Lord, who was testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated further that unless the mainland becomes more democratic, Taiwan should not entertain ideas of unification.
And in a sign of support for Taiwan's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), Lord also criticized those countries which have said that Taiwan must wait until after mainland China enters the WTO before it can enter the global trading body.
Lord also had words of criticism for the Clinton administration's moves to form a strategic military partnership with the PRC, calling such policies exceedingly naive. He also suggested that if mainland China fails to improve its human rights record, then the U.S. should submit a formal censure of the mainland at the next meeting of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights.
Lord made these comments at a nomination hearing for Joseph Prueher, whom Washington wants to appoint the next U.S. ambassador to Beijing.
The former ambassador also praised Taiwan by saying that since its separation from the mainland, it has developed rapidly and successfully. However, he also pointed out that legitimizing this state of affairs through public announcements without first consulting the U.S. was not in Taiwan's best interests. Nonetheless, Lord emphasized the U.S.'s pledge to see to it that the mainland does not use military force against Taiwan.
Lord also emphasized that the mainland must become more like Taiwan and enjoy a high level of freedom and democracy if Chinese reunification is ever to be realized.
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