[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 144 (Thursday, October 6, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 6, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                          TALE OF TWO NATIONS

 Mr. SIMON. Mr. President, the Richmond Times-Dispatch of 
Richmond, VA, recently had an editorial titled, ``Tale of Two 
Nations,'' which talks about our inconsistency in supporting democracy 
in Haiti but not supporting democracy in Asia.
  The point they make in the editorial absolutely valid.
  I urge my colleagues to read the editorial, and I ask to insert it 
into the Record at this point.
  The editorial follows:

           [From the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Sept. 26, 1994]

                          Tale of Two Nations

       The Clinton administration is committing hundreds of 
     millions of dollars, and potentially the lives of many 
     American military personnel, to the ``restoration'' of 
     democracy in Haiti. If that third-rate nation's brutal 
     politicians and policemen suspend their practice of murdering 
     their critics and oppressing the populace, the United States 
     may reward the country with generous economic aid for years 
     to come. And, of course, its diplomats will continue to 
     receive invitations to White House soirees.
       Meanwhile, how does the Clinton administration reward an 
     old American ally that is democratizing by choice, that has 
     established a commendable record on human rights, that has 
     embraced the free enterprise system, and that does enough 
     business with the United States to support more than 300,000 
     American jobs? By throwing it a few crumbs and telling it to 
     keep its officials away from the White House and the State 
     Department.
       That about explains the Clinton administration's new and 
     supposedly improved policy on the Republic of China on 
     Taiwan. The President has condescendingly allowed Taiwan to 
     rename its unofficial mission here from ``The Coordination 
     Council for North American Affairs'' to ``The Taipei Economic 
     and Cultural Representative's Office in the United States,'' 
     which more clearly describes the mission's function.
       He also has removed the ban on direct contacts between 
     American economic and technical officials of non-Cabinet rank 
     and Taiwanese government officials in Taipei, but Taiwanese 
     officials stationed in the United States will not be 
     permitted to visit the State Department. And the President 
     may support Taiwan's membership in certain international 
     organizations, such as those concerned with trade, when he 
     can do so without implying diplomatic recognition of that 
     country.
       In other words, Taiwan is to remain a diplomatic pariah 
     whose president is not even permitted to land on American 
     soil long enough to play a round of golf.
       Twaiwan deserves better treatment. It is the United States' 
     sixth-largest trading partner. It stood shoulder to shoulder 
     with the United States during the darkest and most dangerous 
     phases of the Cold War. It has used the United States as a 
     model in building its economic and political structures. 
     Voluntarily and enthusiastically, it is developing exactly 
     the kind of democracy that the United States advocates.
       The United States withdrew diplomatic recognition from 
     Taiwan during the Carter administration, and denies it still, 
     in an effort to cultivate the friendship of mainland 
     Communist China, which asserts sovereignty over Taiwan and 
     vows to reclaim that island someday. Taiwan is also committed 
     to eventual reunification. The two countries have developed 
     important commercial ties in recent years, but they are far 
     from agreement on the terms for merging politically into a 
     new united China.
       Strong arguments based on both principle and political 
     reality can be made against the United States' eagerness to 
     appease Communist China at the expense of an old American 
     friend. Tomorrow Senator Robb will convene a hearing of his 
     Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs to review the 
     administration's China policies. The exchange promises to be 
     vigorous.
       Democratic Senator Paul Simon of Illinois considers it 
     wrong as a matter of principle for the United States to 
     disdain a country that has ``a multi-party system, free 
     elections, and a free press--the things we profess to 
     champion--while we continue to cuddle up to the mainland 
     government whose dictatorship permits none of those.'' 
     Heritage Foundation China analyst Brett Lippencott suggests 
     that by developing closer ties to Taiwan the United States 
     could promote the reunification of China. The reason, 
     essentially, is that the failure to enhance Taiwan's 
     ``international status could weaken those in Taiwan who favor 
     eventual reunification . . . and strengthen those who seek an 
     independent Taiwan.''
       Obviously, the actual existence of two Chinas creates a 
     difficult and delicate problem for the United States. But in 
     dealing with it, our leaders should occasionally do what is 
     right instead of always doing what they think will please the 
     tyrannical rulers of the world's last remaining major 
     Communist stronghold.

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