Talk held on future of Taiwan

Ever since the victory of the Chinese Communists in 1949 ideologically split mainland China from the island of Taiwan, citizens of both the powerful nation and the small state have hoped for reunification. Former U.S. Ambassador to China James Lilley discussed the prospects for reunification yesterday afternoon before a crowd of about 70 students and faculty members. Lilley, who was born in China, has had a long and distinguished career in international relations, originally working for the CIA and later serving as the U.S. ambassador to Korea. Beginning his lecture, Lilley commented on the recent feverish activity, both in the United States and Asia, concerning the state of Taiwan. "We call it spring madness in Washington," he joked. Lilley then discussed the excitement surrounding the March elections -- ranging from parades to bribery -- Chen Shui-ban, a pro-independence politician not affiliated with the ruling Nationalist Party, as president. "It was fun, and it was alive and it was democratic," he said. He then explained that the Taiwanese government, long wary to declare independence for fear of mainland retaliation, has grown bolder in recent months. "Power doesn't grow out of the barrel of a gun," he said. "It grows out of a ballot box." However, Lilley also criticized the United States' defense policy toward Taiwan, a policy which he said he regards as weak and incoherent in that it wavers between hard and soft stances on military aid to Taiwan. "It's a typical Washington solution put together to make Taiwan happy, to make Congress happy, to make China happy," he said of recent developments, which include the Clinton administration's decision not to sell four Aegis-class destroyers to Taiwan. "If you're in this business to protect Taiwan, you better damn well have a coordinated plan." Lilley also expressed his belief that the United States should not try to use trade to effect change in the Chinese government. "Do not try to use it to change China," he said. Then, telling the audience that China is not a state to be bullied, Lilley then pointed out what he considers the powerful country's willingness to use its military might. "When they start talking about fighting, we take them seriously," he said. Lilley later commended the Chinese for their desire to join the World Trade Organization. The former ambassador concluded his talk by discussing the benefits of globalization for greater worldwide cohesion. The issue is a controversial one, as many in America feel that China's human rights violations should preclude it from trading with democratic nations, such as the United States. "It seems to me that Chinese leaders have bitten the bullet, that they are going to go ahead with this," he said. Students in the audience were optimistic about greater unity between China and Taiwan, especially if such unity would promote democratic reform in China. Following the talk, College senior Jean Kim discussed what she perceived as the benefits of reunification. "If such unity would help China become democratic, then that would be good," she said.