Here is an excerpt from a very interesting webpage I found on the Taiwan-China independence issue. The authors are not Westerners, but Taiwanese, many of whom are overseas.
Policy Alternatives
[ul][li]1. Status quo approach
The approach presently followed by the United States and most other Western nations is recognition of the authorities in Beijing as the government of China, and of unofficial – mainly economic and cultural – relations with the authorities on Taiwan.
It preaches “don’t-rock-the-boat”, and practices a minimalist involvement in the political debate between Taiwan and China It hopes that the status quo will somehow evolve into a peaceful resolution of the differences.
However, this approach is at odds with reality, since it ignores the major advances Taiwan has made as a democratic nation, and the fact that present-day Taiwan is fundamentally different from the “Republic of China” of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
It also neglects the aggressive and confrontational posture by China. If continued, this approach will increasingly allow China to push Taiwan into a corner, and isolate Taiwan in preparation of a Chinese push to “recover” the island.
In reality, the status quo thus represents a steady drift into greater isolation for Taiwan, and an increasing risk that China will attempt to bully Taiwan into submission through military, political and other types of intimidation.
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[li]2. Geo-political approach
According to the Kissingeresque geo-political thinking, China’s importance as a global political player and as a market for Western goods supersedes any other considerations. Taiwan should not get in the way, and should be pressured to start unification discussions with China.
This approach would sacrifice the rights of a small nation, whose people have worked hard to gain their freedom, and who only very recently achieved democracy.
It would put democracy in East - and Southeast Asia as a whole at risk by accepting and condoning China’s military threats and intimidation against its neighbors.
It would undermine the confidence that nations such as Japan and South Korea still have in American trustworthiness as an ally, and reduce the confidence in the credibility of its forward military presence in particular.
Such American softness on the Taiwan issue might well lead Japan and South Korea to reassess their posture, leading either to a hardening of their position (and increasing tension) or a softening, and thus to a lack of balance of power in the region.
Both approaches 1 and 2 should be discarded, and a clear and unequivocal choice should be made in favor of the third approach:
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[li]3. “Basic principles” and “peace and stability” approach
This approach emphasizes adherence to the basic principles of democracy, respect for human rights, universality of UN membership and self-determination, and peace and stability.
Democracy
The people of Taiwan have achieved a remarkable transition from a repressive regime under the Kuomintang to a free and vibrant democracy at present. It would be a blatant violation of basic democratic principles if they were forced to “unify” with an undemocratic and repressive Chinese regime.
Respect for Human Rights
China’s human rights record is blemished at best. There are still 1,100 forced labor camps in China with an estimated population of 6 to 8 million, including many political dissidents and religious believers. Repression of Tibetans and Muslims continues unabated. The People’s Liberation Army engages in systematic harvesting and marketing of human organs extracted from executed prisoners.
This larger picture should not be forgotten when the Chinese government releases a few prominent dissidents for political effect. China’s willingness to sign the UN Covenant on Political and Civil Rights is a hollow, cosmetic gesture when it denies the right of self-determination to the 21.8 million freedom-loving people of Taiwan.
China claims it has a right to take Taiwan by force, even though the Taiwanese people have indicated that they wish to keep their hard-won freedom and democracy. Giving in to Chinese pressure would be a major step backwards for human rights, not only for the people of Taiwan but for the people of Asia as a whole, including China.
Universality and Self-determination
The Charter of the United Nations gives “universality” and “self-determination” as guiding principles for relations between peoples and nations.
Article 1(2) of the UN Charter states: “The purposes of the United Nations are: to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace.”
Also, UN Resolution 2625 (XXV) of October 24, 1970 states that “?all peoples have the right freely to determine without external interference, their political status and to pursue their economic, social and cultural development.” So, the UN not only supports the right of self-determination, it encourages it.
Taiwan fulfils all requirements for being accepted as a full and equal member in the international community. With just under 22 million people, Taiwan meets all three criteria for statehood specified in international law: it has a defined territory, a defined population and the ability to enter into – and keep international agreements.
Furthermore,Taiwan is eminently qualified to be a member. Art. 4 (1) of the UN Charter reads: “Membership is open to all … peace-loving states which accept the obligations contained in the present Charter …”. Taiwan has not threatened or intimidated its neighbors, it is willing to accede to the UN and accept all obligations under the Charter.
If the U.S. and other democratic nations accede to Chinese demands, and deny the Taiwanese people their right of self-determination, and their right to join international organizations such as the United Nations, this will constitute a violation of a basic principle enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, not to mention betrayal of the values of freedom and democracy.
Peace and Stability
Peace and stability in East Asia can only be maintained if there is a balance of power in the region. However, over the past decade China has been increasingly aggressive in laying territorial claims outside its borders.
A firmer and more consistent U.S. and European policy is thus needed, ready to assert U.S. and European interest in the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region. This approach, rather than the present accommodation approach, will help China’s civilian leaders in adopting more moderate and peaceful policies.
The current policy of constructive engagement with China is dominated by the drive of corporate America and Europe for access to the Chinese market. The risk is that such a policy tends to turn into a policy of appeasement, resulting in undesirable consequences. The recent nuclear tests by India and Pakistan are an example.
The weakening of the U.S.-Japan alliance is another. The U.S. and European nations need to adopt a more prudent China policy which gives long range peace and stability interests as much weight as short-term commercial profit. [/li][/ul]
Our Appeal
We as Taiwanese citizens of the world, appeal to the international community _ and in particular to the United States, Canada and other nations that profess to adhere to democratic principles _ to:
[ul][li]Affirm that the people of Taiwan have the right to determine their own future under the principle of self-determination as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations; [/li]
[li]Urge China to renounce the use of force, and accept Taiwan as a friendly neighboring state instead of perpetuating the hostility and rivalry dating from the Civil War China fought against the Kuomintang five decades ago; and [/li]
[li]Accept Taiwan as a full and equal member of the international family of nations, including the United Nations. [/li][/ul]
Peaceful coexistence between Taiwan and China as two friendly nation-states is the only way through which peace and stability in East Asia can be guaranteed.
This is in the interest of the United States and others nations – both those in the East Asia region and around the world – because a China which respects its neighbors is more likely to develop a rule of law, to honor international agreements and commercial contracts.
The United States and other democratic nations around the world thus need to ensure that the people of Taiwan receive the opportunity to peacefully determine Taiwan’s future by themselves, without any outside pressure – military, political or otherwise.