Last Tango With Chad
The government of Taiwan (Republic of China) announced at local time 11:30 pm, Saturday, August 5th that it regrets having to sever ties with Chad and called off Premier Su Tseng-chang’s planned visit to Chad as special envoy of President Chen Shui-bien to Chadian President Idriss Devy’s second inauguration on August 8th. The Premier was to begin his journey on the 7th, but as it was reported that the Chadian government, while discussing with China on switching its diplomatic ties to Beijing, wanted to hold-off the news until after Premier Su was well enroute on the air. China wants very much to humiliate Taiwan (Roc) by all means. This is the secind time Premier Su’s planned oversea visit was blocked . He was to attend the inauguration of the new Haitian President in May, but due to Chinese pressure that keeps an UN peace force there, the Haitian government sent invitaion but politely requested President Chen not to send any envoy. Premier Su is one of the hopefuls in the 2008 presidential election of Taiwan.
Now after severing ties with Chad, there remained only 24 nations, small and poor. After driven out of her seat in the UN, the Republic of China (on Taiwan) spent great resources to keep diplomatic ties with those countries , and tried in vain to appeal through these small nations for restoration of the UN membership. For a long time The government of ROC held up its Anti-Communist stance and vowed never to stand together with the Communist China (PROC). Sadly after the ROC’s KMT lost its grip on Taiwan in 2000 and 2004 elections, the leadership of the Chinese Nationalist Party, i.e., KMT now says that their “Ultimate Goal” is “Unification with China” and act in pair with the PROC to undermine Taiwan’s quest for her nationhood. Supported by Chines capitals, they misuse Taiwan’s free media to heep up attacks on the duely elected President and the government. They are using smear tactics to discredit the Prwesident.
The present government of Taiwan emulates the ROC government and tries hard to maintain relationship with those small and poor nations. China is adamant to dig away all that have relationship with ROC Taiwan by promising and heaping great amount of lures. Those nations are also clever in demading and threatening, using Holloween tactics. The latest incident with Chad is a very typical case. When learning to dance, an instructor would say “Cha–d, Cha–d, Chad-Chad-Chad, slo–w, slo–w, quick-quick-quick”. It has been painly slow for establishing rightful diplomatic ties for Taiwan with others, but severings comes ever sudden and quick. But the kind of diplomatic dances better be of the last tango. Recently President Chen was reported to be saying that Taiwan will seek UN entry with her rightful name “Taiwan” and not to use “ROC” as it were before . Many here hope that the report is true. To be accurate, the ties severed were with “the Republic of China” and not with “Taiwan”. Taiwan may not yet be enjoying her rightful sovereignty in the eyes of many. But, with patience and creativity, she will surely be standing under the Sun with her head lifted up high!