The Wall Street Journal-20080201-Is Bush for Democracy- How About Taiwan-

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Is Bush for Democracy? How About Taiwan?

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Gary Schmitt's article on the U.S. policy toward Taiwan pointedly exposes the Bush administration's contradiction in conducting its foreign policy ("Our One-China Cowardice," op-ed, Jan. 15).

The Bush administration's foreign policy has always championed the fundamental principle of promoting democracy and freedom in the world. The invasion of Iraq was supposed to crash the dictatorship and bring freedom to the Iraqi people.

Taiwan, with its 23 million people, has established a liberal democracy without any bloodshed since 1996. Based on the U.N.'s universality of membership to all peace-loving states, Taiwan's current political leader has proposed a referendum in conjunction with the upcoming presidential election to join the U.N. as "Taiwan." However, the Bush administration vehemently objects to the referendum, and has repeatedly put pressure on Taiwan to abandon the referendum.

Liang-Shing Fan

Professor Emeritus of Economics

Colorado State University

Fort Collins, Colo.