Misleading interpretation

Misleading interpretation

This is a response to Mr James Kynge's article entitled Taiwan stresses separateness over unity, which appeared on page 4 of The Jakarta Post's April 11, 1995 edition.

Mr Kynge should have sought opinion from at least two more professors or scholars about the essence of President Lee Teng- hui's major Chinese policy speech. Instead, he relied on professor Lee Hong-hsi only and took his interpretation as the title of the article. The result is, more often than not, misleading. I think seasoned and responsible journalists should avoid doing that kind of thing.

Mr Kynge said President Lee's speech "may inflame rather than mollify Beijing." In my opinion, President Lee was only trying to state the facts and reality and hoping that the PRC authority would understand the real problems behind the unification issue. President Lee's main concern is the welfare of the 21 million people living on Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu now and after the unification. Inflaming or mollifying Beijing should not be his prime consideration.

DAVID Y.S. TZOU

Information Director

Taipei Economic & Trade

Office, Jakarta