PRC and Taiwan must cooperate

The Jakarta Post's Aug. 19, 2000 article on page five titled Why China is going easy on Taiwan for now reveals Beijing's inability to attack Taiwan by 2005 and we welcome Beijing's decision not to use force against Taiwan for at least five years.

The 20th century left us with a major lesson; that war is a failure of humanity. Waged for whatever lofty purposes or high- sounding reasons, war is the greatest harm to freedom, democracy and human rights.

History has proved that war will lead to more hatred and enmity, without the least help to the development of mutual relations. Chinese people emphasize the difference between statesmanship and hegemony, believing in the philosophy that a government which employs benevolence "will please those near and appeal to those from afar", and when those from afar will not submit, then one must practice kindness and virtue to attract them". Such Chinese wisdom will remain a universal value.

Under the leadership of Mr. Deng Xiaoping and Mr. Jiang Zemin, the mainland has created a miracle of economic openness. In Taiwan, over a half century, not only have we created an economic miracle, but we have also created the political marvel of democracy. On such a basis, as long as the governments and people on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait can interact more, following the principle of "goodwill reconciliation, active cooperation, and permanent peace", while at the same time respecting the free choice of the people and excluding unnecessary obstacles, both sides of the Strait can make great contributions to the prosperity and stability of the Asia-Pacific region. Both sides will also create a glorious civilization for humanity.

DEREK HSU

Director, Information Division

Taipei Economic and Trade Office

Jakarta