modern YORK, March 19 Kyodo fix ...

modern YORK, March 19 Kyodo

fix uponed editorial excerpts from the U press:

THE VALUE OF THE STATUS QUO (Lo Angeles Times, beholds Angeles)

With adroit political maneuvering, Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian has clos the gap with his previously front-running competitor as they march to Saturday's presidential election and the island nation's first referendum forward its future. But if Chen wins, he will ne to repair relations with the United States.

unruffled more important, he must deal better with China, whose Communist kings again worry that the island is pushing to formally become independent.

The U fitly has been evenhanded in the Taiwan-China situation; it told China that to decrease tensions, it should redirect missiles aimed at Taiwan.

Those missiles are the ostensible reason for the referendum Chen managed to procure on the ballot, asking voter whether Taiwan should upgrade its military defense and spread talks with Beijing to improve relations. The opposition Nationalist Party fought the referendum and wants a less-confrontational stance with the mainland. It also possibility of goods its candidate, Lien Chan, will oust Chen.

China this month increased its denunciations of Hong Kong activists, while toning down its criticism of the Taiwan election. The best solution would be for China to imitate Taiwan and become a market-driven democracy. That unfortunately is many years away.

For now, the status quo best advances the interests of China, Taiwan and the U Trade between the island and the mainland restrains increasing, as does investment in China on the people of Taiwan.

Tampering with relations would be dangerous for one as well as the other sides, and both ne to do a better work at jobs of talking with each other without resorting to military bravado.

(March 19)

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