Let the people in Taiwan decide the future of Taiwan

No other country should interfere the interior governance of a democratic country. President Chen simply did his job according to the constitution. In fact, the National Unification Council had not been working for years. It is null and just one of the units which waste the people's money. No people in Taiwan would remember it if nobody ever mentions it. Thus, what is the big deal to cease its function? It is also not a big news that China upsets. China is the enemy of Taiwan because of its 800 missiles toward Taiwan. . Do you truly believe that China is ever friendly to Taiwan? The future of Taiwan is and should be in the hands of all people in Taiwan.

Taiwan's prerogative
THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2006
International Herald Tribune

Regarding the article "Beijing upset over Chen's step in Taiwan" (March 1): President Chen Shui-bian's recent decision to cease the functioning of an anachronistic body, the National Unification Council, and shelve the National Unification Guidelines, represents no change to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.

It is incomprehensible how the cessation of a nonfunctioning body could result in a change to the present situation. Chen is Taiwan's elected leader, and as the national leader he has made an administrative adjustment to a body that advises only his office. The National Unifcation Council was not empowered by the legislature and has no constitutional relevance.

While China seeks to undermine the current status of Taiwan, a self-governing nation with a democratically elected leadership, Taiwan is accused of changing the status quo. One should remember that China has vowed to take Taiwan by force if necessary and is building a missile force to convince Taiwan to abandon democratic government.

While China continues to stifle freedoms in its own land, Taiwan continues to develop peacefully and democratically. As in any democracy, policy adjustments will be made, even as the central principles guiding the nation are upheld. Taiwan has no intention of roiling the waters of the Taiwan Strait, nor does it intend to give up its prerogatives as a democratic self- governing nation.

Cheng Wen-tsang, Taipei Minister for the office of government information