Facing Up To China

A nightmare come true. That's how China's leadership saw the presidential victory of longtime Taiwan opposition leader and independence advocate Chen Shui-bian in March. Chen's election fanned fears in Beijing that the island, which it regards as part of China, would finally declare independence from the mainland. If that happened, China was prepared to declare war. Since then, Chen has done much to assuage those fears. He has promised not to formally declare independence unless China attacks. He has practically begged China to sit down and negotiate. Faced with a growing economic imperative for closer relations, he has dropped Taiwan's refusal to allow direct trade, transportation, and postal links with China.

At the same time, though, he has kept up his provocative rhetoric. In one of his first interviews since taking office in May, the 49-year-old President declared himself the leader of a "sovereign and independent country." Referring to China's attempts to intimidate voters with threats during the election campaign, he charged that Beijing "does not understand the Taiwanese people." Citing 70% public approval for his policy of standing up for Taiwan's sovereignty, Chen urged Chinese leaders to "learn from the election result."