National Post
Saturday, August 10, 2002
In view of the hostile air currently wafting across the Taiwan Strait, it is important to note that President Chen Shui-bian's recent statements were forged in a climate of urgency and necessity. (Your editorial, Stand Up for Taiwan, Aug. 9)
Although his government has continued to offer its goodwill to China, Beijing has never renounced the use of force against Taiwan and its attempts to suffocate that democracy internationally remain unabated.
"One country on each side of the Taiwan Strait" attests to the overwhelming reality that a people and a way of life under a particular government will always behave as a state, regardless of what Beijing construes as a "rebel province." The 23 million people of Taiwan share a set of democratic values that have yet to find their counterpart on the mainland and whatever path they choose will not set aside these fundamentals.
Most importantly, Taiwan's policy toward mainland China has not changed. The much-cited road that we are walking down is the road of democracy, peace, freedom, human rights and these are more important than any suspect offer of "one country, two systems."
David Lee, Director, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Toronto.
Re: A route worth following (August 9):
The Liberal government in Ottawa collects virtually $5-billion a year in gasoline taxes, having raised the federal tax to 10 cents a litre from 1.5 cents and added a 1.5 cents surtax to that seven years ago. But they put all but 2.4% of that into general revenues instead of highway renewal.
I assume that this information will be just another reason why, come the next federal election, Central Canada and the Maritimes will doubtless vote for the Liberals -- the only party that can be trusted to run the country properly.
Wayne Eyre, Saskatoon, SK
Is it possible for a person to be the leader of two political parties at the same time? The disappointing article on health care by Stephen Harper and Ron Merrifield (Aug.9) gives the impression that Mr. Harper has launched his candidacy for leadership of the NDP (Health care funding -- with strings, Aug. 9).
Their article continues the petty federal-provincial squabbling about money. It looks to the federal government and to the Romanow commission for solutions even though Mr Romanow has already sent very clear messages that he is opposed to private health care. It demands "top-quality" from the public system - an NDP position - when every conservative knows that it is impossible to obtain "top-quality" in the absence of a private alternative health-care system. How can we expect health-care in Canada to ever improve if even conservatives appear clueless in this area?
Dr. Joseph Berger. President. Ontario Branch. American Psychiatric Association.
Re: War Museum Battle Ends with Fourth Design, Aug. 8.
The exterior of the proposed new Canadian War Museum in Ottawa looks as inspirational as my local shopping mall. Boring!
Rather than having a grass and soil-covered roof which requires a stronger structure to support, at greater expense, why not build an elegant and impressive multi-storey museum surround by a nice grassy park with some military-related sculptures? Back to the drawing board for plan #5. Get it right!
Derek Wilson, Port Moody, B.C..
Re: Folic Acid Reducing Birth Defects: Studies, Aug. 6.
We wish to correct an impression that may have been left by the reference to the Health Canada regulation that requires manufacturers of wheat flour and pasta to enrich these products with folic acid. Our organisations were not "forced" to fortify with folic acid. Rather, our organizations actively supported the inclusion of folic acid when this was first proposed by Health Canada as part of the department's initiative to harmonize Canadian flour enrichment standards with those of the United States. In fact, it was through our sustained efforts that fortification with folic acid finally became mandatory in Canada in 1998.
During and since the harmonization initiative, we have continued to advocate the adoption of a suitable generic health claim. Such a claim would allow Canadian manufacturers of pasta, wheat flour and bakery products containing enriched flour to communicate through food labels the importance of these foods as a source of folic acid and its potential health benefits. We believe such label statements would contribute substantially to the efforts of Canadian health interest groups and Health Canada to increase consumer awareness of the role that folic acid can play in preventing neural tube defects. Most importantly, we are encouraged that Canadian research has demonstrated that enrichment of cereal grain based foods has made a major contribution to this objective.
Paul Hetherington, President & CEO, Baking Association of Canada; Don Jarvis, Executive Director, Canadian Pasta Manufacturers Association; Gordon Harrison, President, Canadian National Millers Association.
I must commend the National Post for the solid arguments put forth for Taiwan's recognition and support by its fellow democracies.
Taiwan's achievements are all the more remarkable considering that they have been forged in the face of hostility and isolation, despite the fact that its free-market democracy make it the West's natural ally. Surely these shared values should not be taken for granted, as the least Taiwan asks of respected partners like Canada is inclusion in international organizations.
President Chen Shui-bian's recent reference to "one country on each side of the Taiwan Strait" simply underlines a reality. He bravely asked his compatriots to safeguard the status quo and ensure their freedom and sovereignty will not be taken away. The 23 million people of Taiwan will not consider any path laid out by the mainland until the communist government renounces its use of force and frustration of Taiwan's participation in the global community.
Since Mr. Chen's inauguration, he has made repeated shows of goodwill toward mainland China and remained open to negotiation and discussion of cross-Strait concerns. Should Taiwan continue to face discouragement and implacability from the mainland, the world cannot expect its government to either bide its time or "run in place." The future is certainly worth more than that.
Cheng-Jin Tsai, Willowdale, Ont.
© Copyright 2002 National Post
