cy for “one country, two systems” with regard to reunification with Taiwan. The whole paper was filled with meaningless facts and presented no clear position other that the government wants both Chinas to be one country again. In the words of the Chinese ambassador Yu Shuning, “the statement was intended to let the international community…know China’s principle issue on Taiwan” and that the paper will “make the United States government better understand the settlement of the issue.” At least the intention was there because the document made nothing clear other than any further retardation of the reunification by any party other than the PRC will result in an attack on Taiwan. The paper thus increased tensions between China and Taiwan and the U.S., as it was probably intended to.The paper was largely a response to the current political situation in Taiwan. There is a presidential election in the next couple of weeks and it seriously threatens China. China is threatened because independence has been an underlying issue of the campaigns. China fears that if the favorite, Mr. Chen, wins, Taiwan will certainly move toward independence. This is an imagined threat because Mr. Chen has the same view on reunification that the Taiwanese government has maintained since the split. But China has been known to use new “policy” to get what it wants from the rest of the world.China has had a history of releasing controversial reports at seemingly odd times with respect to the current political situation of the world. In July, China released a 36-page report that mentioned casually that it had the neutron bomb and various miniature nuclear weapons.2 This report was released directly after the Taiwan president, Lee Teng-hui, had visited the U.S., a visit that was viewed by the Chinese as a step toward independence. To add to that situation, it was right in the middle of the arms sec...
