November 13, 1998

MEMORANDUM TO: OPINION LEADERS

FROM: GARY SCHMITT

SUBJECT: U.S.-China Policy

In sending Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson to Taiwan this week, President Clinton took a small step to correct his administration’s tilt toward the People’s Republic of China and away from democratic Taiwan. That tilt is the subject of the following op-ed by Project Fellow Mark Lagon, published recently by the Washington Times.

China was quick to denounce the visit, claiming that it violated “the principles of the three joint communiques” and demanded that the administration “immediately correct the mistake.” Given the president’s own statements about Taiwan during his trip to China this past summer, however, it should be no surprise that China’s leaders have reacted as they have. In response, the administration will undoubtedly attempt to reassure Beijing that the secretary’s visit does not reflect a shift in policy. But, in fact, it should. U.S. policy, as Lagon suggests, should be to support Taiwan more forthrightly, not only to deter China’s ambitions in the region but because Taiwan represents “the best model” for China’s own future.