Editing 79-01-A4 (section)

= Taiwan III =

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=== Transcript ===
In the first days following the December 15th announcement by
Mr. Carter that we are abrogating our treaty with Taiwan, spokesmen
for the administration and some pundits of the press declared we were
simply recognizing a reality. After all, there are some 900 million
Chinese on the mainland and only 17 million on Taiwan, so -- they said,
it was foolish to pretend the government on Taiwan was the government
of China. But isn't it just as foolish to pretend that the regime in
Peking is the actual government of Taiwan?

If we're going to put this on the basis of looking at reality,
there are a few things we shouldn't overlook. The Peking regime --
once allied with the Soviet Union -- now sees the Russians as not
being true to the principles of Karl Marx. Soldiers of the two great
communist powers face each other across a long border and China proclaims
Russia is an enemy and a threat to peace.

But, in their speeches to their own comrades, Peking's leaders
have repeatedly said we are an imperialist enemy which must eventually
be destroyed. To their own people the Communist leaders explain that
we aren't an immediate threat as is the Soviet Union, so first things
first.

And if they should ever decide we're Enemy Number One, not Number
Two, they can do so with a clear conscience. They'll only be doing to
us what we've done to Taiwan.

With Congress back in session, there are thing we can do to lessen
the damage that has been done. We don't have just one treaty or agreement
with Taiwan. We have more than fifty. And Taiwan and we do nearly eight
billion dollars' worth of business a year together.

The President can say that all this will continue on a non-governmental
basis, but that's impossible. Granted, he has the power to close
our Taipei embassy and open one in Peking, but government representation
by us in Taiwan and by the Republic of China here is essential. The
same daily functions performed now by embassies and consulates must still
be performed if we are to maintain trade and cultural relations. If the
Chinese Communists could handle embassy functions in Washington by calling
it a "liaison office" before January 1, why can't the Republic of China's
embassy -- handling much more work -- be called a "liaison office" after
January 1?

Congress can make sure that those treaties and agreements remain in
force and also that we really do provide the people of Taiwan with the
arms they need to defend themselves. Your congressman needs to hear
from you right now with regard to this. 

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=== Details ===
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<TR><TD WIDTH="150">Batch Number</TD><TD WIDTH="150">{{PAGENAME}}</TD></TR>
<TD>Production Date</TD><TD>01/??/[[Radio1979|1979]]</TD></TR>
<TD>Book/Page</TD><TD>[[Radio_Commentary_Books#Reagan.27s_Path_to_Victory|RPtV-403]]</TD></TR>
<TD>Audio</TD><TD></TD></TR>
<TD>Youtube?</TD><TD>No</TD></TR>
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===Added Notes===

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