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From: James L Stotler I was involved in the "crisis" in 1958; the shelling of the off-shore
islands by communist China. I was a young soldier in the US Army and was
assigned duty on Okinawa as a Air Defense Artillery radarman. I continued
serving and retired from the army in 1976.
I feel that I have a "vested" interest in the freedom of the Taiwanese
people from the time I spent on Okinawa in 1958, and for the rest of my
military service which was devoted to winning the Cold War against the
communists of the world. Now I am willing to do what I can to influence
my government to develop a foreign policy that will support self-determination
for people living in Taiwan. I can see that there is a problem about how
to address Quemoy - Matsu...
How many people live on those islands? Have they had any voting privledges
since 1947? As you have stated, size is not the determining factor concerning
the right of self determination, but from a practical point of view, it
does make a difference.
I am not proud of our (the US) inaction during the Peoples Republic
of China's take-over of Tibet, nor of the seemingly unlimited commerce
taking place with China. I favor tieing such trade to human rights (including
self determination).
Thank you for having information available that has allowed me to "come
up to speed" on this issue. Jim Stotler, Washington, D.C
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