Editorials
Defense secretary's blunt response
DEFENSE Secretary William Perry put it bluntly but correctly when he said that the United States sent two aircraft carrier groups to the Western Pacific to remind Beijing that America is the dominant power in the region. China's blustering and its menacing gestures toward Taiwan required a no-nonsense response from Washington, and Perry has provided it. The unspoken implication was that the U.S. has no intention of relinquishing that dominance - reassurance for other Asian governments that fear China's growing power.
A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry demanded that the United States "must immediately stop its activities designed to interfere with China's internal affairs and intensify the tensions." These activities, the spokesman said, include sales of arms to Taiwan, sending U.S. warships into the region, and supporting independence for the island. He accused the U.S. of "brazenly engaging in a show of force" by dispatching naval vessels.
But Washington has never agreed to end arms sales to Taiwan - in fact is committed to assist in its defense under the Taiwan Relations Act while recognizing Beijing as the government of China. Sending warships into the area is the right of any nation provided they remain in international waters. The Taiwan Strait is not Beijing's property.
As for supporting independence for Taiwan, this is not the U.S. position. Beijing has read too much into the approval of an unofficial visit to the U.S. by President Lee Teng-hui. Lee himself disavows any intention to declare Taiwan independent.
What Perry has said in so many words is that the United States refuses to be intimidated from the exercise of its rights. U.S. naval vessels will cruise in international waters whether China likes it or not. The United States does not recognize Taiwan but is committed to assist in its defense and applauds its progress toward democracy - and does not need Beijing's approval to do so.
Fire in a Manila disco
THERE is a grim familiarity aboutthe disco fire in the Philippines that took about 150 lives, mostly students celebrating the end of the school year. It is the latest in a long series of such disasters. This tragedy should remind fire officials in every city that discos and nightclubs must be held to the highest safety standards - before disaster strikes.
Cameras in court
THE federal court system has been stubborn in refusing to join the rest of society in the everyday use of television, but that is about to change, if ever so slightly. The Judicial Conference of the United States, the federal judiciary's rule-making body, has agreed to allow federal appeals courts to decide on an individual basis whether to allow cameras into appellate proceedings. It is only a tiny step in the right direction. The litmus test for government openness in the 21st century is likely to be whether TV cameras are allowed inside, and the federal court system is miserably unprepared.
Mandelas' divorce
SOUTH African President Nelson Mandela has been granted a divorce from his wife of 38 years on grounds of adultery, but that only begins to describe her transgressions. President Mandela is well rid of her.
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Rupert E. Phillips,CEO
John M. Flanagan,Editor & Publisher
David Shapiro,Managing Editor
Diane Yukihiro Chang,Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor
Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner,Assistant Managing Editors
A.A. Smyser,Contributing Editor