The defining issue is that the government in Taiwan was considered to be the government of all of China, and the authorities in Beijing were not recognized as a government of China. So Taiwan was the residuary for all of China.
I do not criticize people who take a public stand on human rights issues. I express my respect for them. But some people are more influential without a public confrontation.
The issues are too important to be left for the voters.
This country cannot afford to tear itself apart on a partisan basis on issues so vital to our national security.
I believe that there is a whole set of issues in the world - environment, proliferation, energy, cyberspace - that can only be dealt with on a global basis. The traditional patterns of national rivalry and national competition are not suitable for those cases.
Competing pressures tempt one to believe that an issue deferred is a problem avoided; more often it is a crisis invited.
Taiwan will probably not declare independence. The question isn't independence. The issue is whether Taiwan will declare itself as a sovereign separate state. That will start a huge crisis if that happens.
I grew up as a discriminated minority in a dictatorship, so obviously the issue of human rights is a matter of concern for me.
Realism in foreign policy means careful consideration of all aspects pertinent to the issue, before taking a decision. This is the only way you can move from where you are to someplace else.
an occasion to blow off their frustrations on an issue on which they didn't look as if they are begging (the United States) for help.
I don't see why we need to stand by and watch a country go communist due to the irresponsibility of its people. The issues are much too important for the Chilean voters to be left to decide for themselves.