In an editorial titled "Taiwan's opportunity"published
on February 1st, 1998, the Washington Times made an
interesting blooper by referring to Taiwan as "People's
Republic of China on Taiwan."
This error is of course not of the Washington Times' making, but
is due to the outdated policy of the Kuomintang authorities on
Taiwan, who continue to refer to themselves as "Republic of
China."
The democratic opposition in Taiwan has long argued in favor of
discarding this anachronistic title, and to work towards acceptance
of Taiwan as a full and equal member of the international family of
nations under its own name, "Taiwan."
To many in the Taiwanese democratic opposition, the "ROC"
title stands for "Republic of Confusion." An example of
how it confuses everyone, is the fact that during his visit to
Honduras in September 1997, Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui was
greeted with full-page advertisements adorned with the flag of the
Communist PRC.
We urge the Kuomintang, and the international community to end
this confusion and to let Taiwan be Taiwan.
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