For pro-independence supporters in Taiwan, the lack of US support undoubtedly burst their bubble. But the United States has not always voice support for the one-China principle so clearly.

Chen and his followers got the courage to call for "Taiwan independence" because of support from anti-China conservatives in the United States in the first place.

And by expressing its commitment to Taiwan in line with the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which essentially makes Taiwan, an inalienable part of China, a "nation-level political entity," the US Government still provided room for separatists to push for Taiwan independence.

That act signalled that the United States had adopted a two-sided policy shortly after the establishment of its diplomatic relations with China.

To maintain the mainland-Taiwan "balance of forces," the United States has consistently tried to sell sophisticated weapons to Taiwan while trying to avoid fundamentally destroying its relations with the mainland.

Numerous acts by the United States, including its continuous large-scale military sales, the recent establishment of the US Taiwan Caucus, and US President George W. Bush's verbal gaffe in which he called Taiwan the "Republic of Taiwan," have been interpreted by Chen Shui-bian as US support for Taiwan independence.

Further US encouragement could lead the separatists to destroy cross-Strait hopes for peace by going further down the reckless road to independence.

The United States needs to show the world it backs the one-China principle with acts, not just its recent words.

Chen's latest call for Taiwan independence once again proves it is time for the United States to reverse its pro-Taiwan policy.

( August 15, 2002)