Emotional bond
As an American who has returned to New York after living in Taipei for the last few years, I agree with much of Lau Nai-keung's article on Sino-US relations ('Strong China, better world', September 16).
But he makes a serious mistake when he says: 'There is never any emotional involvement in international politics, but only national self-interest.' This is not true with Americans and their policy towards Taiwan.
Unfortunately, the Chinese are often unable to see the difference between an American foreign policy that is motivated by emotion and public belief, and one that is motivated by national self-interest.
It may be in the US national self-interest to ignore Taiwan and support mainland rule of the island, but that will never occur. The US public feels an emotional bond to the Taiwanese government and the principles that it supports.
To read every US action on Taiwan as a battle with China is to badly misunderstand how American policy operates.
EDWARD DUNBAR HERSEY, New York, NY
