BASTION OR BALLOON?

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27157, 12 August 1949, Page 6

BASTION OR BALLOON?

As the Communist forces in China slowly consolidate their grip on the major portion .of that unhappy country the fate of the island of Formosa—on which Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and many of his s Kuomintang followers, together with some thousands of Nationalist troops, have taken refuge—becomes one of pressing urgency. Strategically, this large and fertile island could become a bastion of even greater strength than Hongkong in' a plan to defend the Pacific from Communist military intrusion and American diplomatic and military experts have already expressed their desire to see the island converted by the United States into such a defensive outpost. More particularly, they have urged that the United States Government should take decisive action before the initiative is seized by the Communists, who are well aware of the strategic importance of the island and have been reported to have plans in hand for capturing it. It is doubtful, however, whether the Communists could mount an invasion of the island. The remnants of the Nationalist Air Force and Navy are stationed there, and the Generalissimo has available enough money to ensure the loyalty of his land, sea and air forces for some time. But Kuomintang rule of the island is unpopular, and the Formosans have already expressed by rebellion their resentment of “ liberators ” from the mainland. In international law Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek’s position in Formosa is scarcely tenable. The island is still occupied Japanese territory, since it had been under Japanese rule for 50 years, and its future cannot be formally decided until a peace treaty is signed with Japan. Chiang Kai-shek can claim only the rights of an occupying Power in accordance with the terms of the Cairo Declaration. Up to the present the wishes of Formosa’s inhabitants have been given no official consideration. Having been freed from their oppressive Japanese overlords they have been saddled with a Kuomintang administration which is stated to be marked by the same inefficiency and corruption that were largely responsible for the collapse of Nationalist China. Should the Nationalist Government on the mainland be crushed out of existence the almost bankrupt Nationalist regime on Formosa would inevitably collapse, leaving a political vacuum which could be filled either by the Communists fx’om China proper or by the Americans who are occupy ing other Japanese territories. Even if the affairs of the island were placed under United Nations control some protection would probably have to be given by the United States against the constant threat that a Communist China would represent.