Sir, – I read, with a sense of irony, the letter from the ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Ireland, Mr Zhao Yiyuan (“China and Irish politicians visiting Taiwan”, March 7th), in which he states that “freedom of speech and travel should not serve as a pretext for Oireachtas members to use their official titles to visit China’s Taiwan province”.
The “authority of the State” referred to by the ambassador is something the Chinese government obviously has its own ideas about. However, in sharp contrast to the National People’s Congress in Beijing, Irish legislators don’t make decisions on the basis of what the Government tells them to do.
The Dáil stands on its own two feet. As members, we are directly elected by the people, with our own mandates. In our multiparty representative democracy, supporting the Government or being a member of a party in Government, does not mean that I am the Government.
As individual parliamentarians, we are entitled to express our own views on policy, including foreign policy, and that is something that we can be proud of. I do not agree with the One China Policy, even if the Government of Ireland does; rather I believe in the right of each nation to self-determination.
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This might be an alien concept for the Chinese ambassador.
I am disappointed that Ireland, unlike 16 other European Union countries and the European Union itself, has decided not to open a representative or trade office in Taiwan; I hope that will change.
I visited Taiwan in July last year. While China may claim it as its own, I consider that, like us in Ireland, Taiwan is entitled to cherish its independence, its democracy and its economic prosperity. All of this, despite constant threats and bullying from its Chinese neighbour.
As Lao Tzu said, if you only care about what other people think, you will always be their prisoner. It feels like the Chinese ambassador cares too much what members of the Oireachtas think about China’s attitude to Taiwan. – Yours, etc,
BARRY WARD, FINE GAEL TD
Leinster House,
Kildare Street,
Dublin 2.
