Letter: It’s time for U.S. to stand up to China

The liberal left is raising a disproportionately large fuss because Donald Trump accepted a congratulatory phone call initiated by Taiwan's president. U.S. and R.O.C. leaders haven't conversed directly since 1979 when Jimmy Carter switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to the mainland Communists as part of his 'one China” policy. (Remember Jimmy? He also granted amnesty to draft-dodgers and gave away control of the Panama Canal, perhaps the most valuable geostrategic prize in the world.)

Vice President-elect Mike Pence put things into perspective when he said Barack Obama was hailed as a hero for making overtures toward the Castro brothers - dictators who oppressed, imprisoned and executed their dissenters for over half a century. Yet Trump is castigated for accepting a congratulatory call from the elected leader of a bastion of democracy in the Far East.

I'm a veteran of the period in the late 50s and early 60s when Red China conducted monthslong artillery barrages and invasion attempts against Taiwan, aka Formosa. I'm a recipient of the Taiwan Badge of Honor and US/ROC Mutual Defense Badge.

Mainland China aims to dominate the Pacific Rim. It doesn't want to grant autonomy to Hong Kong, Tibet (remember the exiled Dalai Lama?) or Taiwan. It's claiming Pacific islands belonging to Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Philippines, etc. Where natural islands don't exist, they're dredging and building artificial ones on which to construct military bases and airstrips.

It's past time for the free world to start standing up to them.

Dean Varner

Cedar Rapids