Bush is blunt on freedom in China President tells Beijing to copy rival Taiwan By George E. Condon Jr. COPLEY NEWS SERVICE November 16, 2005 KYOTO, Japan – President Bush opened his four-nation swing through Asia yesterday, pointedly urging China to do better at giving freedom to its people and pointing to Taiwan as a model that the Communist rulers in Beijing should try to emulate. BULLIT MARQUEZ / Associated Press An unidentified official walked in front of a huge video screen flashing a mosaic image of President Bush at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center in South Korea yesterday. Bush arrives in South Korea tomorrow for a state visit and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. In a message likely to put a chill on his talks later this week with those Communist leaders, the president urged them to look across the Taiwan Strait at their bitter rivals in Taipei. In remarks prepared for delivery in what the White House billed as the major address of this eight-day trip, the president sought to sketch his vision for an Asia partnered with the United States. And greater freedom was the key to that vision. It was also something he found lacking in China. "As China reforms its economy, its leaders are finding that once the door to freedom is opened even a crack, it cannot be closed," Bush said in a speech scheduled for delivery today. Bush said he has told Chinese President Hu Jintao, whom he will meet with in China on Sunday, "that the people of China want more freedom to express themselves, to worship without state control, and to print Bibles and other sacred texts without fear of punishment." He urged Hu to welcome these demands, adding, "By meeting the legitimate demands of its citizens for freedom and openness, China's leaders can help their country grow into a modern, prosperous and confident nation." As modern and prosperous, he suggested, as their cross-strait rival. Advertisement He said, "Taiwan has moved from repression to democracy as it liberalized its economy." He said that only after shedding its political restrictions could China become "one of the world's most important trading powers." He described modern Taiwan as "free, democratic and prosperous. By embracing freedom at all levels, Taiwan has delivered prosperity to its people and created a free and democratic Chinese society." Bush was also blunt when asked about China and Taiwan at a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. "What I say to the Chinese, as well as to others, is that a free society is in your interest," Bush said. "To allow people to worship freely, for example, in your society is part of a stable, mature society. And that leadership should not fear freedoms within their society." He also used the speech to push China to live up to its promises on trade and to put an end to the rampant stealing of U.S. patents and copyrights. "These statements are a good beginning," said Bush. "But China needs to take action to ensure that these goals are implemented." He encouraged China to "continue down the road to reform and openness because the freer China is at home, the greater the welcome it will receive abroad." He also restated U.S. policy toward bringing freedom to North Korea and thwarting that regime's pursuit of more nuclear weapons. And he pledged U.S. support for the battle against avian flu. This evening, Bush is scheduled to arrive in South Korea for the 21-nation Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. Bush's first stop in Japan may have been the easiest part of his Asian tour. Koizumi was one of only two world leaders who openly endorsed Bush in his close re-election campaign last year. Australia's John Howard was the other. The Japanese prime minister is one of the few foreign leaders to get all three of the invitations Bush offers. Bush entertained Koizumi at the White House, at Camp David and at the presidential ranch in Crawford, Texas. The two men, who both took office in 2001, share a love of baseball and openly gush about each other. Bush even praised Koizumi's "fast ball" at Crawford. And Koizumi affectionately tagged Bush as "the beef man" after a dinner in Tokyo, because the president favors a nice thick steak whenever possible. But beef is also the largest point of contention between the two leaders. And it was not settled in the talks here, giving more impetus to U.S. threats of trade reprisals to punish Japan for banning imports of U.S. beef in December 2003 over a case of mad cow disease. »Next Story»