Schneider Speaks at Taiwan Military Academy

By Jason Balgos
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

It has been two years since the last cadet from the Republic of China, on Taiwan, graduated from Norwich University. Norwich President Richard Schneider was hoping to change this as he departed for Taiwan on March 24, when he was asked to speak at the Chinese Military Academy in Taiwan.

"I wanted to open the door to possibly having them start sending us students again," Schneider said. "I'm also hoping that they might start sending us naval and air force students as well."

While Schneider was in Taipei, he met with Gen. Tang, Commander in Chief of all the Military Forces of Taiwan, who gave Schneider a pledge that two Chinese Military Academy cadets will be applying for entrance to Norwich for the fall semester 2000.

"Most of the cadets that they have sent us in the past have gone on to become generals," Schneider said.

According to Chih-Haur Ho, Norwich class of 1998 and author of Norwich in Service to her Country, 14 of the first 19 Chinese cadets who attended Norwich were promoted to general when they returned to their homeland.

The relationship between Norwich University and the Chinese government started in 1914.

The Chinese government wanted some of their future military leaders to learn English and to receive military and leadership training in America.

Kuan-Shun Yao, Norwich graduate of 1914, was the first Chinese cadet to graduate from Norwich. He went on to become a major general and chairman of the committee who established the Chinese Military Academy.

Although the political relationship between China and America has changed over the years, Schneider hopes to continue a working relationship with the Chinese Military Academy.

Because of the political turmoil in China and Taiwan, Norwich did not host any Chinese cadets from 1932-1985.

In 1986, however, with the development of the Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan, Norwich once again opened its doors to the Chinese government in Taiwan.

On this most recent trip to Taiwan, Schneider was invited by Lt. Gen. Chen to be a guest lecturer and inspector at the Chinese Military Academy. Schneider spoke about the long history between Norwich and the Chinese Military Academy and the modern principles of leadership that Norwich teaches.

This was not the first time Schneider had spoken at the academy.

In 1993, he was invited to speak there about the ideas behind ROTC and how it was developed at Norwich. At this time, Taiwan was just starting to develop their ROTC programs. Schneider was asked to speak again in 1997 when he was asked to lecture at their National Defense Management College. That visit resulted in Norwich receiving a group of their cadets to learn English as a second language.

While Norwich has had a successful relationship with Taiwan, the United States government has no official ties with the Republic of China.

"Taiwan acts as an independent country in many ways. Although we have very close economic ties with them, our country does not recognize them as an independent nation," Schneider said. "It has certainly made for an awkward situation."

Ken Karl, spokesman for Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), said only that "the American government has no official ties with the Republic of China; it only has official ties with the People's Republic of China (mainland China)."

Taiwan has the world's 13th largest economy, the third largest foreign exchange reserve, and over $235 billion in trade, according to the United States Government Official Commercial Guide FY 1999 (www.state.gov).

Phone calls from spokesmen for Vermont Sen. James Jeffords (R Vt.) and Vermont Congressman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) were not returned.

This political dichotomy has plagued Taiwan in its foreign relations for over 100 years. It has rapidly grown in economic power but continues to struggle for political strength.

During his stay in Taiwan, Schneider was asked to speak at Dong Hwa University, an example of Taiwan's economic growth as one of its newest schools.

"It's a new university, not even six years old," Schneider said. "Their government is spending half a billion dollars on this school. They're going to make it a hi-tech school and dedicate it to hi-tech scientific research."

Schneider expressed his hopes that the political tension in Taiwan doesn't affect Norwich's relationship with the Chinese Military Academy.

"No one wants to fight, but while I was over there the mood was one of guarded optimism," Schneider said. "(The politicians of Taiwan) say that they are one China, two systems."

The new President Elect of Taiwan, Chen Shui-bian, was elected on a platform of separation from China, but he is currently reconsidering what his official position is.

A Brief History of Taiwan

Pre 1600's: Settlers from Malay-Polynesia arrive.

1624-1662: The Dutch East Indies Company occupies Taiwan for trade and expansion purposes.

Pre 1600's-mid 1800's: Settlers from main-land China escaping from Imperial rule and wars flee to Taiwan. Dutch traders also bring main land Chinese to Taiwan as laborers in their sugar and rice fields.

1887: The Manchu Dynasty Emperor declares Taiwan as a "province" of China. This order was given to outmaneuver Japan who was also expanding its empire.

1895: Japan defeats Chinese forces in the Sino-Japanese war. Taiwan is ceded to Japan in "perpetuity." (for all time)

1943: At the Cairo Conference the Allied Forces decide that Taiwan should be "returned" to China.

1945: After World War II ends the Allied powers agree that China's Nationalist Forces, under Chiang Kai-shek, "should temporarily occupy Taiwan, on behalf of the Allied Forces."

1952: The Allied Forces and Japan formally conclude World War II in the San Francisco Peace Treaty. In this treaty it states, "the future of Taiwan will be decided in accord with the purposes and principles of the charter of the United Nations."

1972: The Shanghai Communiqu�, a series of messages is transmitted between Chinese authorities in Peking and Henry Kissinger in Washington D.C. In these messages Kissinger formally acknowledges, "There is but one China, and that Taiwan is a part of China."

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