We, all of us, are overly thymotic

To be honest, Ma's state visits to Central America are thymotic, like Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly as an observer under the name of Chinese Taipei. Taiwan's desire to join the WHA — and the United Nations and its affiliated organizations, for that matter — is a symptom of our collective thymos syndrome. We want, rightfully, to be recognized throughout the world as the Republic of China or Taiwan, if at all possible, or Chinese Taipei, if so required.

As a matter of fact, President Ma didn't have to go all the way to San Salvador to attend Funes' inauguration. President Chiang Ching-kuo never even tried to attend any presidential inaugurations of Taiwan's diplomatic allies. Chiang would send a special envoy to extend congratulations on his behalf, but he didn't lose any of our diplomatic friends in Central America.

Ma is following former President Chen Shui-bian's example. Chen was a frequent visitor to Southern Pacific, African and Central American capitals to win more lebensraum in the world community for Taiwan, which he calls its international space. He spent billions of dollars for his unfamiliar and erratic diplomatic sallies; and the net result was the loss of a diplomatic ally, Costa Rica. Unlike Chen, Ma wants a diplomatic truce with the People's Republic of China. If he really needs it, he had better give up any idea of costly overseas travel to satisfy the thymotic ego of the Republic of China on Taiwan.

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