With great interest I read the article “Turnabout
in Taipei” (September Seapower) with its detailed, accurate analyses.
However, I think that the following underlying reasons for the turnabout
were overlooked:
- I
don’t think that anyone should worry about China’s
military build up. It has almost the same size as that of [the
United States], yet its annual defense spending is less than 10
percent of this country’s.
If Taiwan does not declare independence, China will never use force.
- Chinese President Hu Jintao announced at the U.N., and stressed
during talks with President Bush in New York [in September], that
China is for peace, development and cooperation. Hosting the six-country
meetings on North Korea’s nuclear impasse in 2004, China
showed its efforts to achieve these goals by actions.
- Taiwan
cannot compete with China on military spending, especially when
China’s economic
growth continues. According to a recent newspaper article in Taiwan,
every Taiwanese bears a [share of the] national debt [equal to] $7,000.
- Why not to use the money from the “Special Budget” to
reduce this national debt, to narrow the gap between the rich and
the poor, or for other meaningful purposes?
Besides, Taiwan is not relying on [the United States] for its security,
because as long as Taiwan does not declare independence, China will never
invade or unify with it by force.
- The
United States should not just adhere to the “One China” principle
and maintain, as the newspaper stated, the “status quo, virtually
forever.” Instead, it should promote peaceful unification
of the two parties. One country with different government systems
works well, just as in Hong Kong.
Stan Chang
Received via e-mail
Fundamental Navigation Skills Still the Key
The September Seapower article on electronic charting
for the Navy was very interesting to me. Even though I have been a
lifelong propulsion system engineer, I have a passion for navigation
and operations. The capability being touted in the article has, in
fact, been in broad deployment in the yachting world for years.
Using it (only electronic charts) my crew of three
(including me) successfully navigated my 46-foot yacht around the eastern
United States (the so-called Great Loop) in 2003/4. This trip included
an overnight transit well into the Atlantic and successful independent
pilotage through Mobile Bay, Hampton Roads, the Chesapeake and New
York Harbor, among many other places.
As someone who has come to rely upon this technology
in transits through many unfamiliar areas, I have a very serious admonition
for every navigator and commanding officer who gets this new technology
installed in their ship: “It is only a tool.” As good as
it is, and it is almost deceptively good, it is not a replacement for
good fundamental navigation skills.
Stow the sextant and leave your paper charts on the
pier, but do not get sucked in by the siren song of this great new
technology. It is not a video game; it is your ship — and it
still demands disciplined, precise navigation. Those who don’t
heed this warning will soon learn that the tragedy of a grounding is
not at all diminished by having improperly used electronic charts in
the approach to catastrophe.
Edward L. Bartlett Jr.
President, DRS Power Systems
Independence, OH
Nelson Introduced Flag Signals
I enjoyed your relation of [Royal Navy Adm. Horatio]
Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar (Historical Perspective, October
Seapower). Before Trafalgar ships communicated by “maneuvers.” One
ship would watch what the other one did, and take its cue as to what
to do.
At Trafalgar, Nelson introduced flag signals. The
English ships would “telegraph” orders, answers, etc.,
to each other before maneuvering, gaining precious time.
The enemy was left stunned, flat-footed and disconcerted.
The rest is history.
Ed McTrain
Houston, Texas
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