Column ignores reality of nuclear weapons, international politics

Baj Mukhopadhyay, in his column on U.S. espionage (Opinion, "James Bond Move Over," (April 13, 2001), asks rhetorically what "socially redeeming" purpose the U.S. surveillance of the South China Sea has to the United States, as if we are throwing hundreds of millions of dollars away on a pure voyeur's curiosity. This is, in fact, far from the truth. The United States, though not recognizing the state of Taiwan, has taken up the mantle of protecting this free, democratic state from authoritarian, communist China. China has repeatedly threatened to take this island, by force if necessary. U.S. surveillance of China's activities in the South China Sea is necessary so that we may be fully aware of what kind of military buildup China has in the area. With this information, we are not only better prepared for a surprise attack on Taiwan, but we also know how to better defend Taiwan from an attack and invasion in the future.


In fact, there is a debate in Washington right now over what type of military equipment to sell to Taiwan, but that debate would be pointless if the U.S. and Taiwan were not aware of what they were up against. Hence the purpose of legal U.S. surveillance of China's activities in International Waters, as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas. In addition, by better protecting Taiwan and by increasing the costs to China of an invasion of Taiwan, we increase the likelihood that China will resort to a more peaceful settlement of the conflict, which, correct me if I am wrong, does have a socially redeeming value.

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