Relations between Taiwan, the People’s Republic of China and the United States were the focus of a discussion Friday.

Ben Shoa, director of the Information Division for the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago, presenting his speech “Taiwan’s Changes as an Opportunity” to a crowd of 150.

“If we wish to see a true and vibrant democracy continue to thrive, if we wish to promote stability in the Taiwan Strait, if we wish to bring peace and prosperity to the Asian-Pacific region, then we must take the opportunity presented by Taiwan to demonstrate our shared commitment to freedom, democracy, human rights and prosperity,” he said.

Shoa said the threat of China using force against Taiwan is one of the four negative points in recent relations between the two countries.

China insisting Taiwan is its province, China working against Taiwan gaining room in the international community and China’s refusal to maintain a dialogue with Taiwan’s designated liaisons were named as the other problems in Taiwan’s relations with China.

However, Shoa identified increased trade and flow of people between Taiwan and China as improvements in relations, and the United States and Taiwan have created strong ties with each other.

“Even though the (People’s Republic of China) is 265 times larger in area and 58 times more in populace than Taiwan, total U.S.-Taiwan trade has been about 1.5 times greater than U.S.-China trade,” Shoa said.

Because of the United States’ strong economic ties with Taiwan, Shoa said he expects the United States to support Taiwan in case of a conflict.

Shoa paraphrased U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell as saying, “If we weaken relationships with allies and friends, we weaken ourselves.”

Even though China poses a threat to Taiwan, Shoa does not oppose the United States’ strengthening relations with China.

“We would be happy to see relations between the U.S. and the (People’s Republic of China) improve as well, but not at the expense of Taiwan.”

The focus of the discussion became the possibility of conflict between China and Taiwan and the possibility of the United States’ involvement.

Junior economics major Victoria Phan, who also works with the director of the Public Policy Institute, Ping Chen, asked Shoa about the United States sending military forces to aid Taiwan in attack from China.

Shoa answered, “We don’t want your boys to shed blood for us.”

Shoa went on to explain that Taiwan wants two things from the United States to protect Taiwan from China: weapons to defend Taiwan and spiritual and diplomatic support.

Phan said she doesn’t believe China will attack Taiwan.

“I really don’t think (China will attack) any time soon,” Phan said. “China knows that America will get involved and China doesn’t want to cross the U.S.”

After the speech Phan and Eliza Buczakowska, a sophomore marketing major, said they don’t want Taiwan to become part of China.

The discussion was organized by Eastern’s Public Policy Institute.