For this reason, the "real" Reagan often cannot control himself, and expresses his feelings with anger. After 17, a U.S. journalist criticized the President in a television program as having reversed his position on the China issue. The President immediately phoned the reporter, telling him there was no such reversal and asking him to set the record straight in the next newscast. Such action was never taken by a president in the past, indicating how strongly he felt concerning this issue. On October 6, at a meeting with Republican Congressional candidates, one candidate asked why he had reversed his position toward the Republic of China; the President was so angered that he snapped at the Congressional candidate to "shut up." He declared:
"There has been no reversal on our Taiwan policy and our Taiwan friends are going to get everything they need for their own self-defense. At the same time, we're going to sincerely and honestly do our best to improve the relations with the 'People's Republic of China' on the mainland. But they know, and as a matter of fact, they know that they made concessions because we told them the law of this land is the Taiwan Relations Act and we're going to carry out that law. And if, the 'People's Republic' keeps their words they, for the first time, they said they would try to resolve their differences peacefully and arrive at a peaceful reunification. Yes .. Then there would be no longer any need for us to provide defensive weapons and there would be a decline and an end of the time, but only linked to that promise of a peaceful reunification. Without that and until that, we are going to continue to meet our responsibilities to our friend and ally on Taiwan .... That is the truth of the matter about Taiwan."
This is evidence that when Reagan handles the China issue in his capacity as President of the United States he entirely contravenes his personal intentions and position and, therefore, whoever criticizes him for changing his position toward the Republic of China will be met with angry refutations. In fact, there is indeed discrepancy and contradiction between Mr. Reagan and President Reagan in "their" handling of the China issue. Reagan is often vexed, but in his heart he is absolutely unwilling to let the Republic of China down. He even thinks that he should give moral support to the Republic of China, but when he assumes the Presidential position, his hands are bound. Therefore, he often looses his temper.
Reagan recently has been attacked from both the left and the right in the United States, and has even been branded as belonging to the left wing of the liberal faction. They attack Reagan's economic policy, while the right wing and the traditional conservative faction criticize Reagan as having reneged on his commitment and even as having violated U.S. law in issuing the joint communique that curtails the sale of weapons to Taiwan. Since Reagan is a man of principle and has often boasted of being faithful to his commitments, small wonder that he would depart from his sense of humor and set loose his temper amid the contradictions. His recent behavior was the mirrored image of the "real" Reagan. We hope his real features will be restored to him. -Editorial, "Independence Evening News," Taipei, October 8/Translated by S.C. Chen