China's reforms foster freedom

TAIPEI -- World events look very different from this bustling, traffic-jammed capital of an Asian tiger, a prosperous island nation of 25 million people -- one of the great success stories of post-war Asia.

First Taiwan's achievements are legion: 94% literacy; 87 500 per capita income; world-class manufacturing and exporting -- steel, shipbuilding, consumer electronics, plywood and textiles; and rapidly growing global investments using its substantial of foreign currency reserves. Second, the view from Taiwan is magnified by the growing presence of the Peoples Republic of (Communist) China. And for good reason: One out of every four human beings is Chinese; the PRC rides herd over the world