Letters to the editor

Give the Nationals their due

The Washington area has a major-league baseball team. Unfortunately, it is not being treated as our local team by our local paper, The Washington Times. On Sunday, the Sunday Sports Times front page was dedicated to the Wizards (very appropriate), the Kentucky Derby (understandable) and Dan Daly’s column. So, maybe Page 2 would cover the Nationals, but no, it was just busy stuff, followed by more stuff on Page 3. Page 4 had a story about a baseball book and a collectibles column. Page 5 had soccer and NASCAR coverage.

Because this is baseball season, I figured I would be getting close, and finally, on Page 6, came the scores, but for everyone, nothing special for the Nationals. Then, Page 7 was about the Yankees and Orioles (who?). Tucked back on Page 8 were the Nationals, with the National and American League Roundup. Well, at least it was not on Page 16 with the weather and golf, but then at least it would have had back-page billing.

I am sorry; this is not supporting the home team. The Washington Times should place the home-team scores on the Sports front page and give our local team the coverage it deserves from a local paper. We may be third in the National League East, but the team should be first at home.

GEORGE DURGIN

Lanham

Beijing sows division on Taiwan

As described in “Panda Diplomacy” (Commentary, Sunday), China’s red-carpet treatment of the leaders of Taiwan’s two opposition parties improves the atmosphere of cross-strait relations in the aftermath of China’s passage of the “anti-secession law” in March. However, because China has not changed any of the substance of its policy toward Taiwan and it continues to refuse to deal directly with Taiwan’s duly elected president. Beijing’s new diplomacy must be seen as an exercise in forming a “united front” — allying with the lesser enemy in attacking the main enemy — or in “divide and conquer.”

It is regrettable that Taiwan’s politicians failed to reach a broad consensus before engaging China. In so doing prematurely, they unwittingly helped relieve the pressure Beijing faced for its bellicosity while deepening the chasm in the Taiwanese society.

VINCENT WEI-CHENG WANG

Richmond

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