Editorial: Walking into China's trap

The issue of direct links has once again become the center of the cross-strait tussle. On the surface, the governments on both sides seem to be promoting new measures conducive to cross-strait trade. However, a closer look reveals complex political motivations behind Beijing's ostensibly innocuous moves. In fact, it shows a sugar-coated poison pill on offer from Beijing.

The Executive Yuan yesterday approved a plan to expand the functions and scope of Taiwan's offshore transshipment centers. The new measure will allow for the processing of raw materials and semi-finished goods from China. After bonded entry into Taiwan through the Kaohsiung harbor, Chinese goods will be processed at export-processing zones, bonded factories, industrial parks, bonded warehouses and distribution centers. The 35 percent added value ceiling for the processing businesses will also be abolished.

These are concrete measures by the Taiwan government to actualize the "active opening, effective management" policy proposed by the Economic Development Advisory Conference. It is also a move aimed at improving cross-strait relations. Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) yesterday said he hoped China will reciprocate by opening more of its ports for direct transshipping services and by lifting restrictions on cross-strait cargo transportation. Certainly, the measures approved yesterday are by no means extensive -- not enough to satisfy Taiwanese businesses asking for complete openness. They are nevertheless part of a phased plan to strike a balance between national security and business needs.

Meanwhile, Zhang Mingqing (張銘清), spokesperson at the Taiwan Affairs Office of China's State Council, said his country had agreed to allow Taiwanese civilian airplanes to fly over its airspace in the South China Sea en route to Southeast Asia. Zhang added that China also welcomes Taiwanese airlines to fly over Chinese airspace en route to Europe.

By Chinese airspace, Taiwanese airlines can avoid flying over warring Afghanistan, shorten their routes and save fuel. The use of Chinese airspace will save each Taiwanese airline an estimated NT$500 million annually, which will translate into savings of NT$3,000 per passenger in terms of ticket prices. Taiwanese airlines are now bending over backwards to take advantage of this.

But Beijing is dangling the offer of using its airspace to Taiwanese carriers over the head of the Taiwan government. Through its agent in Taiwan, ultra-unificationist lawmaker Elmer Feng (馮滬祥), China has sent the message that Taiwanese carriers should negotiate directly with its Civil Aviation General Administration. This ploy violates Taiwan law and threatens to set a precedent that undermines government authority here.

By its schemes over the head of the Taiwanese government, Beijing is trying to turn Taiwanese businesses and the public against their own government. And now Quislings like Feng are trying to use legislative pressure in the form of a threatened budget boycott, in pursuit of this aim. If the government agrees to let its civil airlines fly over Chinese airspace under the current circumstances, Taiwan's national security will be seriously compromised. If on the other hand the government does not agree, it will meet the wrath of Taiwanese businesses. In either scenario, Beijing emerges the winner, catching a big fish with a tiny piece of bait.

Taiwanese should understand the difficulties facing the government, especially in light of Chinese foreign minister Tang Jiaxuan's (唐家璇) thuggish treatment of the Taiwanese delegation at the APEC meetings in Shanghai. Local businesses should stand with their government and work to further develop Taiwan with patience, instead of selling out the country and its people for the sake of short-term interests.