Carefully handle 'track two' efforts

I suggest the following guidelines to help ensure that the track two process advances, rather than hinders, Taiwan's interests:

Do not negotiate. Track two diplomacy is a useful way to carry messages, discuss ideas and encourage respect for the interests of each party. But the track two process has no authority to negotiate. Any useful agreement needs to be enforceable. Only governments can do that.

Do not announce new policy. To protect the president from having his words used against him in the media or other public debate, the president should refrain from announcing any new policy during track two meetings. This will help the administration explain its position in the event that competing interpretations emerge over the contents of a particular meeting.

Do not circumvent normal government functions. The track two process should never interfere with the normal functions of government. Neither should it be used to serve functions that the government is capable of doing itself. Cabinet officials must be involved in the policymaking process, not just the damage control process. It is up to the president to ensure that track two diplomacy does not disrupt consultation, decision-making, and implementation of government policy.

The controversy surrounding Chen's recent meeting with representatives of the Asia Foundation demonstrates the risks involved in an undisciplined approach to track two diplomacy. The president chose to make news in a meeting with foreigners, apparently leaving much of his government scrambling to contain the public fallout of the announcement after the fact. His interests would have been better served by having government consultations and MAC Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen's (蔡英文) news conference prior to the Asia Foundation meeting.

The track two process has a lot of potential benefits, if it is managed well. Track two meetings help educate academic and political elites in the US about the realities of Taiwan's political progress, economic modernization, and strategic vulnerability. Such meetings also help Taiwan expand its network of strategic relations with those who influence policy in Washington, including potential future policymakers. When done right, track two meetings should encourage greater respect for Taiwan's interests and produce an atmosphere conducive to resumption of track one talks. These are worthy objectives, but they require discipline and coordination from the top in order to succeed.

Stephen J. Yates is a senior policy analyst at The Heritage Foundation in Washington.