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Editorial: It's stupid to buy diplomatic ties

Today President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) embarks on his first overseas visit since being inaugurated. Chen has described his 13-day-long trip to six countries on two continents as a "Herculean journey"(萬里苦行). In view of the traveling itinerary and the events leading up to the trip, the trip is very different from ex-president Lee Teng-hui's (李登輝) trips both in motive and in nature.

Basking in the glory of being the first popularly-elected president, Lee visited Southeast Asia, South Africa, Cornell University and South America. Backed by Taiwan's economic and democratic accomplishments, Lee actively explored the diplomatic frontier and business investment opportunities. Although, in hindsight, these endeavors had very little to do with the fate of Taiwanese investments overseas, they boosted the moral of the people of Taiwan, while raising Taiwan's international visibility.

In the light of criticism about the timing and necessity of Chen's visit, Chen has explained that the the trip is to reciprocate the courtesy of foreign governments in sending delegations to his inauguration, as well as securing diplomatic ties. Actually, from the unstable nature of Taiwan's diplomatic ties with Panama to China's invitation to eight African countries maintaining diplomatic ties with Taiwan to join a cooperative forum, all the indications point to a major shake up in Taiwan's foreign relations.

If we do not counterattack, a domino effect will surely follow and Taiwan will lose all its foreign allies. Chen can hardly sit idly by and watch such a diplomatic crisis takes place. Therefore, he has to play his ace card to stabilize the situation. This is what makes the trip a "Herculean journey," the tough task of salvaging Taiwan's foreign ties.

Before Chen's visit, the foreign minister of Nicaragua reminded Taiwan to carry out its pledge to give US$100 million in aid, triggering heated reaction in Taiwan over "money diplomacy." The event has made Chen's difficult task all the more tricky. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs repeatedly clarified that the president's trip does not involve any plans to give new foreign aid, easing resentment about the foreign aid budget at a time when the domestic budget is tight.

Nevertheless, advanced countries see the donation of economic or humanitarian aid toward undeveloped countries as an international obligation. The US$200 million in foreign aid Taiwan contributes is about 0.07 percent of its GNP, way below the 0.24 percent that is the OECD average. Given its economic prowess, Taiwan really hasn't done as much as it should.

Also, of course, China is relentlessly squeezing Taiwan's room for diplomatic maneuver. The tactic deployed by China is what may be called "big-spender diplomacy (凱子外交)." Ambassador-at-large Loh I-cheng (陸以正) revealed that in 1965 China spent US$500 million to build a railroad for Tanzania. After its completion, very few people use this railroad which depends almost entirely on several hundred Chinese technicians for its maintenance. Now the railroad is on the verge of collapse. This is a classical example of "money diplomacy" under which aid is extended for the sake of it without any regard for reality. Given such spendthrift diplomatic competition from China, Taiwan's foreign aid pails in comparison.

Under escalating threats from China, Chen's trip is actually a response to a provocation of war. In the diplomatic tug-of-war across the Taiwan Strait, many valuable resources have been wasted. A number of countries have also exploited cross-strait competition, inviting bids from both sides and treating the two sides as "big spenders." This buying of diplomatic ties and the auctioning that has now become a feature are simply foolish. If only the two sides could agree to a cease-fire, and apply these resources to domestic development, just imagine the kind of benefits their people would enjoy.
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