In his New Year speech, President Chen Shui-bian
Two different kinds of discourse exist in discussions concerning integration. One concerns integration as a process toward an eventual coming together of the two sides. This process involves designing a mechanism for integration and cultivating a consensus. Another discourse construes integration as a permanent state of existence. Federations and confederations are examples of political integration.
The integration process experienced by the EU can be characterized in accordance with both concepts. Under the first discourse, European integration is a process by which independent, or even mutually hostile states, team up with each other to create a supra-national organization. Free trade, a single market, joint agricultural policies, joint diplomatic and security policies and the current joint monetary policies have been among the steps of the integration process. During the process, intergovernmental institutions and supra-national organizations were established, facilitating further integration.
According to the second discourse, European countries moved from their earliest expectation of setting up a "Republic of Europe" to a definition of integration as "a very close union," leaving open the possibility of a federation. From the perspective of traditional political science, the EU is a political entity standing somewhere in between a "federation" and a "confederation." From the perspective of sociology, the EU equals the national and cultural assimilation of all European citizens, establishing an over-lapping identification with Europe, native country and local region. The union is symbolic of a future without war on European soil. All European citizens are essentially a community with a joint destiny and a shared life.
In view of the EU's experience, the two sides of the Taiwan Strait must address two issues: the issue of the nature of the two-sided entity and the establishment of integration mechanisms.
We should create a new "third principal entity"
"Integrated, yet divided, and divided, yet integrated" is another way of describing the preliminary phase of this interactive relationship. Under these circumstances, the two sides may cooperate on the premise of a genuine mutual trust. Accordingly, the rights and duties of this "third entity" will gradually increase, day by day, in the wake of both sides' progress in integration. In other words, as integration progresses, the "third entity" will gradually replace each side's individuality.
In terms of integration mechanisms, the two sides could set up cross-strait organizations to deal with a number of problems. At the outset, the ROC and the PRC should try to create joint bodies that are not highly political. For instance, they could establish a joint agricultural community to regulate bilateral exchanges and interaction after entry into the WTO. They could also set up a common community in the Strait for social safety to fight cross-strait smuggling and crime, and ensure social safety in Taiwan and China. They could even establish a joint South China Sea community, to jointly protect state sovereignty and natural resources. Above all, the establishment of these communities should entail participation by officials from both sides. Even more importantly, such an integration mechanism will facilitate a sense of belonging and identity on the part of the citizens of both sides, which would be sure to have a positive impact on the future prospects.
The concept of cross-strait integration is in essence compatible with the views of the PRC, the DPP and the opposition alliance in Taiwan. The establishment of a "third entity," for the PRC, ensures that the two sides are in the process of merging. With respect to the Chinese nationalism strongly emphasized by China, this is a strikingly important step. The move takes Taiwan's sovereignty into account as well. It will certainly bring forth positive interaction between the two sides.
For the DPP, the integration of the two sides not only preserves, but enhances, the individuality of Taiwan. Further, Taiwan's security and development may be safeguarded through the establishment of a cross-strait integration mechanism. Thus, we need not worry about Taiwan being "peacefully eroded."
Cross-strait integration seems to be a consensus among the opposition, namely, the KMT, PFP and New Party. The concepts, such as "China as a whole" or "cross-strait assimilation," insisted on by the People First Party are all elements of "cross-strait integration." More-over, the confederation model advocated by the KMT is also operational under the concepts of "China as a whole" or "the third entity," thus easing the PRC's suspicion about the confederation model.
Acknowledging the concept of cross-strait integration will help resolve the unification dispute brewing among parties and ethnic groups in Taiwan. The "third entity" is likely to meet the basic demands of both sides across the Strait. What's more, the operation of a "cross-strait mechanism" will foster the development and security of the two sides. I am glad that the Taiwan government is thinking along these lines already. How to realize integration, however, depends on whether Chinese in the ROC, the PRC and overseas make the necessary effort. It will be a blessing for both sides if integration can be accomplished in this way.
Chang Ya-chung is director of the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies at Nanhua University.
Translated by Gatian Wang
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