In a recent meeting with a Taiwanese delegation comprising KMT and New Party legislators, Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen (
Basically, Qian's speech was strategically ambiguous, momentarily putting aside political disputes while seeking business exchanges. The so-called special domestic links, like Qian's loose definition of the one China principle, in which "both Taiwan and China belong to one state," -- clearly showed Chinese authorities' goodwill toward Taiwan.
In terms of substantive meaning, special domestic links is more than just a more flexible definition of the links designed to facilitate business exchanges. In fact, the definition is compatible with Beijing's consistent Taiwan policy. Article 43 of the Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China (
As China's assistant minister at the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (
Setting up the three direct links as special domestic links is consistent with the one China principle and the one country, two systems policy as well. In other words, Beijing is defining cross-strait trade issues in terms of the business relations between China and Hong Kong or Macao, which are both separate customs territories of China.
Facing China's new terminology regarding cross-strait business exchanges, Taiwan may be able to negotiate for the three direct links with China through Taiwanese industries and non-governmental organizations. Given the lack of consensus on the one China principle among the political parties in Taiwan, however, China's definition of special domestic links would probably stir up more arguments about whether the two sides of the strait belong to one country.
The domestic demand for the three links is growing by the day, and China and Taiwan are expected to enter the WTO soon. Taiwan must comprehensively and immediately evaluate Beijing's suggestion of opening up the three links as special domestic links, and reach a consensus on the appropriate way to respond.
Tsai Horng-ming is the executive secretary of the Chinese National Federation of Industries.
Translated by Eddy Chang
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