Mon, Jun 25, 2001 page8

• A laughable excuse for a summit

  • By Paul Lin 林保華
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  The leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan met in Shanghai earlier this month to set up the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization" (SCO, 上海合作組織). They signed a declaration on the establishment of the SCO and the "Shanghai Convention on Comba-ting Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism."

  One can't help feeling that the three platforms of this convention are rather ludicrous. With regard to separatism, all of the participating nations, with the exception of China, are products of the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. If they want to oppose separatism, shouldn't they unite first? Or do they think that only they can practice separatism, but not other nations? As for terrorism and extremism, these are characteristics particular to communist nations that worship violence and totalitarianism. Especially for China, signing the convention was almost like a burglar crying "Thief!"

  There are surely reasons behind the union of these countries. Although five of them have been baptized by democratic politics (the exception is China), conceptually they can easily team up with each other since they were all countries reborn from communist states. For example, Russian President Vladimir Putin once worked in the KGB's foreign intelligence service, so he wants to restore the erstwhile "power" of the Soviet Union. These nations share the same strategic

  considerations: they all worry that the expansion of US influence might harm their interests, which explains why they are working closely together to established a regional organization for the purpose of countering the US.

  China and Russia obviously initiated this regional organization. The other four nations are simply following Russia's command. Another reason for Beijing and Moscow to join hands is that China is the largest export destination for Russian-made arms and tense China-US relations are conducive to Russian arms exports to China. Arms exports help ease Russia's economic problems. Furthermore, in exchange for these countries' alliance with China against the US, Beijing has signed border agreements with all of them, thereby acknowledging the unequal treaties signed in the 19th century, under which sizable territory was ceded to Russia.

  China might further expand this organization to replace the old-time "socialist camp" and the "Third World" in a bid to counterbalance Western nations led by the US. Since Russia once led the socialist camp and China believes it is the leader of the Third World, these two groups might unite under the leadership of China to rival the US.

  In stark contrast to the meeting in Shanghai was the third summit of the Americas, held in Quebec City, Canada, on April 20. The summit, which excluded Cuba, stressed free trade and claimed that only democratic nations can enjoy the benefits of free trade. US President George W. Bush said during the summit that they will work to create a completely democratic Western Hemisphere united by goodwill and trade.

  China is a totalitarian country eager to obtain the benefits of free trade, while maintaining a political dictatorship. As a result, the Chinese people have been unable to enjoy the benefits of free trade. Instead, most of the profits from free trade fall into the hands of a small privileged group. This group then uses their resources to reinforce suppression of the Chinese people, expand their influence and even bribe politicians from other nations and international organizations, harming the security and interests of the free world as a result.

  As China is strengthening its influence in the UN and other international organizations, as well as rallying some authoritarian nations to counter democratic nations, democratic nations need to cooperate more closely.

  For example, democratic countries could help poor nations solve economic problems as a mean to strengthen the latter's democracies. This would help keep these poor countries from being divided by China. China is gradually elbowing out US influence in some international organizations, as evident by the US' loss of its seat in the UN Human Rights Commission. Therefore, the US has to find a new way to expand its international influence. The US must develop regional economic organizations in response to China's increasing threats. Of course, such tasks cannot be achieved overnight.

  Taiwan has always had diplomatic ties with some Latin American nations. Therefore increasing Taiwan's participation in Latin American regional economic organizations was naturally a topic of discussion during President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) recent trip to the region. Efforts in this regard will become important elements of Taiwan's diplomacy.

  Due the fundamentally different concepts upon which regional organizations derives, rivalry between regional organizations inevitably emerged. The US has tried not to regard Russia as its enemy as it adjusts its global strategy. Should this strategy work, China will become the most isolated major player in the world. The cost to China of maintaining its corrupt authoritarian rule and ceding territory to neighbors will be high.

  Paul Lin is a political commentator currently based in New York.

  Translated by Jackie Lin
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