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Editorial: Breaking through the great wall

That China's government suffers from a serious case of split personality when it comes to Taiwan should come as no surprise. But that it can't even present a unified front when it comes to handling visits by government officials -- especially Cabinet ministers -- continues to be a source of amazement.

Minister of the Interior Chang Po-ya (張博雅) was accorded the honored-guest treatment -- with smooth passage through immigration without any checks -- when she arrived in Beijing on Monday for the APEC Women Leaders' Network meeting. She traveled on the basis of an official invite issued by Beijing a week ago that named her as minister on the invitation.

Minister of Education Ovid Tzeng (曾志朗), on the other hand -- who had been officially invited to attend the World University Games in Beijing -- was told he would have to apply for a "Taiwan compatriot travel document" instead of being able to travel on his ROC passport.

Minister of Economic Affairs Lin Hsin-yi (林信義) and Chen Po-chih (陳博志), chairman of the Council for Economic Planning and Development, struggled with similar problems earlier this year when traveling to China for APEC meetings. Both traveled on the basis of official invitations, although in Lin's case, neither his invitation, nor the official name badge he was given referred to his ministerial rank.

Perhaps the answer is China is more afraid of alienating women -- at least an international gathering of women. China received a massive amount of international criticism when Beijing was hosting the World Conference on Women in 1995, after it decided at the last minute to change the venue to a remote suburb. It apparently feared what the sight of hundreds of disparate people working together -- and in the case of accredited NGOs, rallying together -- might encourage among the Chinese populace. Moving the women's conference did succeed in isolating the delegations -- and outraging them. The brickbats Beijing received for its handling of the conference far outnumbered the praise -- resulting in a considerable loss of face.

So in this sense, Chang's smooth passage into China shouldn't come as a surprise. It also helped that China's foreign ministry was handling the paperwork for the APEC meeting.

However, the ultra-conservative State Physical Culture and Sports Commission, the organizer of China's sports events and the culprit behind Tzeng's visa woes, has never felt the need to be diplomatic. Even though its status is below the ministerial level, it's decision-making powers often override ministries and sometimes even the State Council. The Communist Party's highest apparatus -- the Politburo -- uses the commission as an integral part of the party's international propaganda machine and an important source of publicity for party officials on the international stage. The commission also does not have to follow diplomatic precedents in its handling of Tzeng's entry. It is free to make any arbitrary demands it wants.

There is a silver lining to Tzeng's case. It is a timely reminder of what is likely to be in store for Taiwan's officials and athletes at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games if the sports commission acts as the key decision-maker for that event. Taiwan needs to prepare for such possible harassment and attempts to belittle its international status.

And strangely enough, Taiwan's opposition parties have been conspicuously silent about the mistreatment of Tzeng. Once again, their actions -- or inactions in this case -- make them look more like defenders of the China across the Strait, rather than the ROC they supposedly represent. So Tzeng's case also serves as a reminder to the people of Taiwan of just how fragile their freedoms still are -- and how poorly served they are by so many of those they have chosen to represent them.
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