The leaders of China and Taiwan gave New Year's speeches touching on the cross-strait relationship. In his speech, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) restated that Taiwan, on the premise of the need for harmony, cooperation and peace, would not renege on promises made on the basis of the "Five No's" policy. In China, Hu Jintao (胡錦濤), the newly elected secretary-general of the Chinese Communist Party, gave a speech at the New Year's tea party of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, in which he restated his adherence to the basic guidelines of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems."
Chen's was much the softer of the two speeches. It contained an expectation of goodwill from China and also outlined his own promises. Hu's speech, on the other hand, was yet another attempt at forcing Taiwan to accept unification on China's terms. It also carried a note of unfriendliness towards "splittist" Taiwanese independence activities.
If Beijing persists in this kind of high-handed, bullying attitude, it will be very difficult to see how there could be any real improvements to the cross-strait relationship. But Hu has just taken up his post, and President Jiang Zemin (江澤民) is standing next to him, armed with a gun. It is understandable that Hu would handle the cross-strait relationship in accordance with Jiang's rigid thinking. Let's just hope that in the end he will be able to free himself from Jiang's shackles and follow his own convictions.
As for goodwill and sincerity, Chen probably didn't want to spoil the festive atmosphere of New Year's Eve, so he refrained from criticizing China for its recent acts of ill will and insincerity. If Hu is serious about improving the cross-strait relationship through goodwill and sincerity, here are a few suggestions for his reference.
First, respect Taiwan's sovereignty. Adopt an attitude of reconciliation and equality, instead of being arrogant or pretending to be generous. Such behavior will only be met with disgust and denunciations from the people of Taiwan, because it is unacceptable to anyone with a sense of dignity.
Second, lift restrictions on information regarding Taiwan. Let the Chinese people know what the people of Taiwan really think and what the situation in Taiwan really is, in much the same way that the people of Taiwan can go through a range of channels to learn about China. The blocking of news from Taiwan is a hostile action toward Taiwan. That being the case, how can there be any talk of goodwill and sincerity?
Third, stop blocking Taiwan's room for action in the diplomatic arena. US media have recently published reports that Beijing has made large investments in Panama, one of Taiwan's diplomatic allies, in an attempt to squeeze out Taipei.
Fourth, remove the missiles aimed at Taiwan, and retract the threat of armed force against Taiwan. This must be done unconditionally, because these policies were implemented after Jiang came to power, and represent the true face of Jiang's "Eight Points."
China has been waging its war of unification on Taiwan for many years. It has been an ever-changing war, changing between ferocious pressure, smiling welcomes and the firing of missiles. If Beijing does not mend its ways and change its fundamentally criminal approach, the people of Taiwan will not put any stock in its sweet talk, and China will find it difficult to complete its integration into the international community. If, however, China is to reform itself, it will still be quite some time before Chen's express goal of "goodwill and reconciliation, active cooperation and everlasting peace" across the Taiwan Strait can be realized.
Paul Lin is a political commentator based in New York.
Translated by Perry Svensson
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