The situation across the Taiwan Strait is quite unusual in that the two sides are hostile on the military front but economic interaction between them is on the rise.
China has deployed 496 ballistic missiles that are aimed at Taiwan while 25 percent of Taiwan's exports go to China. Relations between the two sides are also quite unique in that they are both domestic and international at the same time. This quaintness leaves one not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
In Taiwan's presidential election campaign, both the pan-blue and pan-green camps have expanded their campaigns to overseas.
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT)-People First Party (PFP) alliance has set up a campaign headquarters in Shanghai to canvass for votes from Taiwanese business communities in China. This has drawn criticism from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Setting up a campaign office in China is like campaigning in North Korea during a South Korean presidential election. Should the campaigners follow the rules set by the North Korean government, or should they follow South Korea's democratic system? Could North Korea discriminate against a South Korean candidate it dislikes? If the number of votes in North Korean territory reached a level that could change the election results, would South Korea have its president chosen by North Korea?
These are merely hypothetical questions, because the two Koreas do not allow free exchanges. However, the scenario suggests a real, difficult issue for Taiwan, involving political freedoms and national security.
The Chinese government does not allow campaign groups on the national level. In China, even establishing a village committee is subject to layers of restrictions. The campaigning activities that the KMT-PFP camp is engaging in violate many Chinese regulations, but Beijing has turned a blind eye to and even secretly encouraged such activities.
China is covertly supporting Lien Chan (連戰) and James Soong (宋楚瑜). No wonder Lien and Soong have been described as candidates nominated by the KMT, the PFP and the CPC (Communist Party of China).
The presidential election is a battlefield in China's "united front" strategy. China has been criticizing President Chen Shui-bian (
Lien and Soong now owe Beijing a huge favor. How do they plan to repay it? If they win the election, will they repay Beijing at the expense of the people?
Businesses that are engaging in political activities in China have violated the laws there. At the moment, their activities are condoned by the CPC -- but if they ever have a falling-out with the CPC, their "crimes" will be used against them.
Taiwanese businesspeople are 100 percent Taiwanese citizens even if they are in China. They enjoy the right to vote as well as many other freedoms, but they are doing business in an area whose government is hostile to Taiwan. Their assets and personal security are all under China's control. In this sense they are China's hostages.
Because the personal and corporate interests of Taiwanese businesspeople in China are in conflict with this country's overall interests, Taiwan should stand firm on the principle articulated by Chen in last Friday's TV interview: overall interests come before any individual's interests.
As for the question of how to handle the political rights of businesspeople, the government should enact legislation to regulate political activities by Taiwanese people in China.
If China is allowed a hand in presidential elections here, the president will be no different from Hong Kong's chief executive.
Recently, China launched another diplomatic offensive against Taiwan, improperly linking its “one China principle” with UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 to constrain Taiwan’s diplomatic space. After Taiwan’s presidential election on Jan. 13, China persuaded Nauru to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Nauru cited Resolution 2758 in its declaration of the diplomatic break. Subsequently, during the WHO Executive Board meeting that month, Beijing rallied countries including Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Belarus, Egypt, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Laos, Russia, Syria and Pakistan to reiterate the “one China principle” in their statements, and assert that “Resolution 2758 has settled the status of Taiwan” to hinder Taiwan’s
The past few months have seen tremendous strides in India’s journey to develop a vibrant semiconductor and electronics ecosystem. The nation’s established prowess in information technology (IT) has earned it much-needed revenue and prestige across the globe. Now, through the convergence of engineering talent, supportive government policies, an expanding market and technologically adaptive entrepreneurship, India is striving to become part of global electronics and semiconductor supply chains. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vision of “Make in India” and “Design in India” has been the guiding force behind the government’s incentive schemes that span skilling, design, fabrication, assembly, testing and packaging, and
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s (李顯龍) decision to step down after 19 years and hand power to his deputy, Lawrence Wong (黃循財), on May 15 was expected — though, perhaps, not so soon. Most political analysts had been eyeing an end-of-year handover, to ensure more time for Wong to study and shadow the role, ahead of general elections that must be called by November next year. Wong — who is currently both deputy prime minister and minister of finance — would need a combination of fresh ideas, wisdom and experience as he writes the nation’s next chapter. The world that
As former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) wrapped up his visit to the People’s Republic of China, he received his share of attention. Certainly, the trip must be seen within the full context of Ma’s life, that is, his eight-year presidency, the Sunflower movement and his failed Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, as well as his eight years as Taipei mayor with its posturing, accusations of money laundering, and ups and downs. Through all that, basic questions stand out: “What drives Ma? What is his end game?” Having observed and commented on Ma for decades, it is all ironically reminiscent of former US president Harry