The two sides of the Taiwan Strait appear to have worked out their differences and reached a consensus on the cross-strait chartered flights for the Lunar New Year. This all takes place against the backdrop of the race between the opposition and ruling political parties trying to claim credit and to flirt with Beijing, as well as China's full blown campaign of unification propaganda.
The chartered flights have seemingly become a reality. In view of the guiding principles proposed by the two sides in dealing with the chartered flights, the flights are apparently exceeding the simple purpose of servicing the Taiwanese businesspeople traveling home for the Lunar New Year holiday. They have become a form of cross-strait direct links, with significant negative impacts on the economy, national security and safety.
The surprising things is this -- the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) smuggled this form of cross-strait direct links through legal loopholes without any authorization, followed by the Mainland Affairs Council's (MAC) confused support. All these made possible this trial run for cross-strait direct links.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) -- which typically applauds Taiwan consciousness and localization -- has not only failed to scrutinize the cause of its failure to obtain a legislative majority in last month's elections, but has also backed down from its stance on cross-strait policy in order to ease tensions.
In order to make possible the chartered flights for the Lunar New Year, the DPP has caved in to the demands of the other side and no longer insists on the principles that negotiations can only take place on a government-to-government level and from equal and independent sovereign status -- totally disregarding the dignity, integrity and safety of Taiwan in the process. Such practices of the DPP government are truly unacceptable and must be condemned. The cross-strait chartered flights this year will be totally different from those in 2003, which were based on the principle that the flights must be "one way [from Taipei to Shanghai only], indirect and interrupted by transit stops."
The restricted opening up of cross-strait links was indeed purely for the purpose of helping Taiwanese businesspeople in China. However, China has always been good at the art of negotiation and at making breakthroughs on issues one by one and one after another. The chartered flights in 2003 created a precedent and was a breakthrough that allowed China to then push for cross-strait direct links.
For the Lunar New Year flights, China is asking a lot. It wants"mutual participation, two-way direct flights, passenger boarding on both sides and multiple flight departure points." It has asked that Taiwan open up multiple airports for the flights, and also that the flights be open to anyone who holds "Taiwan compatriot travel document" issued by the Chinese government. If China gets its way, in the future we will frequently see Chinese aircraft traveling between major airports of Taiwan and China. The picture will most certainly create the illusion of cross-strait direct links in the mind of the international community. With this kind of close exchange, why should the international community worry about Taiwan's safety anymore?
To Taiwan, now that traveling across the Strait will be so convenient for Taiwanese businesspeople in this case, there may be demands for a similar convenience on all other holidays. Psychologically, the people of Taiwan may grow accustomed to this kind of exchange and forget completely about the more than 600 Chinese missiles targeting Taiwan. Under the circumstances, can Taiwan withstand the pressure and the temptation of formal cross-strait direct links anymore?
Some people believe that once the cross-strait direct links are implemented, more Chinese tourists will come to Taiwan, bringing business opportunities for the tourism and service industries of Taiwan. However, the experience of Hong Kong tells us that after the implementation of direct links, much more will be flowing from Taiwan rather than to Taiwan -- both in terms of investment and tourism. In other words, cross-strait direct links are not only incapable of slowing down the tipping of the scale toward China, it will in fact speed up and increase Taiwan's reliance on China. Direct links will only place Taiwan in a predicament worse than that of Hong Kong and will marginalize it even more.
After the DPP came to power, it wanted to revive the economy, but it did not know how. It failed to give top priority to rewarding businesses with deep roots in Taiwan. Instead, it adopted the so-called "active opening up" policy for cross-strait trade, deepening Taiwan's dependence on China by the day. Now, without remedying the situation, the DPP government went on to speed up cross-strait exchanges through direct links. This is a highly risky and bold move, which can only be described as unwise.
From the standpoint of national security, illegal Chinese immigrants are seeking entry into Taiwan through various channels: as spouses in bogus marriages, as dependents of Taiwanese citizens and as stowaways. Once they enter Taiwan, they often become participants in various crimes or otherwise work illegally in Taiwan. The DPP government already has its hands full with a worsening crime situation. How can it then open up the gates at the airport to the very source of so many problems?
From a legal standpoint, the chartered flights for the Lunar New Year have become a model for direct links, which violate the relevant laws and regulations that govern the cross-strait relationship. Article 28 and 29 of the Statute Governing the Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (台灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例) stipulate that Republic of China aircrafts, vessels, and other modes of transportation may not enter China without the permission of the relevant government entities, and the same is true for Chinese transport to Taiwan. Article 95 further stipulates that cross-strait direct links require the approval of the Legislative Yuan.
In other words, the current negotiations between the DPP government and Beijing for Lunar New Year chartered flights not only disregard the economic interests, national security and social safety of Taiwan, but also turn a blind eye to the interests and welfare of the people of Taiwan. It also violates the relevant laws and statutes governing cross-strait relations. Under the circumstances, we must call on the DPP government to stop what it is doing while it still can.
Otherwise, once the exception is made, permanent direct links will surely follow. Taiwan's interests will be jeopardized. This is not to mention that as a popularly-elected government, it must also think about how it will have to explain its conduct to voters.
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