Sun, Apr 16, 2006 page8

• KMT fails to see China realistically

  • By The Northern, Central, Southern and Eastern Taiwan Societies
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  Due to former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Lien Chan's (連戰) push, the first "KMT-Chinese Communist Party (CCP) trade and economic forum" took place on Friday and yesterday in Beijing. Since the KMT is an opposition party, any conclusion reached at the talks has no binding force. The forum is destined to be another large "political pilgrimage," which highlights the KMT's "four noes and one without."

  First, the KMT has no defense against China. The forum's five major themes -- economy and trade, direct transportation links, tourism, agriculture and finance -- all echo Beijing's needs, purposely creating a favorable atmosphere for the complete opening of investments in China.

  The party ignores that such actions will increase China's attraction, leading to the rapid marginalization of Taiwan's economy. Not to mention that Hu Angang (胡安綱), a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, recently stated that since Taiwan's economy is greatly dependent on China, Beijing can impose economic sanctions on Taiwan at any time it chooses. With the enemy's threat still ringing in our ears, the KMT still fails to prepare its defenses.

  Second, the KMT has not analyzed the current business situation. The party claimed it was hosting the forum to find a way out for Taiwan's economy, to "boost the economy, save the poor," implying that China is the solution to Taiwan's economic downturn.

  But statistics show that Taiwanese business investments in China have exceeded 50 percent of GDP, which is higher than that of Japan (0.6 percent), South Korea (2 percent), and the US (0.3 percent). These investments also account for half of total foreign investment in China. Anyone who can think is able to see that excessive Taiwanese investment in China is the culprit behind industrial and capital outflows. China is not a way out for Taiwan, but a dead end.

  Third, the KMT is not taking a critical view of China. The party often boycotts the government and talks about the demise of Taiwan, but it praises China without reviewing actual conditions there. In the pursuit of economic growth, China has deprived laborers of their basic rights and oppressed justice, causing serious confrontations. The KMT pays no attention to this. Even the Beijing newspaper the China Youth Daily dared to report the truth: More than 70 percent of China's wealth (about US$960 billion) is in the hands of less than 0.02 percent of its population (about 230,000 people), illustrating the gap between rich and poor.

  Fourth, the KMT is irresponsible. The party is blind to China's crises, while bragging about its prosperity. It hides its Sinicization behind the excuse of globalization and promotes investing in China. It even accuses Taiwan of isolating itself from the world behind the "no haste, be patient" policy.

  However, excessive investments in China are precisely the cause of Taiwan's economic downturn, insufficient domestic investment and the fall in consumption and wealth, not to mention the economic criminals who invest money in China and abandon their debts in Taiwan. Such investments create wealth in China while causing suffering to the people of Taiwan. They indirectly help China achieve its goal of invading Taiwan. The KMT has failed to fulfill its responsibilities toward Taiwan.

  Fifth, the KMT lacks backbone. It loses all its integrity whenever it meets China. In Taiwan, its members vow to uphold the Republic of China (ROC), but whenever they meet Chinese officials, they remain silent, as if they had never pledged allegiance to the ROC's national flag.

  They only dare to undertake their irrational obstruction of the arms procurement plan, paralyzing Taiwan's national defenses, but say nothing about the 800 ballistic missiles China has aimed at this country and dare not demand that Beijing dismantle them. They talk about Taiwan in satirical tones, but their tongues become sweet and gentle when speaking about China. How can we expect this spineless party to "have its own interpretation" once Taiwan really accepts the "one China" principle?

  The KMT-CCP forum is a farce. We in the four Taiwan societies want to remind the public to face China's attempts to divide Taiwan and its "united front" strategy, which is aimed at confusing the international community. As for the Executive Yuan's planned conference on the sustainable development of Taiwan's economy, the four societies also want to remind the government that the solution to the nation's economic problems lies in improving the domestic investment environment, developing a knowledge-based economy and the upgrading its industry.

  As an island state, Taiwan can find business opportunities all over the world. It must not isolate itself in China. From a political or economic perspective, the opening of direct flights and transportation links at this stage is tantamount to digging our own grave. Those in power must think twice before they act.

  Translated by Eddy Chang
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