Goodwill won't prevail
The recent dispute between Taiwan and Japan over the Diaoyutai islands has clearly taught us a lesson: When it comes to national security, goodwill never counts and a nation’s soft power should be accompanied by hard strength, especially military power.
Yet, many people seem to believe that things between Taiwan and China will be different. It is goodwill that dominates the thinking of policymakers and opinion leaders in Taipei.
As a result, we are going to open literally all of the major airports to Chinese aircraft and the Ministry of National Defense no longer sees the opening of direct cross-strait flight routes as a threat to national security.
And, an offshore county leader even asked the government to withdraw all troops stationed in his hometown. In such an atmosphere, our ordinary citizens are talking eagerly about the positive side of the cross-strait engagement and have high expectations for the economic benefits that they hope will improve their livelihoods. Apparently, goodwill is the mainstream thinking.
In a couple of days, people in Taiwan will witness the first ever direct cross-strait charter flights and the arrival of “authentic” Chinese tourists.
When cross-strait exchanges shift into top gear, however, any unexpected event or even conflict could occur.
As Taiwan is boldly adjusting its strategic thinking, relying on goodwill from both sides — or more precisely, goodwill from the other side for national survival, we have to remember that goodwill might sour, and when things go wrong, we have to be prepared, including militarily.
Johnway Chen
Taipei
Diaoyutais similar to Taiwan
The Diaoyutais and Taiwan are very similar in name, fate and history.
“Diaoyutai” and “Taiwan” have the common syllable “tai” (meaning “terrace”) in their names. The former means “fishing terrace” and the latter “terrace bay.” The names suggest the close relationship between the two — like brother and sister.
The Diaoyutais have a Japanese name “Senkaku” (meaning “sharp pavilion”). Taiwan also has another name, the “Republic of China” (ROC). Having two incompatible names of different backgrounds for an island, large or small, is the cause of disputes. The Diaoyutais are claimed by Taiwan, Japan and China. Taiwan is claimed by Taiwan and China, controlled by Taiwan but threatened by China — militarily, politically, diplomatically and economically.
Neither the Diaoyutais nor Taiwan were issues before 1945, when both were under Japanese rule. The key question for the Diaoyutais is whether they were a part of Taiwan or Okinawa under Japanese rule. If they were a part of Taiwan, they should belong to Taiwan now. If they were a part of Okinawa, they should belong to Japan. On the other hand, Taiwan was given up by Japan in the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty without specifying a beneficiary – neither the ROC nor the People’s Republic of China. Taiwan should belong to the people of Taiwan after six decades, including two decades of democracy.
It might be premature for President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) to talk about maintaining sovereignty over the Diaoyutais while Japan effectively controls them. But it is opportune for Ma to declare Taiwan’s own sovereignty before China comes to Taiwan.
Charles Hong
Columbus, Ohio
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