Beijing’s goal is to expedite unification through economic means. Chinese tourists visiting Taiwan, along with other trade and business exchanges are aimed at connecting Taiwan and China economically.
Once that connection has been made, Taiwanese capital will flow into China and it will end up like Hong Kong, where the economy is controlled by Beijing.
Chinese academic Hu Angang (胡鞍鋼) once said that Taiwan needs China like a diabetic needs insulin and that it would cease to exist within seven days if China imposed economic sanctions.
If an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) is signed, it wouldn’t even take seven days to bring Taiwan to its knees: China would have only to turn off Taiwan’s economic resources and we would be in peril.
With the power to manipulate its economy in the hands of another country, the death of Taiwan as a nation is all but certain.
The economy is the focus of China’s “Taiwan-related efforts,” but in addition to tourism and trade, Beijing is pursuing its agenda through the media, religion, education and culture. Even an upcoming forum on Hakka affairs is not immune. Yet the Ma administration continues to open up to China.
Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) made a six-point proposal three months ago which, in addition to emphasizing the “one China” principle, included a desire to cooperate with the Democratic Progressive Party and Taiwan’s military.
Recent reports have also said that China may invite former vice president Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) to visit and that China had proposed cross-strait military confidence-building mechanisms. These are all clear examples of the speed at which China is carrying out its Taiwan agenda.
China’s strategy for dealing with Taiwan has remained unchanged for many years: It is a policy of swallowing Taiwan whole. Although it has not renounced the use of force against Taiwan, it deems the risks too high and instead talks of “peaceful unification” and “one country, two systems.”
Although its goal remains unchanged, its methods and rhetoric are being applied in increasingly flexible ways. Faced with an aggressive enemy that is closing in day by day, the Ma administration has chosen to surrender the economy, belittle Taiwan diplomatically and downsize the military.
By kowtowing to Beijing, Taiwan is quickly falling into its trap and will not be able to extricate itself. This is why the proposed ECFA has caused a public outcry and why 58 percent of respondents in a recent opinion poll said they were dissatisfied with Ma’s performance, calling him incapable of governing.
People who care about Taiwan’s survival should unite and take action to prevent the ECFA from becoming reality, oppose China’s united front strategy and abandon the president.
TRANSLATED BY DREW CAMERON
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