We need to strengthen our ability to monitor environmental changes in Taiwan and surrounding waters and work with friendly countries in drawing up a plan of action for the environmental security of island nations. We could facilitate technology transfers to friendly island countries and help them build up disaster response capabilities that are similar to our own. This would not just help our allies resolve practical problems, but would also establish a sense of belonging to a community with a common destiny and thus cement our friendship with our allies in a meaningful way.
In addition to seeking to join the UN Framework on Climate Change, the government should apply for membership in the AOSIS, making the alliance a platform for Taiwan to provide other island countries with technical assistance and expand its environmental diplomacy.
More than half the member countries of the AOSIS have at some time had diplomatic relations with Taiwan, and nine of them still do. Besides, participation in the AOSIS is not only open to sovereign states, and China does not qualify to join it, so China would find it hard to justify obstructing Taiwan’s membership.
After joining this multilateral alliance of mostly developing island countries, Taiwan could use its scientific, technological and economic strengths to raise the organization’s profile. Based on the AOSIS framework, Taiwan could join forces with fellow members and become a spokesman for small island countries on issues of environmental security and sustainable development, rather than being a pawn in the rivalry between different powers in the Asia-Pacific region.
Only if Taiwan’s geopolitical orientation and diplomatic strategy are adjusted can it overcome obstacles and succeed in its flexible diplomacy. The government would do well to take the opportunity of future visits by President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) to diplomatic partners in the South Pacific to propose a completely new model of environmental and economic assistance to other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
If, on the other hand, we cling to the attitudes of a continental country and ignore the plight of small island countries whose land is threatened, then the international status of Taiwan, which relies on diplomatic relations for its survival, will sink out of sight along with its small island allies.
Bernard Chou is an assistant professor at the Department of Political Science and Graduate Institute of Political Economy at National Cheng Kung University.
TRANSLATED BY JULIAN CLEGG
RSS