Beijing is fully aware that Ma is eager to build a track record of cross-strait achievements as the basis for a re-election bid in 2012. Based on the six points that Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) proposed on Dec. 31, 2008, Beijing thus uses the “one China” principle and reunification to set the tone for cooperation with the Ma government to promote the following objectives: Ending political confrontation between the two sides; signing a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement; establishing military confidence-building mechanisms; and allowing Taiwan to participate in events by international organizations, so long as such activities do not create “two Chinas” or a “one China, one Taiwan” scenario.
As a result, Taiwan has gained observer status for two straight years in the World Health Assembly pending Beijing’s approval, which virtually amounts to an annual review system.
Under his “China first” policy, Ma has constantly played down Taiwan’s sovereignty, a term he used to repeat like a mantra during his election campaign. By remaining mum on China’s military expansion, human rights violations in Tibet, the suppression of press freedom and Beijing’s international propaganda campaign which claims that “Taiwan is a part of China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Ma has reinforced the impression in international public opinion that the two sides of the Strait are marching down the road to unification.
He has not kept his “6-3-3” election pledge, putting the blame entirely on the worsening global economic environment and even once stated that his plan would only be implemented by 2016. The image of the Ma government suffered in the aftermath of Typhoon Morakot in August last year, as well as subsequently relaxing a ban on US beef imports despite public protests.
Ma’s “two lost years” illustrates a dilemma: How can a president with approval ratings of less than 30 percent and such low levels of trust afford to overlook the public’s will or just go through the motions of listening to the people while persistently promoting an ECFA that largely lacks popular support and is politically highly sensitive?
So, President Ma, before offering the Taiwanese people another illusion of “10 golden years,” please tell us why you messed up in your first “two lost years.”
Liu Shih-chung is a senior research fellow at the Taiwan Brain Trust in Taipei.
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