The shocking announcement in March that President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration applied for entry to China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) along with many European nations has been a point of endless excitement for Taiwan’s China-centric media. However, that is a blessing in disguise for Taiwan, and greatly beneficial to Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) trip to the US.
Over a month has already passed, and the effect of the AIIB shock is proliferating, and this is a good thing for Taiwan. The following is a list of some of the reasons:
First, the establishment of the AIIB is an embarrassing development for the US, and pushed US Congress committee chairs to introduce a bipartisan bill on April 16. If approved, the bill would grant US President Barack Obama fast-track authority to expedite the completion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
Second, on April 17, Obama stated that TPP negotiations need to be wrapped up quickly, otherwise China would swoop in to gain the upper hand and the US would fall into an unfavorable position for the long-term. Having a world leader make such an explicit statement aimed directly at China is quite unorthodox, and it shows the magnitude of the AIIB shock.
Third, on April 22, the US Senate Finance Committee went through a marathon debate before voting 20-6 in favor of the Trade Promotion Authority — the authority that grants the president fast-track authority on trade agreements. This bill was later blocked and is not to be included on the debate agenda, yet the intention of the government as a whole to push for the TPP has not been affected.
Fourth, on April 27, Obama warned his colleagues in the Democratic Party who were opposed to the TPP that if the US cannot quickly complete the negotiations, China would step into the resulting economic vacuum. This was the second time Obama directly mentioned China.
Fifth, on April 28, the White House welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as he arrived in the US for a high-level official visit. On April 29, Abe gave a special address in front of Congress, becoming the first Japanese leader in history to do so. Japan agreed to include collective self-defense in the newly revised US-Japanese mutual defense agreement, and it strengthened its role within the US-Japanese alliance, global tactical cooperation, missile defense systems and regional security in the East and South China seas. Obama also reaffirmed that the scope of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the US and Japan covers the Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台), known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan. Under their mutual defense agreement, the US and Japan are acting as the police of Asia with the obvious intent of deterring a potential Chinese threat.
Sixth, on May 4, after the meeting between Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), the US-based Associated Press (AP) insisted that Chu’s statement confirmed “eventual unification” between China and Taiwan. Despite KMT protest, AP refused to withdraw the report. The reason those in the international community can draw such conclusions is closely related to the Ma administration’s application to the AIIB, which was a major shift toward China and away from the US.
Seventh, on May 7, US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce made a statement about Taiwan to which US Secretary of State John Kerry replied in a written statement: “Taiwan is a key component of US Asia-Pacific policies, including the rebalance to Asia.” Kerry also said the US welcomes Taiwan to join the TPP, and that Taiwan is becoming increasingly dependent on China. Kerry was the second US political heavyweight after former US secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton to say that Taiwan is too economically dependent on China. The US has progressively realized that the Ma administration’s China-centric economic policy is not beneficial to maintaining the “status quo.” This is an encouraging development.
Observers on the outside can more clearly see how the situation is unfolding, and even Taiwan’s overseas allies are worried about its fate. Does Taiwan really want to continue pushing for the cross-strait service trade agreement, the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) and the AIIB in a rush toward a “one China” market?
The Ma administration’s reckless decision to move toward the Chinese camp lifts the veil on Ma’s professed move toward eventual unification with China, and has made US officials sit up and realize that economic integration and the so-called “1992 consensus” are real threats to maintaining the “status quo” and a peaceful Taiwan Strait.
The so-called “1992 consensus” refers to a tacit understanding between the KMT and the Chinese government that there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “China” means.
Huang Tien-lin is former president and chairman of First Commercial Bank and a former Presidential Office adviser.
Translated by Zane Kheir
Recently, China launched another diplomatic offensive against Taiwan, improperly linking its “one China principle” with UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 to constrain Taiwan’s diplomatic space. After Taiwan’s presidential election on Jan. 13, China persuaded Nauru to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Nauru cited Resolution 2758 in its declaration of the diplomatic break. Subsequently, during the WHO Executive Board meeting that month, Beijing rallied countries including Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Belarus, Egypt, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Laos, Russia, Syria and Pakistan to reiterate the “one China principle” in their statements, and assert that “Resolution 2758 has settled the status of Taiwan” to hinder Taiwan’s
The past few months have seen tremendous strides in India’s journey to develop a vibrant semiconductor and electronics ecosystem. The nation’s established prowess in information technology (IT) has earned it much-needed revenue and prestige across the globe. Now, through the convergence of engineering talent, supportive government policies, an expanding market and technologically adaptive entrepreneurship, India is striving to become part of global electronics and semiconductor supply chains. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vision of “Make in India” and “Design in India” has been the guiding force behind the government’s incentive schemes that span skilling, design, fabrication, assembly, testing and packaging, and
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s (李顯龍) decision to step down after 19 years and hand power to his deputy, Lawrence Wong (黃循財), on May 15 was expected — though, perhaps, not so soon. Most political analysts had been eyeing an end-of-year handover, to ensure more time for Wong to study and shadow the role, ahead of general elections that must be called by November next year. Wong — who is currently both deputy prime minister and minister of finance — would need a combination of fresh ideas, wisdom and experience as he writes the nation’s next chapter. The world that
As former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) wrapped up his visit to the People’s Republic of China, he received his share of attention. Certainly, the trip must be seen within the full context of Ma’s life, that is, his eight-year presidency, the Sunflower movement and his failed Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, as well as his eight years as Taipei mayor with its posturing, accusations of money laundering, and ups and downs. Through all that, basic questions stand out: “What drives Ma? What is his end game?” Having observed and commented on Ma for decades, it is all ironically reminiscent of former US president Harry