Since Monday, Taiwanese entering China are being issued with smart-card “compatriot” passes. China, of course, has ulterior motives in distributing this card, which was arbitrarily issued without any prior discussion with Taiwan.
The important questions regarding this matter are: What is the public opinion in Taiwan, and what responsibilities do the government and the opposition have? These are more important than the Chinese Communists’ antics.
Premier Mao Chi-kuo (毛治國) expressed two important points in the Legislative Yuan on Monday. First, he said he learned about the new passes only after reading about it in the press. Second, he said he was very dissatisfied with Beijing’s lack of communication.
The stance the premier expressed in the name of the government is probably shared by opposition leaders, so all that is left is the question of how to respond. It is exactly this aspect which is lacking in Taiwan’s political culture. As of yet, no politician has provided any remarkable insight into the matter.
As early as June, at the Straits Forum, Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Chairman Yu Zhengsheng (俞正聲) put out feelers about the Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents.
At the time, the government and the opposition each expressed their disapprovals and reservations on the matter.
Now, Taiwan’s attitude remains the same, but China simply pushed ahead. Taiwanese who need to go to China, whether for business, travel or study purposes or to visit relatives, have already applied for and received their cards. This fait accompli poses a challenge to both the current and the next administration.
The main problem with the new Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents is its political significance because it fills the same purpose as the Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao residents: It was implemented without waiting for informed consent, thus ignoring Taiwan’s government and declaring China’s sovereignty over its counterpart. This overturns the tables both of the cross-strait negotiations that were resumed in 2008, and the dialogue between the Mainland Affairs Council and China’s Taiwan Affairs Office that began last year. From a human rights perspective, the electronic card transmits a person’s location, violating privacy rights and possibly endangering Taiwan’s national security.
In addition to all the issues, Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) has consolidated his control over the party, the government and the military, and started to flex his muscles overseas. In November 2013, there was the unilateral declaration designating the East China Sea air defense identification zone, overlapping a part of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone. Then, in January, China announced the establishment of the M503 flight path along the central line dividing the Taiwan Strait. This not only poses an added flight safety risk, but also seriously shortens Taiwan’s air defense warning time. The successive unfriendly moves indicate that Beijing’s regional hostility and hegemonic attitude are on an upswing.
Prior to the distribution of electronic cards to Taiwanese, Beijing specifically communicated with Taiwanese business organizations in China. Compared with the previous paper compatriot pass, the new one is more appealing, because it is convenient and saves money. Thus there was almost no resistance to its implementation. After securing public support, China was more relaxed about deliberately bypassing the Taiwanese government, which shows how the authoritarian regime swings between dominance and compassion to trap its prey. Taiwan’s political elite must know not only such maneuvers, but also ways to counter them.
Therefore, a government that considers itself at peace with China, of course, would not have a leg to stand on, considering the lack of negotiations and its helplessness, which causes everyone to express their disappointment. However, the quality and content of legislators’ questions on this issue in the Legislative Yuan have, with a few exceptions, been less than professional and left observers far from impressed.
Next year, the nation will very likely see a change of government. Presidential candidates should drop the habit of saying that President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) is responsible for every major issue only to turn a blind eye and stay quiet later on. If they keep doing this, voters would misunderstand them and think that they are scratching their heads and are clueless as to how to respond.
Xi’s approach to Taiwan is clear. Signs that give away the spirit of his approach can be seen in China’s “One Belt, One Road” policy and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank issue, which are both targeting the US and Japan.
However, China is not invincible. Taiwan must first assemble a good team and discuss the issue until it reaches a feasible conclusion. For example, China believes that it is in control of all its actions, but there are also measures in which Taiwan is in control. After analyzing the pros and cons, the government should brief the opposition and build a consensus to present it to the outside world. If the government is lazy and passive, then the opposition should request that the government confer with them, or offer solutions and urge the government to consider implementing them in its policy.
Capable people are always able to compete boldly in a positive manner, while those less capable are happy with wrecking things. With Beijing repeatedly punching Taiwan, is it not outrageous for politicians to be engaged in verbal sparring as usual?
Translated by Clare Lear
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