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Formosa's Wangsays `one China' must be accepted

"Taiwan's people should calmly accept the `one China' principle and from this position of equality both sides can cooperate to enjoy long-lasting mutual benefits." Wang Yung-ching PHOTO: SUNG CHIH-HSING, TAIPEI TIMES

Formosa Plastics Group Chairman Wang Yung-ching (王永慶) yesterday echoed Beijing's demand that Taiwan accept the "one China" principle and repeated his call that all curbs on investment across the Strait be lifted to bolster the flagging local business environment.

Wang, 84, and one of Taiwan's richest industrialists, backed his reasoning by taking a swipe at the government, saying present social and political conditions are more chaotic than the corruption of the KMT government of 40 years ago.

"Taiwan's people should calmly accept the `one China' principle and from this position of equality both sides can cooperate to enjoy long-lasting mutual benefits," said Wang, who was speaking at a biotech promotional event in Taipei.

"There is no hatred between the two sides. ... both sides share common roots," he said.

But the government was quick to rebuff Wang's overtures, with the Mainland Affairs Council issuing a statement saying Taiwan could not agree to accept the "one China" principle.

"Under the Chinese interpretation of `one China,' the Republic of China doesn't exist," the statement said.

The council said that handling the "one China" problem would require both sides to first temporarily shelve the dispute to create a more favorable atmosphere before mutual resolution of the issue.

Wang, who has often offered scathing words to the government over political bickering, justified his call for the move by saying the social and political landscape was in a state of general turmoil and the economy is suffering severely because of it.

"All of Taiwan's businesses are facing a slump and the hollowing out of industries," Wang said.

The only way "to turn this crisis into opportunity is for Taiwan firms to make a concerted move together into China," Wang said.

Vital to facilitating this move, according to Wang, would be replacing the "no haste, be patient" (戒急用忍) policy on investment in China with one that was totally open.

Currently, the Taiwan government imposes a limit of US$50 million on any single investment in China and totally bans investment in high-tech and infrastructure projects.

Despite restrictions on investments in China, Taiwan investors have poured more than US$60 billion into the mainland since rapprochement began in the late 1980s, attracted by cheap land and labor as well as a common language and culture. Funds are routed through Hong Kong or a third country.

Wang has long been a strong critic of the "no haste" policy which forced his company to drop a US$6 billion investment in 1992 to build a chemical complex in China's Fujian Province.

Wang drew criticism from independence-minded lawmakers for his remarks but also qualified support from the opposition.

Tsai Huang-liang (蔡煌瑯), executive secretary of the ruling DPP, roundly condemned Wang's remarks saying the "one China" principle equalled stripping Taiwan of its national sovereignty and status.

But, predictably, Wang's remarks -- or at least interpretations of what he said -- received more favorable responses from among the generally pro-unification opposition parties.

Lee Cheng-chong (李正宗), KMT party secretary, said that if Wang's "one China" comment was said in the spirit of the 1992 consensus of "one China, each to his own interpretation" (一中各表) the KMT of course welcomed the remark.

People First Party (親民黨) convener Chou Hsi-wei (周錫瑋) said Wang's speech was "very rational," urging the "new government" to return to the 1992 consensus and "stop looking at Chinese people with hatred and causing ethnic rifts within Taiwan."
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