Participants in an international seminar yesterday endorsed President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) remark characterizing Taipei-Beijing ties as "one country on each side" of the Taiwan Strait, saying Chen's statement was nothing but a description of reality.
"I can safely say that each of the participants support President Chen's remark," said retired Japanese ambassador Hisahiko Okazaki during a press conference in downtown Taipei yesterday afternoon that marked the conclusion of the Taipei round of the inaugural US-Japan-Taiwan Trilateral Strategic Dialogue.
James E. Auer, director of the Center for US-Japan Studies and Cooperation at Vanderbilt University, dubbed the substance of Chen's remarks as "a reflection of the reality," a comment subsequently echoed by Peter Chen (陳必照), national policy advisor to the president.
But participants held mixed views when asked whether the timing of Chen's remark was proper. Okazaki said he was not sure if the timing was good, taking into account the US' current preoccupation with the question of whether to attack Iraq as part of its war against terrorism.
June Tuefel Dreyer, professor and chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Miami, said the timing was "perfect" as the Chinese leadership had been busy with a power transition and the US Congress was in recess in August.
Peter Chen said the timing for Chen's talk was never an issue, adding: "To Beijing, everything other than accepting `one country, two systems' is provocative."
The seven-day seminar that wrapped up yesterday was composed of closed-door discussions involving scholars, business leaders and incumbent as well as former officials from Washington, Tokyo and Taipei.
The second round of talks is slated to be held in Tokyo, another in Washington, while the concluding round is scheduled to take place in Taipei in 2004.
Participants in this newly developed mechanism of talks are slated to produce a "Trilateral Report" in 2004 summarizing their suggestions on possible joint strategic cooperation between Washington-Taipei-Tokyo to key policy makers in the three countries.
While the seminar touched upon the adverse impact on economies elsewhere in the region triggered by the influx of foreign direct investment from the US, Japan and Taiwan into China, Auer said the three sides should jointly work on the protection of international property rights in China.
"We also agree that [to forge] a free-trade agreement between Taiwan and the US as well as a free-trade agreement between Taiwan and Japan should be seriously considered," Auer said.
The Japan-US security pact remains pivotal in maintaining regional peace and security, whereas the Taiwan Relations Act is perceived by participants as an element that can further enhance regional stability, Auer said.
Okazaki said after a candid exchange of ideas throughout the past few days, participants agreed that the emergence of China as a giant power both in economic as well as military terms in the region should not be overlooked.
"It's in our common interest to cope with that," said Okazaki, director of the Okazaki Institute.
While the US-Japan security pact is important to regional stability, Taiwan -- with its shared values in democracy with the US and Japan and its key strategic position as well vibrant economy -- is a natural partner for both Washington and Tokyo, he said.
RSS