In a bid to break the stranglehold that China has had on Taiwan's international relations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been trying to go where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs most often cannot.
China has in recent years been gaining ground in its efforts to completely isolate Taiwan on the world stage, thwarting its official diplomatic initiatives and standing in the way of its participation in other unofficial global organizations.
In response, Taiwan has had to adopt a twin strategy of pursuing official diplomacy while at the same time broadening its support for non-governmental organizations that participate in international affairs.
NGO work represents an effective means for Taiwan to receive international recognition, albeit on a low-key scale sometimes, and create a larger space for itself in world affairs.
Unfortunately, however, Taiwan's NGO efforts on the international stage have been often retarded by a lack of professionalism and vision among its home-grown NGOs, problems which are compounded by inadequate government support.
FIRST AID FOR AN NGO
Of the several Taiwanese NGOs engaged in international work, most provide temporary relief for recipient countries rather than fostering long-term development. Such an approach is widely considered by international groups as being on the whole ineffective.
The Taipei Overseas Peace Service (TOPS), however, stands out as an example of what can be achieved with the right approach. Since 1993, TOPS been dedicated to development work, rather than temporary relief, in Thailand and Cambodia. Its endeavors have led it to become a model for Taiwan's international aid organizations.
One former program coordinator said TOPS' initial success was due mainly to sufficient funding by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But the official also cited TOPS' long-term work experience in Thai refugee asylums with UN and international NGOs since the 1980s as having stood it in good stead.
The foreign ministry began supporting TOPS activity in Cambodia in 1995, with the longer-term hope of developing official diplomatic relations with the country.
In 1997, however, Taiwan's representative office in Cambodia was shut down under a cloud of allegations that Taiwan had been meddling in Cambodian politics. That, in turn, spelled the end of the foreign ministry's funding of TOPS.
"This almost ended TOPS' efforts and initiatives in international development," the former coordinator said.
She said the lack of government funding forced TOPS to end its aid program, which led to more misunderstandings with the Cambodian government, UN agencies and international NGOs cooperating with them.
"If TOPS could help countries that Taiwan has diplomatic ties with, then the foreign ministry would show its support ... but the ministry will not help them support a country like Cambodia [that has cut ties]," said Andrew Hsia (
"The returns for the government and the NGO in this case were clearly not the same."
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
Hsia's remarks speak volumes about the government's attitude toward NGOs. Yet in treating them as basically a government arm for the distribution of aid, it has overlooked the essential differences between the two, what they do and what they are trying to achieve.
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