Taipei Times: Is it true that Beijing has beefed up its unification campaign among overseas Chinese groups in the last year?
Chen Rong-jye (陳榮傑): In 1980, Beijing set up an association devoted to the promotion of unification across the Strait. The body's operations remained low-key over the next 10 years because of internal instability in China. After former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) redefined cross-strait ties as "special state-to-state" in nature [in July, 1999], Beijing decided to change its strategy. The propaganda machine then became more aggressive in nature, and focused on the containment of pro-independence forces and attacks on the DPP after it came to power last May.
Statistics show that over 70 satellite organizations were established in the last year through various public relations campaigns in a bid to achieve their goals. Last year they sponsored global conferences in Berlin and Washington DC to spout their anti-independence platform. Earlier this year, they convened a meeting in Panama in the hope of wooing overseas Chinese groups in Central and South America. Similar forums will be held in Tokyo and Sydney later this summer.
TT: What do you think is Beijing's goal behind those activities?
Chen: Beijing has sought to tag the cross-strait feud as a struggle for sovereignty in a bid to lend legitimacy to its "one China" claim. It hopes to convince those groups of its right to dominate Taiwan and to stir up ideological conflicts among them. To ensure maximum publicity, organizers of those activities send their findings in letters to the US Congress, the White House, the UN and other international bodies to create an impression that most overseas Chinese back unification.
TT: What has the OCAC done in the face of the challenge?
Chen: All we can do is attempt moral persuasion. Hopefully, leaders of overseas Chinese groups will boycott those meetings. To my knowledge, some have had their names included on guest lists without prior consultation. We do think the sovereignty issue is worth discussing, but the agenda for those forums tends to be misleading.
The commission has no objection to its regular or honorary members abroad visiting their friends and relatives in China -- but it is advisable for them to exercise caution.
TT: How have ties between overseas Chinese and the government evolved over the years?
Chen: Bonds between the government and overseas Chinese groups have revolved around common history and culture. I am afraid ties thus maintained are not very sturdy. We intend to cement the bonds with an emphasis on such universal values as freedom and democracy. Economy is another area we will work on, by pooling the strength of Chinese and Taiwanese businessmen around the world so they can further their economic gains and also contribute to Taiwan's prosperity. It would be a good idea to transform the relations between the government and the overseas Chinese from that of "friends" to that of "partners." Different political, social and economic systems separate China from Taiwan. It would be unrealistic to ignore the gap when dealing with cross-strait affairs.
TT: Do overseas Chinese from Taiwan mingle with those from China?
Chen: To my knowledge, like wild animals, they almost never step into each other's territory. Many people from China are still preoccupied with the pursuit of economic security whereas those from Taiwan already enjoy rather affluent lives. This gap also contributes to their different lifestyles. I believe that, in a world of increasing openness, social contacts are inevitable.
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