Taipei Times: You have argued that Taiwan should redefine its position and interests in terms of Sino-US relations. Can you elaborate on that?
Zhao Suisheng (
TT: What is your assessment of the effects of the Sept. 11 attacks on US-China relations? For example, there have been reports that China has set conditions for its cooperation with the US on this issue.
Zhao: In terms of relations between the US and China, in the early months, China found it difficult to deal with the Bush administration because they took a very hard-line position [towards China.] And they tried to reverse the Clinton administration's policy of engagement with China.
However, after six months, this position was already in trouble because there was a backlash. And the Bush administration was already in the process of transforming the policy from a confrontational and unilateral position to more of what he called a constructive approach.
That was seen in Secretary of State Colin Powell's visit to China, the position the US took on China's application for the 2008 Olympic Games and several other events in the period between June and August. So there was a new trend.
The Sept. 11 incident actually reinforced the trend and gives another opportunity for them to work together. Although China's first response to this incident was slow and somewhat reluctant, it revised its stance very quickly. I would not say that China put preconditions on working with the US. It stated three principles in working with the US. First, [China would] work with the US. Second, the US should provide evidence [of Osama bin Ladan's involvement in the attacks]. And, third, the US should work through UN mechanisms. I would not say those are preconditions. They are the way in which China wants to work with the US, and it wants to justify its own actions.
TT: You have talked about China's two-pronged effort in conducting its policy toward neighboing nations. Can you explain them?
Zhao: On the one hand, China has shown a very benign face and tried to develop what it calls "a good neighbor policy." But on the other hand, China will stand firm on those issues involving what it calls "vital national interests," such as the Taiwan issue and some of the issues involving border disputes. So these two faces are the two-pronged effort that China has taken.
TT: You have mentioned that one of the driving forces for China to formulate its policy toward its neighbors is the emergence of regional economic organizations.
China has shown strong interest in these organizations for advancing its trade and economic relations with neighboring countries. What's your opinion of Taiwan's efforts in this regard?
Zhao: Taiwan's entry into the WTO is a challenge [for its economy] but also provides an opportunity for Taiwan to integrate itself not only into the international trade system, but also to penetrate into the Chinese market. And using this opportunity to find its niche in the Chinese market as an equal trade partner is very important for Taiwan. Other nations are very excited about this opportunity, but I have not seen any move or actions on Taiwan's part to take advantage of this opportunity. It has been somewhat passive so far. So I think Taiwan should step up its efforts on this.
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