Taiwan is famed internationally for its computer and electronics industries. The second image coming to the mind of the international community is Taiwan as a hot spot of conflict with China. In this dispute, due to mere numbers, Taiwan strategically will always be the underdog. Arguably, the most important comparative advantage of Taiwan in the confrontation with China is her domestic order of democracy.
At home, democracy is the source of stability and popular political support for the leadership (this despite the continuing partisan bickering).
Yet in international relations the democratic order of Taiwan has not been sufficiently instrumentalized. Taiwanese authorities are seriously considering the diplomatic advantages emanating from the country's democratic order. In today's world, international relations are not only relations between governments, they are also relations between non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and political parties. Here, Taiwan's democrats can still play still a stronger roles. It is an encouraging sign that the DPP will soon become a full member of Liberal International and, as reported, take up the chairmanship of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats next year.
Beyond this "party diplomacy," international democracy promotion opens new chances for Taiwan's young democracy. So far this area of international relations has been dominated by extra regional Western institutions and agencies. Some of the institutions have had considerable impact on countries they operate in. The Taiwanese side has now been encouraged -- not least by our friends in the US -- to initiate its own democracy promotion program, thereby sharing with countries moving from authoritarian to democracy the experience of its own democratic transition.
Importantly, there seems to be political will in this country for the set-up of such a mechanism. This impression I got after two days of discussions with a complete political leadership of this country during the "Asia Pacific Democratic Cooperation Forum."
But, on a more cautious note, more is needed than political will and good intentions. As the first challenge, I see the formulation of a clear-cut objective. I had the impression these last two days that different government branches have rather different concepts. The second prerequisite for success beyond a clear target is a consensus of all important political forces. If Taiwan's democratic foundation, to give the mechanism a name as it has been discussed, should have any chance of success, the opposition parties, too, must support and even participate in all efforts of setting it up.
I am sure that my third recommendation will arouse hefty controversy. It may be expected that any cross-border political activity (with financial support from Taipei) will be regarded a PR campaign aimed at strengthening the role of Taiwan vis-a-vis China.
This perception I see as a danger. For democratic assistance emanating from Taiwan to succeed, it should be made clear that no such political or diplomatic strings are attached. In a short-term calculation, this "self-limitation" may not seem as an attractive proposition to supporters of a Taiwanese democracy-promotion program in the world. But in the long term, this approach will create genuine political partnership and friendship based on a set of common political principles. This modern approach may even be more important in defending Taiwan than the costly military programs of the past.
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