There's danger in direct links, academic warns

Citing China's lack of human rights, academics said at a seminar yesterday that Taiwan has every reason to take national security into consideration when mulling direct links.

While pushing for direct links, Yeh Ming-teh (葉明德), director of Southeast Asian studies at National Chi-Nan University, pointed out areas where she would advise caution.

"China is an autocratic regime where power is in the hands of a handful of individuals," Yeh said at the seminar evaluating cross-strait relations. "In other words, Chinese authorities can decide any time, without any constraint, to wage war against Taiwan."

Yeh said that global events, such as China's successful bid to bids to host the 2008 Olympic Games and the 2010 World Exposition, would help consolidate its position in the international community and allow Chinese authorities to gain enough confidence to fly in the face of international pressure.

"Anyone who has been to China is in awe of its soaring economic development," Yeh said. "However one can also note its humanist achievements are still in need of improvement."

Given China's record on human rights, Yeh said that one cannot rule out the likelihood of possible attacks by China against Taiwan as China's low regard for human life would prompt China to pursue its own agenda.

Yeh added that Chinese leaders would also use media propaganda to highlight independent calls advocated by certain groups in Taiwan and publicize a negative impression of Taiwan.

"One cannot say for sure that China would not launch an attack against Taiwan using civil commercial airliners as a disguise if direct cross-strait links are implemented," Yeh said.

The seminar was hosted by the Mirror Society, a new think tank formally established yesterday.

Although the group says it is nonpartisan, it is composed mainly of pan-blue academics and business figures.

The group held its official founding ceremony yesterday with guest speakers including KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰), PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜), New Party Chairman Yok Mu-ming (郁慕明) and Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).

Yeh also said that Taiwan ought to develop a quality democracy to highlight the differences between China and Taiwan. Doing so can help draw China toward democratic development, Yeh said.

Attending PFP Legislator Lin Yu-fang (林郁方) agreed with Yeh's remarks.

"Only by developing Taiwan's democracy to a more refined and sophisticated status can Taiwan attract China and make [China] willingly acknowledge Taiwan's development and presence," Lin said.