And most important is that the government should offer some incentives, such as tax exemption and rent reduction.
TT: President Chen Shui-bian (
Siew: I think the service is going to helpful. Why? Because it would be very convenient for Taiwanese businesspeople who can then ship their finished goods from China to the US via Taiwan, which is more time-efficient.
The service will also assist Taiwan in achieving its goal of becoming an "Asian Pacific Logistic Center".
Chiang: I think the service is feasible. An exchange of people might be a more complex issue, however, as this service pertains only to cargo, it will pose less of a national security concern than some people might have thought.
Now we already have cargo transportation to China from Kaohsiung via Xiamen. To offer a direct cross-strait cargo transportation service would act as an attractive element in luring Taiwanese as well as foreign investors.
TT: Do you think the SARS crisis could serve as a stepping stone in ameliorating cross-strait relations?
Siew: The SARS outbreak highlights the importance of regional cooperation.
I think the outbreak of SARS therefore can be an opportunity for both sides to come together in the fight against the disease. Of course, cross-strait cooperation can't be just our own wishful thinking. It needs cooperation from the other party as well.
So if both sides of the Strait can come to the same understanding in working together combating the spread of the disease, I think the SARS crisis can very well be like a stepping stone to improving cross-strait relations.
But again, it depends on both sides' sincerity to cooperate.
Chiang: I don't think so, because long before the outbreak of SARS, there were no cross-strait contacts due to political constraints.
Now with the outbreak of SARS, contacts across the Strait will be further limited because people fear the disease.
The core issue to resolve the cross-strait deadlock does not depend on the SARS epidemic but on political policies.
As long as political issues are not resolved, there won't be a channel for both sides to sit down and negotiate.
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