Tue, Oct 12, 2004 page3

• Chen's speech a `stepping stone' to cross-strait talks

  FOCUS ON ACHIEVABLE Officials and analysts say the president's national day address showed a willingness to accept ambiguity in order to find practical solutions

  • By Joy Su / STAFF REPORTER
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  President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) speech on Sunday will serve as a stepping stone to cross-strait negotiations that ensure parity and dignity by pushing aside politics and focusing instead on practical, achievable projects, according to Mainland Affairs Council Vice Chairman Chiu Tai-san (邱太三).

  "In the past, we've had good experiences with negotiations because the basis and foundation for these negotiations was that both sides were willing to focus on matters that could concretely be solved," Chiu said yesterday during a forum to examine the impact of Chen's speech on cross-strait relations.

  A proposal to establish a 1992 meeting in Hong Kong as the basis for future negotiation naturally begs the question of what was concluded at the meeting.

  The meeting took place from Oct. 26 and 29 and was conducted by then Straits Exchange Foundation legal head Shi Hwei-yow (許惠祐) and Zhou Ning (周寧), a representative from the foundation's counterpart, China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS).

  HISTORICAL BAGGAGE

  The Hong Kong meeting was called to discuss cooperation on certified mail and professional certification. No agreements were signed due to differences in interpreting the "one China" principle.

  Taiwan had proposed that each party articulate it's stance on the "one China" principle orally, without putting pen to paper. While China had agreed to this in a phone call to the foundation on Nov. 3, it later proposed that each party's interpretation be made clear through written exchange of letters or fax. Since Taiwan refused, the matter was left unresolved.

  However, analysts yesterday said that it was precisely the lack of a consensus that served as the main strategic thrust of Chen's speech.

  AMBIGUITY IS GOOD

  "The speech solves the problem of the `one China' principle with ambiguity. If both sides are willing to accept this ambiguity, than a new beginning is possible," Lo Chih-cheng (羅致政), executive director of the Institute for National Policy Research.

  Lo said Chen's speech had to be considered as a response to China's May 17 statement which reiterated the "one China" principle but also put forth seven points that touched on possibilities for cross-strait exchange.

  "If China is willing to accept this ambiguity, then we can move to the next step -- the seven points issued in the statement," Lo said.

  Analysts also pointed to another important aspect of Chen's speech -- his willingness to pursue solutions that are "not necessarily perfect, but acceptable."

  They said that amounts to a recognition of the search for an unattainable "perfect" solution can hinder the possible attainable of a "good" solution.

  National Chengchi University political science professor Chao Chien-min (趙建民) said there was a need to move towards a "workable" solution.

  "If Taiwan is not satisfied with the status quo and is willing to work to change the situation, then ?we need to find a workable space for this," he said.

  According to Chao, the president's speech can be interpreted as a proposal to allow negotiations on matters that can be discussed or as an agreement to refrain from debating the issue of sovereignty.

  "In politics, you have to achieve a level of workability, a basis from which to work, or else the two sides will just drift away from each other," Chao said.

  He said Chen's extension of goodwill in the past was unable to bring about an impasse for China that would force reciprocity.

  He said that without a workable framework, it was like throwing cotton, instead of a ball, into the opponent's court.

  IMPERFECT SOLUTION

  Chiu said that the willingness to settle for an imperfect solution was in effect the creation of a new space for discussion on practical issues.

  "Given all our differences, Chen is choosing to move away from politicized issues. Cargo and passenger flights are something that we can really do, and it is something that we are willing to try," Chiu said.

  However, if you [China] are not willing to negotiate on this, then give me a list of what is acceptable for negotiation to you," Chiu said.

  He said there was a need to create space for discussion by identifying practical issues that can be separated from the politics of the "one China" principle.

  "President Chen is not avoiding addressing the `one China' principle ? He concedes that cross-strait development could result in a situation that everyone deems as imperfect, but that all would find acceptable," Chiu said.
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