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Cross-strait EU-style integration unlikely: academic

The establishment of a "China Union" modeled on the EU to integrate Taiwan and China is unlikely to occur, a French academic said yesterday in Taipei.

The cross-strait "China Union," or "common market," has often been promoted by former premier Vincent Siew (蕭萬長), who was picked by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) last week to run on next year's presidential ticket. The idea forms a central part of their economic policy proposals.

The problem of the "China Union" idea lies in the size of China and its 1.3 billion population, which is a huge difference compared with Taiwan's territory and its 23 million people, Thierry de Montbrial said in a speech to the European Chamber of Commerce in Taipei (ECCT) that examined the EU-China and future Taiwan-China relations.

De Montbrial founded the French Institute for International Relations (IFPI), a think tank, in 1979 and has been its president ever since.

He is scheduled to meet President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and other high-ranking officials during his visit.

Cross-strait relations have been deadlocked mainly because of the rhetoric used by each side, he said, adding that the situation could be different 20 years from now if prudent conscience can be developed on both sides.

Citing research conducted by the IFRI on China's future as a global player, de Montbrial said China wants peace for its domestic development and wants to avoid any conflict -- including in its relations with Taiwan. The only exception would be a Taiwanese declaration of independence, he said.

"China will be open to any arrangement other than that," he said.

The EU model cannot be replicated because the EU was born under a specific atmosphere, environment and set of circumstances, he said.
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