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Editorial: Lee's `state-to-state' policy endures

Three years ago today, then-president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) clarified that relations between Taiwan and China were "state-to-state" in nature. Lee's reformulation of cross-strait ties as being "special state-to-state" in nature met with all-out attacks from China, US hostility and vehement criticism from the pro-unification camp. Opinion polls taken in Taiwan at the time, however, showed that 75 percent of res-pondents supported the new policy -- a clear indication that it was not merely Lee's personal opinion, but was reflective of mainstream public opinion. Now, as "direct links" fever rages on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, Lee's "state-to-state" policy is functioning as a central support pillar for Taiwan. The policy remains a valuable asset from Lee's 12 years in power.

Beijing has been taking advantage of the China fever among Taiwan's legislators to launch a new round of its "united front" offensive. Wang Daohan (汪道涵), chairman of China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS, 海協會), has blamed the "state-to-state" policy for the indefinite postponement, three years ago, of the planned third-round of his talks with Straits Exchange Foundation Chairman Koo Chen-fu (辜振甫). This is Beijing's way of blaming Taipei for the lack of negotiations.

Lee, however, said in his book An Account of Lee Teng-hui in Power (李登輝執政告白實錄) that the "state-to-state" policy was supposed to be made public during a planned visit by Wang in October 1999. But Lee said he decided to announce it earlier, during a July 8, 1999 interview with Deutsche Welle radio, in order to counter an announcement by China that described Taiwan as a renegade province. Even though the "state-to-state" policy was the result of careful deliberations by the National Security Council, the announcement of the model -- at least in terms of timing -- was a pre-emptive response to China's plan to denigrate Taiwan.

Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen (錢其琛) recently described direct links as an "internal affair," adding that the links are an economic affair and negotiations would not have to involve politics or Beijing's "one China" principle. Qian appeared to be showing some new flexibility by not insisting on "one China" as a precondition. In reality, however, "one China" is only too obvious in his description of the links as an internal matter.

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) responded quickly to Qian's remarks, saying Taiwan cannot accept the idea of defining the direct links as an internal affair and that no preconditions whatsoever must be attached to any talks. Essentially, he was responding to Beijing's offensive by using the "state-to-state" policy. This shows the subtle uses of the "state-to-state" policy in cross-strait relations.

Apart from serving as a defining standard for cross-strait relations, the "state-to-state" policy also serves as a reminder of Taiwanese awareness at a time when the loyalties of the people of Taiwan are under siege -- and their values are being confused -- by the magnetic pull of China's economy and by Beijing's propaganda.

The policy has suffered so much misunderstanding and criticism over the past three years that today's anniversary of its proclamation offers a good opportunity to renew our understanding of its value.
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