Tue, Apr 11, 2000 page8

• Editorial: Taiwan has a role to play

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  The two Koreas yesterday announced a plan to hold a summit in Pyongyang in June. This is the greatest breakthrough in relations between North and South Korea since the end of the Korean War in 1953. It may have a significant impact on the security and the easing of tensions in Northeast Asia.

  The two sides began peace talks as early as 1972 under the name of "Red Cross" talks -- about 20 years earlier than talks between China and Taiwan, which did not come sit down at the same table until 1993.

  However, talks between the two Koreas came to a halt after one year. They were resumed in the mid-1980s, under the Red Cross, parliamentary and sports banners. The prime ministers from the two sides met for the first time in 1990. But progress was halted by other unexpected incidents.

  A complete lack of mutual trust and sincerity has been the biggest reason why the two Koreas have so far failed in their peace talks despite their early start. What's worse, the two sides both tried to use the talks as a propaganda tool to strengthen their grip on power. South Koreans often ridicule the government's Ministry of Unification (equivalent to Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council) as specialists in the study of "how not to unify."

  Apart from political misuse, another key factor was that private-sector exchanges were not allowed to complement official contact. South Korean business tycoon Chung Ju Yung has visited the North over the past few years with official approval from the South Korean authorities, but the visits have had little impact.

  The failure of almost 30 years of Korean peace talks is largely because the two sides have been less pragmatic than the Chinese across the Taiwan Strait. Even though there has been no "official contact" or "political negotiations" across the Strait, private-sector exchanges have moved forward from family reunions to the economic sphere. The first semi-official "Koo-Wang talks" began after more than six years of private-sector contact -- to resolve problems in handling these exchanges.

  That the two Koreas entered into political negotiations without a solid foundation of non-official exchanges was of little help in resolving "practical" issues. Instead, the ulterior motives harbored by both sides turned the talks into mere formalities. If the two Koreas are determined to resolve their problems at their summit this time, they should learn from their past talks and developments in the Taiwan Strait and initiate private-sector exchanges.

  With 13 years of experience in handling non-official exchanges across the Strait, Taiwan can provide some assistance in the Korean peace talks -- perhaps even in a mediator's role. When it comes to what can be done and what should be left alone in bilateral relations, there is much that Taiwan, China and the two Koreas can learn from each other.

  Interestingly, despite its isolation from the rest of the world, North Korea has been one of the Asian countries least hostile toward Taiwan. It very much needs the "Taiwan experience" and wants to learn from Taiwan, whether in economic or political development. There is a significant role for Taiwan to play, if only China and South Korea would realize it.

  Seoul and Beijing need to understand that an unstable North Korea is a major potential threat to them as well as the rest of Asia. It is the responsibility of all countries in the region to help Pyongyang out of the isolation and economic mess it is in. If Taiwan has the ability to assist Pyongyang, Seoul and Beijing should abstain from standing in the way.
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