Sat, Jul 22, 2000 page8

• Editorial: Arguing with their eyes wide shut

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  Many of us probably felt the urge to applaud President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) comment yesterday that some of our legislators behave as if they are the "representatives of (China's) National People's Congress in Taiwan."

  If we compare the demeanor of these legislators in Taipei to when they are in Beijing, we may wonder whether they are all, by some miraculous coincidence, the long lost evil twins of another group in Beijing. The contrast in demeanor has been waggishly summed up as "wolves in Taiwan, dogs in Beijing." Harsh but true. In Beijing, they are the humble and dovish "yes-men" who bow and scape and smile. In Taipei, they turn into aggressive and hawkish "devil's advocates" who relentlessly drive government officials into corners with questions such as "Are you Chinese?"

  New Party Legislator Elmer Feng (馮滬祥) and KMT legislator Mu Min-chu (穆閩珠) immediately lambasted Chen's comment as "out of place" and "absurd," because the president himself had talked extensively about promoting cross-strait exchanges. Since the president named no names, we are tempted to interpret their sensitivity on this issue as a sign of guilty consciences.

  On a more serious note, while no one doubts the importance of cross-strait exchanges, some of our legislators appear to have overstepped their boundaries. Perhaps they are afflicted with split personalities, or even worse, split loyalties. They were elected by the voters of Taiwan, for whom they must serve as advocates. They are elected officials of Taiwan, to which they owe their allegiance. In their interactions with the Beijing government, they must never ever forget who they are and what they are.

  Instead, Beijing seems to have won the battle for the hearts and minds of these legislators who act as if China is their home and they are simply visitors with business in Taiwan. In fact it is hard not to see them as professional lobbyists for Beijing's interests.

  Legislators who have obviously breached and betrayed their constituents' trust by having the best interests of Beijing, rather than their voters, at heart deserve to be repudiated by those they have betrayed at the earliest opportunity -- that being the next legislative election. Who knows to what ends their use of political power in Taiwan on China's behalf might be put. China has always said that it would be prepared to "intervene" in Taiwan affairs if internal unrest got out of hand. Are people such as Feng fifth columnists who will foment such social unrest? They will say it is outrageous to accuse them of potential treachery. Then let us see these Beijing mouthpieces make a public affirmation of support for Taiwan and its democratic institutions and the categorical renunciation of any regime that would seek to change these by coercion.

  One more thing strikes us: In the past, Beijing has tried to sway Taiwan's policies by influencing the business community. Now, it is trying to sway Taiwan's policies by directly influencing its lawmakers. This may have much to do with the fact that the ruling DPP is the minority party in the Legislative Yuan. Beijing appears unable to drop its suspicions and fears that the DPP and Chen may lead Taiwan down the path of independence. Therefore, Beijing seeks to become the invisible hand in the Legislative Yuan by working the strings of its puppets there.

  The presence of Beijing in the Legislative Yuan can only give us cause for concern. Our legislators advocating the interests of others is not just scandalous but potentially treasonous. We should remember this in December next year, unless we get the God-given chance to vote out this trash earlier.
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