The "no haste, be patient" policy has not only influenced cross-strait relations, but has been seen by the local and international business community as being the key factor behind Taiwan's economic downturn.
The main agreement reached at the Economic Development Advisory Conference -- to replace "no haste" with a policy of "proactive openness and effective management" -- is aimed at resolving the economic predicament.
The move has political implications. If the government is sincere in implementing the conference's consensus -- which would require it to cast aside long-held ideology in favor of vigorously promoting positive cross-strait interaction -- the termination of the policy will be the most symbolic gesture of friendship in the 50 some years of cross-strait hostility to date.
Now that the conference is over, the government and opposition parties need to carefully consider how to maintain and develop the goals of sustainable development and democratic politics.
As Taiwan has recently fallen behind in its economic development compared to China, we must count on the two advantages that Taiwan still possesses -- outstanding talent and a democratic political system -- in order to maximize the strategic benefits that would likely result from a relaxed China trade policy.
If we approach relations with China by focusing on long-term goals, both the government and the opposition parties must strive for the institutionalization of cross-strait integration and the evolution of democracy in China.
In the contemporary examples of integration in the West -- be it the EU or peace negotiations in Northern Ireland -- we have seen attempts to include members of hostile parties into the process through the institutionalization of cooperation mecha-nisms. By doing so the parties involved are able to establish commonly accepted rules and then are able to build on shared interests, which stabilizes the integration process. The process of stabilization ultimately leads those involved to believe that continuing institutionalized cooperation will be conducive to establishing mutual benefits, or reducing conflicts.
In contrast, there are only two semi-official organizations responsible for addressing the cross-strait impasse. Such a scope is far too narrow. To deal with new developments in cross-strait affairs, we should utilize executive and legislative talent, expand cross-strait cooperation mechanisms and establish models of interaction between government agencies -- ? for example, convening ministerial-level conferences on new issues as they arise.
The legislative branches on both sides of the Strait can also conduct cooperation on issues of common concern, such as economic resources, environmental protection and legal matters. Such cooperation would reinforce the legitimacy of the integration between the two sides. Although it would be naive to believe China's legislature has a significant influence on the country's policy, the interaction would nevertheless enhance mutual trust and have a positive effect on China's democratization.
In fact, the solution to the long-term cross-strait standoff rests on China's democratization. In the liberal democracies where public opinion easily influences government policy, we can see that those countries are far less belligerent than their authoritarian counterparts. Violent confrontations between democratic nations are far less likely to occur than between non-democratic nations.
Taiwan is already a demo-cracy. China can also become one. We must make efforts to facilitate China's political reform by strengthening the legitimacy of mutual cooperation mechanisms, safeguarding our values and securing regional stability.
The road to peace is always tortuous and fraught with setbacks. Responsible statesmen have to have a strong sense of vision. With its newfound determination to implement a policy of "proactive openness," Taiwan can take its first step toward using its advantages to begin building a cooperation mechanism that will lead to cross-strait peace and China's democratization.
Francis Yi-hua Kan is an assistant research fellow at the Institute of International Relations, National Chengchi University.
Translated by Jackie Lin
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