Wed, Sep 11, 2002 page8

• Taiwan-Mongolia agreement a masterstroke

  • By Chow Shih-hsiung 周世雄
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  A deal between Taiwan and Mongolia to exchange representative offices took effect on Sept. 1. A day after Taiwan set up its representative office, Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien (簡又新) declared that, following the severance of diplomatic ties with Nauru and Vice President Annette Lu's (呂秀蓮) visit to Indonesia, this agreement will be one of the more popular moves made by the DPP government in the international arena. An exchange of representative offices will help develop economic, trade, cultural, tourism and labor relations and exchanges between the two countries, and may add a new page to Taiwan's "substantive diplomacy."

  As a result of the lack of contact between Taiwan and Mongolia, the impression a majority of Taiwanese have of Mongolia is probably one of vast steppes and Genghis Khan. In accordance with the Sino-Soviet Friendship Treaty between the ROC and the Soviet Union, a referendum was held in 1945 where the Mongolian people voted in favor of independence. On Jan. 5 the following year, the ROC recognized Mongolia as an independent nation. On Oct. 6, 1949, the People's Republic of Mongolia recognized the PRC. The two nations established diplomatic relations and exchanged embassies. In February 1953, the ROC government revoked the Sino-Soviet Friendship Treaty and withdrew recognition of the People's Republic of Mongolia. From 1961 to 1971, the ROC and the People's Republic of Mongolia were both members of the UN. In 1992, the People's Republic of Mongolia changed its name to Mongolia.

  Earlier this year the Cabinet announced Articles 3 and 56 of the Statute Governing the Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (台灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例) would be amended to exclude Mongolia from mainland Chinese territory. These amendments laid the legal foundation for a substantial relationship between Taiwan and Mongolia. In the past, our government has treated Mongolia as part of the Chinese mainland. This is certainly a historical irony, but still a restriction on normal exchanges between Taiwan and Mongolia, which truly is a pity. The statutory amendment just mentioned is a pragmatic step to be able to call the area actually controlled by the government in Beijing "Mainland China." After all, China and Mongolia still maintain official diplomatic relations.

  Mongolia's scenery is beautiful, its resources plentiful and labor costs low, but the economy is underdeveloped and the national income is low. Establishment of economic, trade, cultural and academic exchanges will be beneficial to both states. Mongolia is also a member of major international economic organizations such as the WTO, the World Bank, the IMF and the Asian Development Bank, and its economic and trade systems comply with international standards. Its strategic location between Russia and China makes it a good investment and transfer point for Taiwanese businesses moving towards Central Asia and Russia. With Taiwan setting up representation in Mongolia, we can in future initiate economic and trade relationships with Russia's eastern regions, Siberia and Central Asia.

  The agreement to exchange offices owes it existence to then Taipei Mayor Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) signing a sister-city agreement with Ulan Bator in 1997. In 1999, Chen made a private visit to Ulan Bator. During a banquet for former Mongolian prime minister Janlaviin Narantsatsralt in Taipei in late 2000, Chen pointed out three directions for future development between the two nations: personal contacts, the establishment of economy and trade centers, and an exchange of representative offices.

  Prior to reaching the agreement to exchange representative offices, the two nations set up a Taiwan-Mongolian Association (台蒙協會) and a Mongolia-Taiwan Association (蒙台協會). This shows that the Presidential Office has worked hard behind the scenes for the creation of today's Taiwan-Mongolian relationship.

  It is also worth mentioning that the agreement was only made public by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs once it had been completed, which shows the importance accorded this agreement by all levels at the ministry and the care with which it has been handled. There were no leaks or disputes with other countries.

  Basically, the way Beijing, Ulan Bator and Taipei have handled this situation is ideal. Taiwan has also turned away from the past beating of the drum and avoided turning a substantially economic and trade relationship into a political occasion. If the government can handle similar situations appropriately in the future, based on considerations of the people's interests instead of electoral considerations, I am sure that the people of Taiwan will not hold back on applause and encouragement.

  Chow Shih-hsiung is a professor in the Institute of China Studies at National Sun Yat-sen University and the founder of the Institute for Cross-Strait Relations in Washington.

  Translated by Perry Svensson
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