Despite a propaganda offensive following Qian Qichen's (
Hoping that the public will avoid simplifying a lot of issues, President Chen Shui-bian (
For one, Chen insists that Taiwan must not be belittled, treated as a local region or marginalized in cross-strait negotiations, but also, Yu says that premises such as Taiwan accepting the "one China" framework or the concept of domestic exchanges will not be accepted by the Taiwanese.
We have discovered, however, that while the government expresses these opinions, it has not given a clear-cut "No" in reply to China's approach to direct transportation links, leaving us with a feeling that the government is being unclear. Not only has the opposition camp criticized this point in veiled terms, but even people supporting the government's cautious response and opposition to direct transportation links find it difficult to understand.
The fact that China all along has been able to influence the domestic Taiwanese response and create a false impression among the public that both sides of the Taiwan Strait are working together to promote direct transportation links is intimately related to the fact that the government still hasn't clearly stated its opposition to direct transportation links.
All signs after the Tashee meeting (
Bluntly speaking, Taiwan's "active opening" policy will only increase the value of China's "using business to pursue unification" bargaining chip. The government should have rejected the policy long ago, and it should also immediately and formally reject Qian's suggestions. Doing so would deepen the belief of the people of Taiwan in the government's determination to boost the economy, and stimulate our faith in Taiwan's future.
Unfortunately, the government has purposely delayed a decision [on the matter] to avoid accusations from Beijing of being a trouble-maker. As a result, the government has been trapped in a passive position. Perhaps the government's motives aren't totally inexcusable, but they make us feel that it's hesitating over what move to make, and this has a negative impact on the government itself.
Since the government has never clearly said "no" to direct transportation links, pro-China media, business leaders and opposition figures have fantasized about pushing the policy forward while constantly pressuring the government.
Meanwhile, China is taking pleasure in this opportunity to penetrate and split Taiwan. The worst thing is that some businesspeople are unaware of the truth. Like sleepwalkers, they have unconsciously made investments in China after listening to arguments in favor of direct links while seeing that the government does not rule out the possibility of opening the three direct links.
In particular, we cannot ignore the fact that the government hasn't clearly said "no" to direct links, which might mislead the general public into believing that the viewpoints of the pro-China media, business leaders and opposition politicians truly make sense. Under the circumstances, many people mistake the arguments -- ?that businesses will perish if they do not move to China, that only direct links can save Taiwan's economy, and that China is Taiwan's only hope -- ?for a true description of the situation. They fail to understand that those absurd statements are simply used to beautify China, sing the demise of Taiwan and cater to China's policies of using the economy and direct links to push for unification.
Driven by deviant national identification, a handful of people recently made some moves that have seriously jeopardized national and public interests. This only goes to prove how grave the negative effects ambiguous policies can beget.
Qian's statement has kicked up a rumpus in Taiwan, while it doesn't cost China anything. Furthermore, Chinese President Jiang Zemin (江澤民) can take advantage of Taiwan with a smile on his face as he visits the US. Are those who echo China's unification stance unaware that they are selling Taiwan down the river?
Faced with the drama directed by China to push for direct links, President Chen and Premier Yu have correctly stuck to their guns, without moving an inch. Chen's statement that "direct links are no panacea for Taiwan's economy "deserves our attention.
It should be pointed out that direct transportation links are not a cure-all for Taiwan's economic woes, but, instead, it will cause the demise of Taiwan's economy and sovereignty. As long as China fulfills its wishes of luring Taiwan into opening direct links, Taiwan's industry and capital will relocate rapidly to China, unable to withstand China's economic attraction. In this case, sooner or later, Taiwan will become part of China and face the same deadly danger facing Hong Kong following its return to China.
The government should extirpate the root of evil and decisively say "no" to direct transportation links.
Translated by Eddy Chang, Jackie Lin and Perry Svensson.
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