There is one country on each side of the Taiwan Strait, and both belong to the "pan-Hwa commonwealth" (
Japanese scholar Kenichi Ohmae predicted in one of his books that the China will become a federation in 2005 and that Taiwan will unite with China. President Chen Shui-bian (
On March 15, former president Lee Teng-hui (
Some Taiwanese people believe that the nation will perish if it excludes itself from China. Others hold that unification with China will send the nation to its doom. A majority of people, however, favor "maintaining the status quo." But is it really possible for Taiwan to maintain the status quo amid instability and imbalance? China has been stepping up its diplomatic suppression, even to the extent of increasing the number of missiles aimed at Taiwan.
Can the government, in practice, and on a rational basis, prevent businesspeople from making the choice that best serves their interests when they are enticed by a massive market comprising a quarter of the world's population? The huge quantity of talent and capital moving to China has aggravated the nation's unemployment problem and hollowed out its industries. The notion that economics and politics can be separated is an extremely unrealistic myth.
A large number of politicians over the years have tried to canvass votes by manipulating the unification-independence dispute, causing social disorder and unrest and even confusing the public's political perspectives.
Opinion polls released recently showed that what worries the nation's young people the most is not their own future but the country's political future. Faced with the war of words between pro-unification and pro-independence politicians and strong pressure from business interest groups, government officials appear to lack direction, leading to policy flip-flops.
If Taiwan intends to extricate itself from this predicament, normalizing relations with Beijing should be its top priority. All the crucial changes in international relations have been accomplished either by military conquests or through long-term negotiations between all concerned parties.
The UK transformed its former empire into a commonwealth, whereas the US turned from a confederation into a federation. Be it a commonwealth, confederation or federation, each system means different things in different times. What they are called is not important. What is crucial is that they are settlements reached by way of negotiation.
Developing the relations between Taiwan and China requires patient discussion and negotiation. We call on the two sides to look beyond the possible models of "one country, two systems," "unification" and "independence" and start with a new beginning.
We suggest that Taipei and Beijing might work toward the political system currently used in the UK. The "one China" principle is by no means unacceptable but its exact contents must be put in writing before both sides can accept it.
Given the fact that most people are accustomed to, and like, the Chung-hwa culture and would like to join hands in cultural construction, economic development and international affairs, the majority of people on the two sides should be able to embrace a "one China" principle that can boost cultural and economic prosperity.
A commonwealth could be established on the basis of mutual trust, comprising members beyond Taiwan and China, with Singapore, Mongolia and Tibet invited to participate. The new Chinese leaders of this great country would be expected to emulate the politicians of the former British Empire and accept the commonwealth system with broad-mindedness.
The system would tally not only with the interests of people on all sides but also with international trends.
A commonwealth is founded on laws or a constitution, with permanent organizations and a symbol of solidarity acceptable to its members. Britain's monarch, for example, is the figurehead for the Commonwealth.
If a "pan-Hwa commonwealth" were to take shape, we could choose a historical symbol or figure recognized by all sides as a symbol of solidarity for commemorative rituals on a regular basis, such as the ancient sages of China -- ?the Yellow Emperor, Yao (
What's important is that each country inside the commonwealth enjoys full independence, sovereignty and autonomy in political, economic, diplomatic and military affairs, as well as holding their own UN seats. But they would be expected to coordinate with one another to safeguard their shared interests and cooperate in international affairs.
This system could satisfy both Taiwanese and Chinese people's wish to "be their own bosses" and preserve the historical consciousness that many people cannot give up.
Tsong Tien-tzou is a research fellow at the Institute of Physics of Academia Sinica. Wang Chiu-sen is a professor of public health at National Taiwan University.
Translated by Jackie Lin
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