China’s state-run Xinhua news agency on Sunday unveiled 10 new “incentive measures” for Taiwan, following a landmark meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) in Beijing on Friday last week. The measures largely focus on cross-strait exchanges in terms of infrastructure, travel and trade to “enhance the kinship and well-being of compatriots across the Strait,” Xinhua said.
The proposed policies include the resumption of individual travel by residents of Shanghai and China’s Fujian Province to Taiwan; a push for the “full normalization” of direct cross-strait passenger flights; closer infrastructure links between China’s Fujian Province, and Taiwan’s Kinmen and Lienchiang (Matsu) counties; supporting Kinmen’s shared use of Xiamen Xiangan International Airport; and easier access for Taiwanese agricultural, fishery and food products to the Chinese market.
“The policy package demonstrates the mainland’s sincerity, goodwill and firm resolve in promoting the peaceful and integrated development of cross-strait relations,” Xinhua quoted a Chinese academic as saying.
Pro-China media in Taiwan echoed Beijing’s rhetoric, widely promoting the measures as a generous “gift” for Taiwanese. The tourism sector also welcomed the proposals, urging the government to consider “practical needs” and make policy adjustments so that the industry could benefit from the new measures.
However, it is unlikely that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is so altruistic that it is willing to make economic “concessions,” offer policy convenience and even share infrastructure just to improve the welfare of Taiwanese. Everything comes with a price. The CCP made it clear that “atop” all the initiatives is a regular communication mechanism between it and the KMT, which would be based on the “common political foundation” of adhering to the so-called “1992 consensus” and opposing Taiwanese independence.
That would not only mean that cross-strait exchanges would be internalized into a “one China” framework, but also that the KMT would be representing Taiwanese to “communicate” with the CCP when negotiating matters that involve national security and public authority.
When a democratically elected government is bypassed by an opposition party to deal with matters that should be negotiated between governments, the government’s public authority is undermined, and the nation and its people are represented without consent.
The KMT has already bowed to the CCP during the Cheng-Xi meeting. Cheng said that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait should build sustainable avenues for dialogue and mechanisms for cooperation underpinned by a “shared political foundation characterized by a firm adherence to the 1992 consensus and opposition to Taiwanese independence.”
It bowed again shortly after the initiatives were announced. Cheng told reporters she was “very thankful” for the “preferential” measures, and she had instructed the KMT’s vice chairs to form a task force to follow up on implementing the measures and establish points of contact with the Chinese side.
KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (?) called the policies a concrete result of the party’s efforts and a successful outcome of the Cheng-Xi meeting.
With the nine-in-one elections scheduled for November, a government official warned that “the CCP is setting the stage for the KMT.”
The collusion between the KMT and the CCP is apparent. Beijing has never stopped its carrot-and-stick tactics. A day before the Cheng-Xi meeting, China announced live-fire drills were being held in the northern Yellow Sea. Meanwhile, China has not ceased its military harassment of Taiwan.
The KMT has been playing along. On the day of the exercises, Cheng said peace was the “greatest gift” she hoped to take back to Taiwan. Fu on Sunday said that there is no reason for the Taiwan Strait to become a flashpoint for conflict, adding that “in this moment, the true desire of all industries and Taiwanese is simple: a stable life and economic growth.”
The CCP’s message to Taiwan is clear: Shut up and take the money, which is, by the way, at the mercy of the CCP.
If the KMT is allowed to bow to the CCP on behalf of Taiwanese, the price would be paid by the whole nation, with the price being the nation’s hard-earned democracy and freedom.
Any “peaceful” integration would mean giving away Taiwan’s autonomy and sovereignty.
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