When Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Vice Chairman Johnnason Liu (劉德勳) was officially named secretary general of the semi-official Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) last Thurs-day, he joked that as SEF secretary general, his primary goal would be to follow MAC instructions.
While Liu's comment had been intended as a joke, it focused attention on how closely linked the SEF and the Cabinet-level MAC will be in the future, given Liu's hold on top positions at both agencies.
PHOTO: TAIPEI TIMES
The SEF is nominally a non-governmental organization, but it works under the supervision of the MAC. In the past, several MAC officials have simultaneously held posts at the SEF, but Liu will be the first MAC official to take on the top executive position at the SEF.
In addition, with official dialogue between Taiwan and China at a standstill, cross-strait communication has often been conducted through the SEF and its Chinese counterpart, the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS), most significantly during the Koo-Wang Talks in 1993.
"The SEF has always been under the oversight of MAC, but this [appointment] signifies a closer working relationship between MAC and the SEF in the future," said Lin Wen-cheng (
Lin explained that the SEF had been diminishing in influence in recent years and pointed to its changing role. "In the future, it may not to be the SEF that carries out the work of cross-strait dialogue. There is a need for the SEF or for some agency to be handling and coordinating cross-strait exchange," Lin said, pointing towards a more service-oriented, and less political role for the SEF.
"People say that next year will be a turning point for cross-strait relations because breakthroughs seem impossible this year. One of the challenges that Vice Chairman Liu will have to face is how to integrate his posts at both the SEF and MAC to bring about a cross-strait breakthrough," Lin said.
When asked what his primary task at the SEF would be, Liu also told reporters that the government wanted to see cross-strait dialogue take place without prerequisites or restrictions on the agenda. Despite the challenges, colleagues say that Liu is fit for the job. Liu is praised as a legal expert with a wealth of experience in cross-strait policymaking, having worked for MAC since 1993, including nine years in the legal affairs department, before being promoted to MAC vice chairman. He is a graduate of the National Chengchi University Law School.
"Liu is very methodical and clear in his work. Even under stress, he is very rational and calm," said Jeff Yang (楊家駿), director of the MAC's department of legal affairs which supervises the SEF. Yang, who worked as Liu's deputy at the legal affairs department, told the Taipei Times that Liu's main strength in his new capacity as SEF secretary general is his familiarity with cross-strait issues.
"Liu is a legal talent, and cross-strait issues are often linked with legal matters. Even with the "three links" issue, there is the legal question of jurisdiction. With the issues surrounding China-based Taiwanese business people and other cross-strait problems, there is also a need for legal expertise," Lin said.
Lin called Liu a real gentleman and someone who could get along with everyone.
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