Sun, Jul 31, 2005 page3

• KMT eyes profit in fruit sale venture

  ENTREPRENEURIAL If the KMT really plans to sell fruit in China, it is for economic and political gain and probably not in the interests of the nation's farmers

  • By Shih Hsiu-chuan / STAFF REPORTER
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  The apparent enthusiasm of some Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) politicians for opening up a fruit brokerage in China has drawn criticism from the pan-green camp, which claims that the KMT politicians involved have only their own interests in mind, and not those of local farmers.

  A local Chinese-language newspaper reported yesterday that members of the KMT are planning to establish a wholesale fruit business in China -- a claim that the party denied.

  But if KMT politicians were to engage in such a venture, the benefits would be both economic and political, green camp politicians say.

  Lin Cho-shui (林濁水), a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator, said that the profits from a KMT-driven sale of Taiwanese fruit to China would be marginal, but "the sum of money might be alluring to a party or to some of its members."

  Last year, the export value of local fruit to China was only US$340,000, accounting for an extremely small proportion of the country's total exports to China, which are at about US$400 billion, Lin said.

  He also said that this statistic shows that the Chinese market is not a profitable place for local produce. But for individual politicians seeking to make money, Lin said, "the gains could be very profitable."

  The fact that the various opposition-led delegations have been quarreling with each other shows that each wants to monopolize negotiation channels for Taiwanese fruit exports, and all involved are interested only in lining their own pockets, Lin said.

  If the KMT did want to sell fruit in China, it would be because the party could make money, but such a venture was risky, said Chiu Tai-san (邱太三), former vice chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council, who plans to run for the Taichung County commissionership in the year-end elections.

  "Just think about the disputes that might arise if the party begins to sell fruit in China," Chiu said. "Will the KMT have the ability to protect local fruit farmers' interests or have an effective means to deal with disputes?"

  Chiu concluded that political and economic interests would be the guiding force behind such an initiative, should the reports be true.

  The political interests that would be involved are probably a part of Beijing's and the pan-blue camp's "united front" strategy, Chiu said.

  Also, such a venture would be aimed at the partisanship of the nation's southern farmers, who more often than not support the DPP. The venture would also embarrass the government by cutting it out of bilateral negotiations with China entirely, Chiu said.

  Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) Legislator Lo Chih-ming (羅志明) also questioned the KMT's motives.

  "Surely there would be a conflict of interest for a party to conduct such business in China." Lo said.

  It wouldn't be possible for a political party to run a business while at the same time claiming it was the ideal party to lead the country, he said, adding that it was necessary for Taiwan to enact a law to prohibit political parties from running any kind of business.

  "China is hostile toward Taiwan," Lin said.

  He also said that Beijing's desire to open up Taiwanese fruit exports and allowing Chinese tourists to visit Taiwan are part of its plan to bring about unification.

  Lin suggested that both political camps should deal with Beijing's unification-driven tactics in a pragmatic way, and always keep the a nation's interests in mind.
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