President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) decision to cease the functions of the National Unification Council (NUC) and unification guidelines will not encourage more Taiwanese investment in China, political observers said.
Recently, the Chamber of Taiwanese Businessmen in China said the president's decision on the NUC may prompt Taiwanese business-people based in China to think that the investment environment in Taiwan is deteriorating, encouraging them to invest more in China.
Wu Li-pei (吳澧培), a senior presidential adviser, said that it baffles him that China-based Taiwanese businesspeople would want to invest more in China following the president's decision on the NUC and unification guidelines.
"If the president's move fueled tension in the Taiwan Strait, it doesn't make sense for China-based Taiwanese businesspeople to want to pour more money there," Wu said.
The only reasonable explanation, Wu said, would be if China was willing to conduct bilateral talks with Taiwan unconditionally, therefore making cross-strait trade more vibrant.
"Unfortunately, we don't see that happening," Wu said.
Chang Jung-feng (張榮豐), vice president of the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research, said the chamber's remark was political in nature, but said the government must map out a concrete plan for future economic development.
While China has made it clear that cross-strait talks will not happen unless Taiwan accepts the "one China" principle, Wu called on the US government to play a pro-active role in cross-strait relations.
Instead of being a facilitator, Wu said the US should help create a more amiable atmosphere for both sides, and help them put aside political ideology and focus on establishing an economic management mechanism.
Wu, who played a significant role in Chen's New Year announcement that cross-strait economic and trade policies would be adjusted from "active opening, effective management" to "active management, effective opening," said that the policy adjustment was necessary for the sake of economic development and national security.
Since the 2001 Economic Development Advisory Conference set cross-strait economic policy as "active opening, effective management," Taiwan has gradually become increasingly dependent on the Chinese market, Wu said.
In addition, high-tech companies have relocated to China and therefore gradually reduced Taiwan's competitive edge in the sector.
While Chen has expressed the hope of holding a second advisory conference to discuss economic policy, Wu said he did not think it was necessary because the first meeting created more problems than answers.
Since the president has already set down future cross-strait economic policy as "active management, effective opening," Wu said it is not necessary to hold a second economic development meeting.
If the meeting must be held, Wu said that he would like to see industrial and commercial leaders refrain from dictating the meeting and let academics and experts do the job.
Wu said he would like to see the meeting focus on how to implement the "active management, effective opening" policy.
Wu added that the government must provide funding to niche industries and do business with countries other than just China.
To that end, Wu said the administration must cultivate more professionals through education, analyze investment opportunities in other countries and negotiate favorable trading terms.
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