Cross-strait stability is crucial for Taiwan’s international relations, but the government should be more transparent in its negotiations with Beijing to appease public concerns, academics said at a forum in Taipei yesterday.
Institute of International Relations director Cheng Tuan-yao (鄭端耀) said that while Taiwan should strive to maintain “effective communications channels” with Beijing and strike a balance to ensure the interests of both sides, the government should also make more information about its dealings with China available to the public.
Cheng made the remarks at a forum hosted by National Chengchi University on President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) “diplomatic truce.”
After 12 years of failed attempts because of Beijing’s obstruction, Taiwan for the first time participated in the World Health Assembly (WHA) last month as an observer under the title “Chinese Taipei.”
Some have said the public remains in the dark about deals that the government may have made with Beijing so that Taiwan could attend.
The WHO has said it was not involved in securing Taiwan’s participation at the WHA and that it only issued an invitation after being notified of the results of cross-strait talks on the matter.
Institute research fellow Yen Chen-shen (嚴震生) told the forum that according to international practice, the details of bilateral negotiations are often concealed from public view. However, he said, Taiwan could consider emulating the US government by sharing the information with opposition lawmakers behind closed doors.
“This is a matter of trust between the people and the government,” Center for International Negotiation director Teng Chung-chian (鄧中堅) said.
The government should brief all political parties at the conclusion of each round of talks with China, he said.
Meanwhile, Yen said that rather than fighting for an official seat at the UN, Taiwan should put energy into seeking participation at UN agencies by adopting the strategy used to gain access to the WHA.
“We should make a priority list of organizations we want to join — and we shouldn’t always have to negotiate with Beijing beforehand,” Yen said, adding that Taiwan should make its case with the agencies.
Meanwhile, the academics welcomed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ announcement that it would close five of its 121 overseas representative offices.
Cheng said the action showed that the government was placing more emphasis on efficiency.
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