Integration Demonstration Zone：A Popular Referendum on Cross-Strait Relations
Want Daily Editorial, September 14, 2023
Mainland China released the full text of a directive titled "Opinions on Supporting Fujian to Explore a New Path for Cross-Strait Integrated Development and Build a Demonstration Zone for Cross-Strait Integrated Development." Although it was announced at a sensitive time prior to the election, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Taiwan did not react as strongly as it did with the “solution for Taiwan” under "One Country, Two Systems" four years ago. The reason that the DPP has remained so low-key may become more evident with time. But more importantly, what signal is the mainland trying to send?
First, it is a signal for cross-strait peace. Since the mainland established its path of peaceful reunification 40 years ago, Fujian Province has transformed from a "front line for war preparations against Taiwan" to a "center of cross-strait exchanges." The launch of the integration demonstration zone plan also shows that the mainland has no intention of using force against Taiwan or changing to a path other than peaceful reunification. Otherwise, how could Fujian possibly invest resources in building a demonstration area in the hope of attracting Taiwanese compatriots and Taiwanese investment if it had to return to a front line for war preparations?
In recent years, some in the United States, mainland China, and Taiwan have been constantly throwing around hypothetical timetables for “military reunification,” including 2025, 2027, and 2035, all to heighten the atmosphere of a possible war in the Taiwan Strait. While the mainland has adopted an increasingly firm strategy towards the DPP and the right wing of the United States that supports Taiwan, they are opting for an increasingly “soft” strategy towards the people of the U.S. and Taiwan. The directive for integrated development starts off immediately by emphasizing that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are like one family, promoting integration through communication, mutual benefit, and affection, indicating that harmony and reunification are Communist China’s unchanging policy.
The second is a sign of respect for Taiwan's public opinion. The directive can be seen more as a friendly response to the demands of the Taiwanese public’s opinion on the premise of respecting the status quo of cross-strait separation. Many people think that the "New Four Links" between Fujian and Taiwan is Xi Jinping's unilateral proposition towards Taiwan in 2019, but this is not the case. In fact, Taiwan was the first to propose bridge and electricity connections between Kinmen, Matsu, and Fujian. It has been proposed by many since as early as the 1990s. The mainland discussing the Kinmen and Xiamen "one-day living circle" this time is showing their openness to the public’s opinion.
Before the full text of the directive was made public, some people speculated whether it would be regarding politics, but the final tone was set on economic, trade, cultural, and social levels. Anything involving public authorities fell under the mainland's own administrative level. This is the mainland's view on the current situation of cross-strait division and respect for Taiwan’s administration of Kinmen and Matsu. The Act Governing Cross-Strait Relations clearly stipulates that the public is not allowed to hold public positions such as in the party, government, military, National People's Congress, or Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). However, the directive indicates that the positions open to the Taiwanese people are limited to non-public positions such as social governance and judicial supervision.
The third signal is to promote integration. Kuomintang (KMT) presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) presidential candidate Ko Wen-je both put forward clear political opinions on the development of Kinmen. Hou proposed multiple ideas including, connecting Kinmen with the other side of the Taiwan Strait by providing electricity and communication, building Kinmen into a cross-strait transportation hub, a film and television cultural city, and a cross-strait medical zone. He also raised holding a referendum on the Kinmen-Xiamen Bridge and raising Kinmen’s soft power in attempts to make Kinmen a cross-strait economic and trade demonstration zone. Ko proposed that Kinmen should be used as a "peace experimental zone" between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait and believed that the Kinmen-Xiamen Bridge would definitely pass if a referendum was held in Kinmen.
The mainland's directive on building a cross-strait integrated development demonstration zone highlights their dominant attitude, but the policy propositions largely absorb and respond to various suggestions and perspectives from the KMT, TPP, and local public opinion in Kinmen and Matsu. If political party rotation is realized in the 2024 general election, and the two sides of the Taiwan Strait return to the path of peaceful development, Kinmen and Matsu’s "urban integration" and "demonstration zone" can be discussed and jointly promoted by both sides, creating a platform that is "visible" and "useful" for the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. For example, the new Xiamen Airport jointly shared by Kinmen and Xiamen allows Taiwanese civil flights to take off and land, which solves the problem that the land of the Kinmen Airport is too small to expand, and can become a "landmark of cross-strait peace.”
Even if the DPP remains in power in 2024, as long as the two sides can maintain an understanding of goodwill, and allow local governments to promote the construction of "integration demonstration zones" and "one-day living areas,” there is no need to be pessimistic about cross-strait relations. The Little Three Links and the Kinmen-Xiamen water connection were realized during the terms of President Chen Shui-bian and President Tsai Ing-wen. The Kinmen-Xiamen Bridge has become a cross-party consensus in Kinmen. The local DPP elected officials are also in full support. The DPP administration should not create obstacles. Under the financial promotion policies, even if ECFA is suspended in the future, according to the directive, the original preferential treatment for Taiwanese companies registered in Kinmen, Matsu, and Fujian should be kept.
As a result, various hardware constructions in the Kinmen and Matsu area are bound to be upgraded and become a new cross-strait transportation and freight hub. Not only will Taiwan's flow of people, logistics, and cash move towards the local area, but the "integration demonstration zone" spanning the two sides of Fujian and Taiwan will become more prosperous. By then, the growth for people's livelihood and well-being on both sides of the Taiwan Strait will replace the ideological struggle for reunification and independence. The “Opinions on Building a Cross-Strait Integrated Development Demonstration Zone” is a kind of "popular referendum" attempting to win over the Taiwanese public.
From: https://www.chinatimes.com/opinion/20230914004654-262102