To Avoid Cross-Strait Conflict, Only Pragmatic Communication Can Maintain Goodwill
United Daily Editorial, August 27, 2022
Vice Chairman Andrew Hsia of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) led a delegation to visit mainland China and met with President Zhang Zhijun of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS). Afterwards, Communist China announced that it would conduct naval exercises along the coast of Fujian. The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has strong doubts and believe that Hsia’s trip is sending a wrong message to the world, and is affecting the unity domestically. Former DPP Chairman Hsu Hsin-liang stated that Hsia’s visit let those across the strait believe that there is still room for discussion when it comes to the Taiwan issues, that it is not to the point where force is the only choice. This move is beneficial for Taiwan, and that the DPP should not attack all of those who have a different ideology.
Hsu currently serves as chairman of the Foundation on Asia-Pacific Peace Studies, a think tank relating to the National Security Bureau. His words are separate from President Tsai Ing-wen and the DPP. Although it does not represent the government, the organization has indicated the seriousness of the problem. The government and opposition camps are extremely negative towards Hsia’s visit to the mainland. From a perspective regarding the Taiwan Strait crisis and election, many believe that the timing is not right. However, the Tsai administration has continued to use American politicians visiting Taiwan to heighten tensions, but when confronted with the crisis in the Taiwan Strait, they pretend to be keeping a low profile and not aware. When it comes to China imposing sanctions on Taiwanese industries, Taiwan cannot do anything. Such self-deception and contradictory behavior are not in Taiwan's interests nor good for the national security in the long run. If the government itself does not act, should the opposition party also do nothing?
The Hsia-Zhang meeting was held in the form of a meal banquet, which was deliberately done to seem less political, and both sides can also talk openly. Hsia expressed the Taiwanese people's dissatisfaction with the military exercises encircling Taiwan, as well as their concerns about the preservation and abolition of economic and trade exchanges such as Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), and hoped that the political confrontation could avoid spreading to the economic, trade and social realms as much as possible. The Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) of the State Council's press release was rather brief and to the point, emphasizing that the mainland's countermeasures are defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and are to stop Taiwan independence and foreign interference. Regarding the cross-strait dialogue, it reiterated the common political basis of the "1992 Consensus" and "anti-Taiwan independence", and did not mention reunification.
This is the first cross-strait dialogue since the fourth crisis in the Taiwan Strait. The fact that there was a face-to-face conversation is already not easy. The KMT used the topic of mainland Chinese military exercises to express Taiwan public opinion, paying attention to the economy, trade and the people's livelihood which does not violate the government's position. The Hsia-Zhang meeting is similar to the different stances of the U.S.-China dialogue, not seeking to be the same, reserving their differences, but maintaining the goodwill of dialogue. It is worth noting that the mainland is more flexible than before, and is willing to listen to Taiwan's negative public opinion, not just one-sided voices.
Regarding the Hsia-Zhang meeting, the DPP's position is extremely contradictory. DPP supporters first accused Hsia of "selling Taiwan" when he met with the CCP's high-level officials, and then scorned the "ineffective communication" and the KMT’s "begging for mercy and being rejected" after the two meetings. This attitude reflects the emptiness and aimlessness of the DPP's cross-strait policy. If a meal banquet can ease the tensions of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, why doesn't the Tsai administration take an active role? In addition to provocative words, what efforts have the ruling party made for cross-strait peace? The Tsai administration has been silent about missiles crossing the capital, aircraft and ships invading territorial waters, and turning a blind eye to drones intruding on the front lines. Can it be regarded as defending the dignity of the country? Isn't pretending to be dumb begging for mercy?
At the same time as the Hsia-Zhang meeting, the Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman of the United States met with Qin Gang, the mainland Chinese Ambassador to the United States. They discussed the issue of Taiwan, but not give any public statements. The Tsai administration is not worried about the secret talks between the United States and mainland China, and them selling out Taiwan, but it spending this time to make a big deal out of the Hsia-Zhang meeting. It would rather let the big countries determine the future of Taiwan, but will not accept the opposition party speaking out for the people of Taiwan to the other side of the strait.
What Hsia did was originally the responsibility of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), but unfortunately the SEF has lost its ability to communicate. The mainland's recent retaliatory actions have harmed the livelihoods of farmers, fishermen and small and medium-sized enterprises. The small three links have been interrupted by the "political epidemic," the Taiwanese being scammed and sold abroad, all of these are all about the rights and interests of the people, but the ruling party has done nothing. If the Tsai government was really doing something, why would the KMT have to step in?
The government has been receiving U.S. senators and congressmen recently, seemingly countering the China's "new normal", but in fact it is bluffing. No number of international visitors can cover the fact that U.S. warships deliberately keep a distance from the Taiwan Strait. The recent article “Taiwan Can't Rely on the Daddy America to Solve its Problems” in the Foreign Policy criticized the Tsai administration for not being prepared for the new normal created by Beijing, while appearing confident but relying on foreign aid to protect Taiwan. The term "Daddy America" is especially ironic. As head of state, President Tsai placed all national interests on the United States, and is willing to be used as a pawn by other countries. What is the sense of sovereignty?