Tsai Administration Walks the Tight Rope
China Times, May 9, 2020
With high popularity stemming from her re-election and Taiwan’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, President Tsai Ing-wen has focused on overall stability by extending the term of incumbent Premier Su Tseng-tsang before the presidential inauguration on May 20.
Yet on the other hand, President Tsai has authorized Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators to propose amendments to the Additional Articles of the Constitution and Act Governing Cross-Strait Relations, along with prosecutorial indictment of Taiwanese businessmen, actions which have stirred harmful waves. The moves show how the Tsai administration is not thinking about de-escalating tensions with China. It is instead playing psychological warfare and walking the tight rope, which puts Taiwan in grave danger.
Provoking China Risks Unforeseeable Consequences
Huang Hsin-chieh, a founding veteran of the DPP, said in 1989 during the party’s internal debate on Taiwan independence: “Some things can be said but cannot be done. Some things cannot be said but can be done”. These words are viewed as referring to political slogans like “reclaiming the mainland” and “Taiwan independence,” respectively. The history shows Huang’s political intelligence and harmonious negotiation skills.
President Tsai’s policy of maintaining the status quo in cross-strait matters and promoting peace and stability under the Republic of China (ROC) Constitution, Act Governing Cross-Strait Relations, and other relevant legal and political foundations, has formed the political common ground among the Taiwanese people since the presidential elections in 2012, 2016, and 2020. But now, ruling party legislators want to delete the “unification” wording from the Act Governing Cross-Strait Relations, obviously to anger China and absolving President Tsai of any responsibility but recklessly putting Taiwan’s security in danger.
It should be known that even amidst freezing cross-strait relations, China has never viewed “maintaining the status quo” by Taiwan as justification for military invasion, according to the mainland’s Anti-Secession Act. One reason is that the R.O.C. Constitution and Act Governing Cross-Strait Relations are at least based upon the principle of “one China” and “one country, two areas.” But once this red line is crossed, the consequences are difficult to predict.
Political Moves Implicate Taiwanese Businessmen
As to the prosecution of the president of a Taiwanese business association before the presidential inauguration, the purpose is a demonstrative warning, like spanking one’s child for others to see. No wonder Taiwanese businessmen are condemning the Tsai administration for initiating bad practices, infinitely escalating matters for political purposes, making things more difficult for businessmen working on either side of the strait.
Actually, to fundamental supporters of Taiwan independence, Taiwanese businessmen are not part of them. Even Yao Jen-to, vice chairman and secretary-general of the Straits Exchange Foundation, who has in the recent years developed close relations with Taiwanese businessmen and helped fight for their rights, suggested resigning before the inauguration.
Unwise to Ignore Cross-Strait Tensions and Rely on Pure Luck
Just like the psychological warfare of aligning your attitude before showing your hand is to have a calm attitude. Although one may wish for success, he must also prepare for loss. But one should avoid five possibilities of losing: from fear, lightness, hastiness, unpreparedness, and pure luck.
At this sensitive time before the presidential inauguration, the Tsai administration should not take advantage of its high domestic approval ratings and external hostility between China and the United States, thereby taking cross-strait tensions lightly and acting hastily. The moves to prosecute the Taiwanese businessman and amend the Act Governing Cross-Strait Relations in order to test the waters rely upon pure lock and are unwise. These are not only matters attracting mockery but are serious issues potentially implicating all the people.
From: https://www.chinatimes.com/newspapers/20200509000338-260102?chdtv