The ruling parties of Taiwan and the authoritarian People's Republic of China unmistakably signalled yesterday their common intention to accelerate Taiwan's economic integration into the PRC-led "one China market" under the guise of an "economic cooperation framework agreement."
In the wake of the symbolic setback suffered by Ma's right-wing Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) in the Dec. 5 "three-in-one" local elections, pundits have been divided on whether the polls would compel the Ma administration to slow down or accelerate the negotiations for the controversial trade pact.
Yesterday's meeting between Taipei's Strait Exchange Foundation Chairman Chiang Ping-kun and Beijing's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait Chairman Chen Yunlin not only resulted in the signing of three relatively minor agreements but also manifested the intent of both the KMT and CCP regimes to accelerate the pace of cross-strait economic integration.
In the wake of the erosion of Ma's popularity and the resurgence of the opposition Taiwan-centric and center-left Democratic Progressive Party, it is evident that Beijing's Chinese Communist Party regime is concerned over the durability of the Ma government and will make the maximum feasible use of the next two and a half years to cement Taiwan's economic, social and even political integration into the PRC's orbit.
This ambition was scarcely masked in the remarks made by both Chen Yunlin during his first two days in Taichung and statements made by ARATS Vice Chairman Zheng Lizhong in a news conference yesterday evening after the Chiang - Chen talks and the ceremonial signing of the three pacts.
In an exercise of policy "tunnel vision," Ma and his KMT administration have long touted Taiwan's integration with the PRC as the only way for salvation for the Taiwan economy in the wake of the implementation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the PRC on January 1 and refused any dialogue on alternative strategies.
However, the ARATS delegation yesterday expressed clearly for the first time that Beijing has a "positive" attitude toward the proposal and hopes that the agreement will lead to full market liberalization and "rational allocation of resources" across the Taiwan Strait.
Zheng told reporters stated that the pact would have "special cross-strait characteristics" and that Beijing would consider Taiwan's "market absorption capacity" and thus delivered clear hints that Beijing would see the pact as a "domestic" arrangement and would require Ma to compromise on his promise to reject further liberalization of agricultural imports.
'No hesitation'
While both the SEF and ARATS leaders remained the false mantra that the ECFA would only involve "purely economic issues," Zheng also affirmed Beijing's aim to promote "comprehensive cross-strait peaceful development" and to press forward with talks on "political and security issues" on the foundations built in the ECFA negotiations under the assumption that "everyone on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are all Chinese."
Moreover, in a one-on-one dialogue with Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council Chairwoman Lai Shin-yuan, ARATS Chairman Chen Yunlin conceded that the need to "respect" differing views in Taiwan, but "it would be unfavorable for cross-strait relations if there was any hesitation or wavering due to opposing views."
Nevertheless, the PRC side will attempt to ensure that Ma and his China-tilting KMT administration does not become overly exposed as subservient to the CCP's economic, social and political agenda.
The decision to delay the signing of the proposed agreement on the avoidance of dual taxation was explained by the existence of differences on "technical issues," but may well have been a signal by the Ma administration that it does not have to sign every pact or concede to each PRC demand.
However, yesterday's declarations by SEF Chairman Chiang Ping-kun that the ECFA is "an inevitable trend" shows that this posturing is mainly a front to curb the expanding opposition to the ECFA in Taiwan.
It is possible that both KMT and CCP leaders have interpreted the decision by the DPP leadership to hold one large but well disciplined demonstration against the ECFA talks under the banner of "Protect Our Rice Bowls, Break the Black Box" Sunday and the lack of major violent protests as a sign of weakness.
However, such a judgement would be in error as both the Dec.5 election, numerous opinion polls and Sunday's march in Taichung to "Protect Rice Bowls and Break the Black Box" have shown growing concern among citizens over the KMT's incompetence, the lack of democratic transparency and accountability in the KMT-CCP talks, the domination of the cross-strait agenda by the two regime's party and business elites and the failure of the cross-strait pacts to address the most pressing needs of Taiwan's ordinary people.
Indeed, yesterday's substantive declaration by the KMT and CCP to accelerate the formation of a "one China market" without "hesitation in the face of opposing views" will breed greater polarization in Taiwan and fuel the appeal of calls that "the Taiwan people should decide" on cross-strait agreements through the direct democratic mechanism of referendum.
Source: Taiwan News Online - Editorial 2009/12/23
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