ROC President Ma Ying-jeou said his administration plans to bolster exchanges with the U.S. on the back of closer cross-strait ties and Taiwan’s growing role as a peacemaker in the international community.
“We are deeply appreciative of Taiwan-U.S. relations and ongoing arm sales from Washington,” Ma said. “The mutual trust that has been restored between the two sides is giving Taiwan confidence and allowing us to engage with mainland China from a position of strength.”
The president made the remarks during an April 16 video conference with leading U.S. academics hosted by Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law.
Chaired by former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the event’s other panelists at the Stanford University Bechtel Conference Center included Larry Diamond, director of the CDDRL; Francis Fukuyama, senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies; and Gary Roughead, a former chief of operations with the U.S. Navy.
Ma said the healthy state of Taipei-Washington ties is illustrated by robust economic relations; Taiwan’s admission to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program; and shared cultural and sporting interests such as baseball and basketball.
“We are crazy about Jeremy Lin and Wang Chien-ming,” Ma said, referring to NBA Houston Rockets point guard Lin and MLB New York Yankees pitcher Wang.
The president said former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton also described in 2011 Taiwan as an important American security and economic partner.
On the economic front, Ma said his administration’s commitment to further liberalizing Taiwan-U.S. trade is evidenced by the resolution of problems surrounding U.S. beef imports last July.
The two sides have also just concluded talks under the Taiwan-U.S. Trade and Investment Framework Agreement in March in Taipei City, Ma said, adding that this development is in line with his building blocks approach to expanding bilateral economic exchanges.
This undertaking also lays the foundation for Taiwan to join trade pacts such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
“We have been left behind, very much left behind,” Ma said. “We need to catch up, and catch up fast. Becoming a free trade island is the only way to survive.”
The TPP is a proposed trade agreement comprising negotiating partners Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and the U.S. Other nations such as Japan and South Korea are also looking to join discussions on the nascent pact.
Driven by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the RCEP comprises 16 economies, including Australia, India, Japan and mainland China. If realized, the trading bloc will permit a greater flow of goods and services and encompass a combined economic output of US$20 trillion, or almost one-third of the global economy.
Concerning Taipei-Beijing exchanges, Ma said both sides enjoy “special relations” as set out under the ROC Constitution and not acknowledging each other’s sovereignty but recognizing respective governing authority.
“Most people in Taiwan want to maintain the cross-strait status quo based on the principle of no unification, no independence and no use of force, as well as the Constitution and 1992 consensus. This is the will of the people and best way of furthering cross-strait relations.”
The 1992 consensus is an informal, oral understanding that there exists only one China, inclusive of Taiwan and mainland China, with both sides agreeing to differ on its precise political definition. It has served as the basis for Taipei’s dialogue with Beijing since Ma took office in May 2008.
Ma said Taiwan’s robust democracy is impacting mainland Chinese visitors to Taiwan, helping them to see the differences between the two sides and clearing up misunderstandings stemming from the cross-strait political divide.
“Our democracy and increased people-to-people exchanges will sow the seeds for a consensus on the future direction of cross-strait relations. This represents the virtuous cycle of improving Taipei-Beijing ties.”
On issues of regional security, Ma said recent headway made between Taiwan and Japan over the Diaoyutai Islets augurs well for the peaceful resolution of disputes in the East and South China seas.
“The fisheries pact inked by Taipei and Tokyo in the last six days is a milestone development in bilateral ties. It safeguards the security of fishermen from both sides in the zone, and further enhances regional peace.”
Ma added that the agreement illustrates the viability of his East China Sea peace initiative and the willingness of both sides to set aside differences without undermining maritime and sovereignty claims.
Proposed by the president Aug. 5, 2012, the five-point initiative urges all parties to refrain from antagonistic actions; not abandon dialogue; observe international law; resolve disputes through peaceful means; and form a mechanism for exploring and developing resources on a cooperative basis.
The initiative also features a two-phase implementation: dialogue and talks, then cooperation on exploring and sharing natural resources. Under this framework, Taipei, Tokyo and Beijing can conduct bilateral discussions before progressing to trilateral negotiations—essential steps in realizing peace and cooperation in the region, Ma said.
An uninhabited archipelago located roughly 102 nautical miles northeast of Taiwan proper, the Diaoyutais are historically attached to the ROC and include Diaoyutai Island and four other islets. (RC-JSM)
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