Hu Siew Summit: Moving Towards Win/Win Through Change

Hu Siew Summit: Moving Towards Win/Win Through Change
United Daily News editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
April 7, 2008

Changes in the world's strategic scene have created pitfalls for the unwary. During the ROC Presidential Election, Vincent Siew's "Cross-Strait Common Market" was criticized mercilessly. Today, Vice President elect Vincent Siew, in his capacity as Chairman of the Cross-Strait Common Market Foundation Chairman, will attend the Boao Forum for Asia being held this weekend on Hainan Island. With with the eyes of the world upon him, he may take part in a "Hu Siew Summit."

The theme of the Boao Forum this year is "Green Asia, Moving towards Win-Win through Change." This theme suggests the possibility of exciting developments. Vice President elect Vincent Siew is willing to attend. The Beijing authorities have welcomed him. What is this, if not an opportunity to "move towards win-win through change?"

The two sides are undergoing major internal changes. These include how they govern their respective jurisdictions and how to cope with change, including changes in cross-strait policy. Mainland China's three decades of liberalization and reform need no comment. Mainland China is returning to the grass roots and the rule of law. It may even be testing the waters of democracy. Objectively speaking, Hu Jintao's handling of the mainland's "peaceful rise" has been remarkably skillful. So have Beijing's handling of changes in cross-strait policy. As soon as Ma and Siew were elected, Hu Jintao reaffirmed the 1992 Consensus and One China/Different Interpretations, without being asked. Today he has given the Hu/Siew Summit a boost. This is a sign of change and offers the promise of a win-win future.

Taiwan's changes are even more apparent. The election victory of the Ma/Siew ticket reflects a major backlash against a decade of "creeping independence" and Closed Door economic policies. The election foretells a major change in governing style and cross-strait policy. This is both heart-breaking and inspiring. It is heart-breaking because Taiwan wasted a decade of precious time. It is inspiring because it eventually led to introspection and change. Ten years of wasted time is a heavy price to pay for such a lesson. That is why it has left such a deep impression. This Legislative Elections and the Presidential Election have lent these changes greater legitimacy.

This change in cross-strait relations is the result of six decades of trial and error, beginning with the lifting of martial law 20 years ago. A heavy price has been paid in blood, sweat, and tears. Now, as a result of the Legislative Elections and Presidential Election, the Taipei side is returning to the "Path of the Republic of China." The Beijing side, meanwhile, has reaffirmed the "One China, Different Interpretations" stance. This opportunity was hard won. With the Boao Forum, the two sides now have an unprecedented platform. Let's hope the two sides do not retreat from their determination to change. Let's hope they do not give up on their efforts to establish a win/win scenario.

Let us hope that when Hu Jintao and Vincent Siew meet at the Boao Forum, they can establish a New Hu/Hsiao Era, or even a 2008 Cross-Strait Consensus. Hu and Siew are the ideal candidates to usher in this New Era. Hu Jintao has managed the mainland's "peaceful rise" with a steady hand. He has made room for One China, Different Interpretations. This offers the prospect of a cross-strait opening on a grand scale. In 2001 Vincent Siew established his Cross-Strait Common Market Foundation. Like Don Quixote, he may have been the first person of his prominence to establish a cross-strait platform. Now Siew is Vice President elect, and determined to promote a win-win cross-strait scenario. Seven years ago, who knew Vincent Siew would be in the catbird seat today? Who knew his foundation would become to the key that would open cross-strait relations? Heaven works in mysterious ways.

We believe Hu and Siew are capable of acting as agents of cross-strait change. We believe they are credible figures capable of promoting a win/win cross-strait scenario. Therefore, even though the two sides may be tentative about the current Boao Forum, we hope they will not waste this opportunity to make tectonic changes. They ought to make a concerted effort to create a "2008 Cross-Strait Consensus."

As we previously mentioned, both Taipei and Beijing have changed their cross-strait policies. These changes are rooted in the changes each side has made in its style of governance. Beijing's theme is "peaceful rise" and a return to the grass roots. Taipei's theme is "peaceful coexistence" and democracy. Taipei cannot adopt a Taiwan independence policy, a Closed Door economic policy, or a policy that "betrays Taiwan" by "immediate reunification." Beijing cannot adopt a "reunification by force" policy. Nor can it refuse to maintain the status quo, which is One China, Different Interpretations. This constitutes change and a win/win scenario.

For Hu Jintao and Vincent Siew, the theme for the Boao Forum this year ought to be "Cross-Strait Surprises leading to Win/Win" We look forward to Vincent Siew returning to Boao the same time next year.

胡蕭會博鰲：在變革中實現共贏！
【聯合報╱社論】
2008.04.07 02:50 am

世局變化，充滿玄機。總統大選期間，蕭萬長的「兩岸共同市場」被對手批評得體無完膚；如今，當選副總統的蕭萬長，卻將以「兩岸共同市場基金會董事長」的身分，出席周末在海南島舉行的博鰲亞洲論壇，並可能出現舉世矚目的「胡蕭會」。

今年博鰲論壇的主題是：「綠色亞洲：在變革中實現共贏。」這句標語的弦外之音，令人覺得彷彿早已預知會有今日的驚奇發展；準副總統蕭萬長願意出席，地主北京當局也表示歡迎，這難道不是海峽兩岸「在變革中實現共贏」的重要契機？

兩岸內部皆在進行重大的「變革」，包括各自「國家治理」的「變革」，與各自「兩岸政策」的「變革」。中國大陸三十年來「改革開放」的「變革」已無庸贅論，一方面回歸「民本」，一方面嘗試「法治」，另一方面亦試探微量的「民主」；客觀而論，胡錦濤主政以來，對於「和平崛起」的操持，頗見功力。至於北京當局對兩岸政策的「變革」，亦甚顯著，此次馬蕭當選後，胡錦濤主動在布胡熱線中提出「九二共識／一中各表」，如今又為「胡蕭會」順水推舟，這應是「變革」的徵兆，也是「共贏」的期待。

台灣方面的「變革」更是有目共睹。馬蕭勝選，反映了台灣社會對過去十餘年「政治傾台獨／經濟傾鎖國」之政策路線的大反省；選舉結果已預示了「國家治理」的「大變革」，也預示了「兩岸政策」的「大變革」。這是一個既傷感又可期待的場景：傷感是因台灣蹉跎了過去十餘年的黃金歲月；可期待則由於此次的反省與變革，因曾付出十餘年慘重的代價而特別深刻，又因是經立院及總統的民主選舉程序而形成，所以更具正當性。

然而，兩岸關係出現今日的「變革」契機，其實是經歷了過去近六十年（尤其是解嚴後二十年）的「嘗試錯誤」所形成，其間曾經付出「血／淚／汗」的慘重代價；一直到此刻，經由這次立院及總統大選，台北方面始又回到「中華民國路線」，北京方面也才試探性地釋出了「一中各表」的訊息。此一契機得來不易，如今雙方又藉博鰲論壇搭起空前規格的互動平台，切勿動搖「變革」的心志，更不可輕易放棄了「共贏」的期待！

我們期盼，胡錦濤與蕭萬長能在此次博鰲論壇中正式會晤，為兩岸揭開一個「胡蕭會／新時代」，甚至奠定一個「兩岸○八共識」。其實，胡蕭二人正是為這個新時代揭幕的最佳人選。胡錦濤對「和平崛起」的穩健操持，與釋出「一中各表」的空間，皆顯示兩岸對他可有大開大闔的期待。蕭萬長在二○○一年創建「兩岸共同市場基金會」，猶如唐吉訶德，他可說是台灣以個人身分致力建構兩岸平台的第一人；如今蕭萬長竟然成了「準副總統」，亦仍以促進兩岸交流雙贏為職志；七年前，誰想到蕭萬長有今日？誰又想到他的這個「基金會」如今竟成了打開兩岸關係的鑰匙？冥冥之中，深藏天機。

我們願意相信：胡蕭二人在人格深處皆可作為兩岸「變革」的代表人物，亦是共同促進兩岸「共贏」的可信任人物。因此，兩岸當局對此次博鰲之會，或許仍採試探性的保留態度，但我們期望，不要虛耗了這天造地設的契機，應當共同努力營造出一種「兩岸博鰲○八共識」的高度。

前文論及，台北與北京各自「兩岸政策」的「變革」，其實是深植在各自「國家治理」的「變革」之中。當北京的「國家治理」是以「和平崛起」與「民本」為主軸，而台北的「國家治理」是以「和平共生」與「民主」為主軸；台北就不可能採「台獨／鎖國」或「統一／賣台」的兩岸政策；北京則不可能「武力統一」，也不可能不設法維持「一中各表」的「現狀」。這就是「變革」，也才是「共贏」。

對於胡錦濤及蕭萬長而言，今年博鰲論壇的主題應當是：「多彩兩岸：在變革中實現共贏！」明年此時，我們仍期待蕭萬長能到博鰲小鎮。