From Direct Cross-Strait Flights to an Asia-Pacific Trans-shipment Center

From Direct Cross-Strait Flights to an Asia-Pacific Trans-shipment Center
United Daily News editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
July 3, 2008

Tomorrow, July 4, 2008, is a landmark day for cross-strait exchanges. 1. The first direct, cross-strait weekend charter flight will take place. 2. Mainland tourists will arrive on Taiwan. The first batch will consist of 750 people.

News reports focus on two points: "mainland tourism" and "the stimulation of domestic demand." But this is only the superficial level. This event is significant because people on Taiwan have finally freed themselves from years of self-imposed incarceration. Through direct cross-strait exchanges, they are seeking to restore Taiwan's status in the Asia-Pacific region.

To spin "mainland tourists arriving on Taiwan" as a panacea that will "stimulate domestic demand" is excessive. Mainland tourists arriving on Taiwan are not the same as mainland tourists arriving in Hong Kong -- not yet. Mainland tourists arriving in Hong Kong have freedom of movement. They are free to patronize local businesses, limited only by their pocketbooks. This spreads wealth to all corners of Hong Kong. Mainland tourists arriving on Taiwan are only permitted to spend money along their route of travel, at "designated retail spots." Therefore if we want mainland tourists arriving on Taiwan to "stimulate domestic demand," we had better give them greater latitude.

The significance of mainland tourists flying directly to Taiwan is twofold: 1. It shows that cross-strait hostility has diminished and cross-strait exchanges have increased. The ruling and opposition parties on Taiwan and the mainland share the same perspective. This is a valuable step forward. 2. As mentioned earlier, direct cross-strait transportation links may finally link Taiwan with the Chinese mainland. Supplemented by other measures, they may help transform Taiwan into an Asia-Pacific Trans-shipment Center. One day, in addition to cross-strait tourism, the passenger manifests for on direct cross-strait flights may include a whole range of international VIPs. That could be the sign that Taiwan's political and economic status has changed.

If Taiwan develops into an "Asia-Pacific Trans-shipment Center" that will be the best guarantee of a "win-win cross-strait" scenario. Each side of the Taiwan Strait has its own calculations regarding bilateral relations. On Taiwan, some fear becoming a "vassal of the mainland." They fear that reliance on the mainland is a path of no return. On the mainland, some hope to bind Taiwan hand and foot. But even if Taiwan were to become a vassal of the mainland, that would be realpolitik, not statesmanship. If future cross-strait relations entails Taiwan becoming a vassal of the mainland, political turmoil on Taiwan and increasing cross-strait hostility are inevitable. After all, Taiwan has a democratic system of government. If future cross-strait relations lead to a loss of dignity, so that the people on Taiwan feel cheated, or bound, or dominated, the backlash on Taiwan must not be underestimated. Conversely, If Taiwan can, through cross-strait exchanges, gradually realize its dream of becoming an "Asia-Pacific Trans-shipment Center," if the public discovers that cross-strait relations benefit Taiwan's dignity and interests, cross-strait relations may become ultra-stable. Moreover, if Taiwan becomes an "Asia-Pacific Trans-shipment Center," the Chinese mainland will also be an economic beneficiary.

Last Saturday the United Daily News published an editorial. It examined Hu Jintao's cross-strait approach, and noted that the line separating a politician and a statesman is very thin indeed. Regarding Taiwan as a vassal of the mainland reflects the mindset of a politician. Helping Taiwan become an Asia-Pacific Trans-shipment Center reflects the mindset of a statesman. If Taiwan can become an Asia-Pacific Trans-shipment Center, Taiwan's democratic system will be more stable, and cross-strait relations will be more stable. If Taiwan is treated as a vassal of the mainland, Taiwan's democratic system will become less stable, and cross-strait relations will become less stable. Look at the past to see the future. Look at the microcosm to see the macrocosm. Look at the trees to see the forest. This is what the Beijing authorities ought to be thinking about as the first cross-strait charter flights begin arriving over the weekend.

The world is watching as mainland tourists arrive on Taiwan via direct cross-strait flights. Most people only pay attention to tourist activities and consumption. We would like to remind the Taiwan authorities that direct flights are not just for the sake of tourists. Even more importantly, they are for the sake of the "Asia-Pacific Trans-shipment Center." We should be giving it our full support. We should be actively deploying our personnel to ensure its realization. We would also like to remind the Beijing authorities that tourism is merely the icing. The cake is ultra-stable cross-strait relations, made possible by Taiwan's democratic political and economic institutions. Respond to Taiwan's desire for dignity. Look after Taiwan's interests. Help Taiwan become a "Asia-Pacific Regional Trans-shipment Center." We hope that when Chen Yunlin comes to Taiwan in October, he can straighten out the kinks, and make . weekday charter flights, direct air and maritime transport, participation in international organizations, and the additional international space, a reality.

In welcoming the advent of direct cross-strait transportation links, one cannot help wringing one's hands and lamenting 20 years of wasted opportunities, particularly after 1997. Allowing direct flights to the "the mainland region of Hong Kong" but not allowing direct flights to the mainland region of Shanghai or Beijing, was akin to burying one's head in the sand. Today we are mired in global inflation, perhaps even the shadow of another Great Depression. We are attempting belatedly to open up direct shipping and establish an "Asia-Pacific Trans-shipment Center." Has the last train already left the station? Or is another one on the way?

從兩岸直航到亞太平台
【聯合報╱社論】
2008.07.03 03:08 am

明天，二○○八年七月四日，是兩岸交流具有里程碑意義的日子：一、直航周末包機首航；二、陸客來台觀光「首發團」七百五十人到訪。

新聞的焦點似皆集中在「陸客觀光」及「擴大內需」兩個議題上，但這只是皮相層次；我們認為，此一事件應有的意義在於：台灣終於解脫了多年的自我束縛，得以透過兩岸直航交流，嘗試尋求台灣重建亞太區域角色的契機。

將「陸客來台」炒作成「擴大內需」的良方，其實有點過甚其詞。陸客來台，現階段與陸客到香港的「自由行」不同；「自由行」使陸客的消費隨市場機制「自然散布」至香港各角落；但團進團出的陸客來台，只會把錢花在旅途沿線的幾個「指定消費點」。因此，若真期望陸客來台能「擴大內需」，未來必須在政策上創造更大的空間。

陸客直飛來台，最重要的意義有二：一、顯示兩岸的敵意降低、交流升高，這在兩岸朝野的心理意識上，是一彌足珍貴的進展。二、如前所述，兩岸直航，使台灣終於可能透過與中國大陸的交通聯結，再輔以其他配套手段，設法建設台灣成為「亞太平台」；有朝一日，當兩岸直航班機上的乘客，除了兩岸往來的觀光客外，若能增添許多國際各個部門的菁英及國際觀光客，也許就是台灣政經角色地位改變的徵象。

台灣朝向「亞太平台」發展，是對「兩岸雙贏」的最大保證。海峽雙邊對兩岸直航或有不同算計：對台灣言，有人深恐自此成為「大陸的附庸」，陷入倚賴大陸的不歸路；對大陸言，也有人正想藉此套住台灣，亦即使台灣成為「大陸的附庸」。這是權謀者的心思，不是政治家的城府。倘若未來的兩岸關係，果真陷於「台灣是大陸的附庸」的情境，台灣政局的動盪及兩岸敵意的升高皆不可避免；因為，台灣畢竟是民主體制，倘若未來兩岸關係使台灣失卻尊嚴，使台灣人覺得受騙、被套住，或受到宰制，屆時台灣民意的反彈不可輕估。反過來說，倘若台灣能透過兩岸交流，漸漸營建其「亞太平台」的角色，而使民意深切認知兩岸關係是台灣利益與尊嚴的加分與正數，則兩岸關係始可能出現「超穩定結構」。何況，台灣若成為「亞太平台」，中國大陸在經貿上亦是當然的獲益者。

本報上周六社論討論胡錦濤的兩岸手法指出：權謀者與政治家只是一線之隔。將台灣視為「大陸附庸」，是權謀者的心思；使台灣成為「亞太平台」，是政治家的城府。台灣若能成為「亞太平台」，台灣內部的民主政經體制即可趨穩定，兩岸關係亦可穩定；倘若欲將台灣視為「大陸附庸」，台灣內部的民主政經體制即不可能穩定，兩岸關係亦不可能穩定。看近、看遠？見小、見大？見樹木、見森林？這是北京當局在兩岸周末包機首航日應有的省思。

陸客直飛來台觀光，全世界都在看。一般人皆只注意觀光客的活動花絮，但我們願提醒台灣當局：直航不只為了觀光客，更是為了營建「亞太平台」；應當全面配套、積極部署，全力促其實現。我們亦願寄語北京當局：觀光客只是「熱鬧」，但真正的「門道」是在必須透過台灣的民主政經體制建立兩岸關係的「超穩定結構」，那就是回應台灣在利益及尊嚴上的追求，協助台灣成為「亞太平台」。因此，我們希望，當陳雲林十月來台時，能帶著「截彎取直」、「平日包機」、「海空貨運直航」、「國際參與空間」等「伴手禮」到訪。

迎接兩岸直航的到臨，令人不由得為過去二十年的蹉跎扼腕浩嘆。尤其，在一九九七年後，容許直航「大陸領土香港」，卻不容直航同是大陸領土的上海或北京，真是「自欺欺人」。如今，當我們在全球大通膨，甚至大蕭條的陰影中開放直航，並重新對「亞太平台」升起憧憬，究竟是時不我予，還是來者可追、為時未晚？