Chaiwan: The Imaginary and the Real

Chaiwan: The Imaginary and the Real
United Daily News editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
June 2, 2009

A few days ago the South Korean media "provided intense coverage of Chaiwan." It vividly depicted the impact cross-Strait economic cooperation is having on South Korea.

"Chaiwan" is a term coined by the South Korean media. It denotes [Mainland] China plus Taiwan. It reveals South Korea's sensitivities. It also shows that the so-called thaw between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait is not merely a figment of the imagination, but has in fact brought about a change in the political climate, one that has spread to the entire region. South Korea, due to its geopolitical proximity and its highly competitive relationship with both sides of the Taiwan Strait, has been the first to feel the impact of this change.

In fact, over a month and a half ago, the South Korean media reported that the "Chaiwan LCD industry was launching a pincers movement against South Korea." It said that Mainland China was "stimulating domestic demand" and "marketing home appliances to rural households" in order to draw Taiwan businesses closer. It was making large purchases of Taiwan products and promoting cross-Strait business cooperation to expand production capacity. This was seriously crowding out products manufactured by South Korea's Samsung and LG. Call it "Joint [Mainland] China and Taiwan Forces" if you like. Call it "Chaiwan" if you like. Either way, it demonstrates that cross-Strait economic cooperation is a force to be reckoned with.

Let's take a closer look at the meaning of "Joint [Mainland] China and Taiwan Forces." The first half of the compound term "Chaiwan" refers to Mainland China's substantial capital and markets. The second half refers to Taiwan's electronics industry and its abundant skilled labor, technology, and global perspective. In other words, the two sides each have strengths which complement each other, link to each other, thereby creating synergies. This is why South Korea is so nervous. If the two sides struggle independently, or even struggle against each other, then the two sides can only watch idly as South Korean brands retain their lead.

From this perspective, South Korea should thank Lee Teng-hui's "No Haste, Be Patient" policy, and Chen Shui-bian's "Closed Door" policy. Here one can find the cross-Strait contradictions that provided South Korea with the room to grow. Taiwan wasted over a decade. Only then did it cast off its enmity for the Mainland. Only then did it emerge from the shadow of hate. Cross-Strait economic cooperation is still anathema to some elements on Taiwan. But at least Taiwan has emerged from the doldrums of the financial crisis, and liberated itself from the Closed Door Policy. Doesn't the South Korean business community's terror of "Joint [Mainland] China and Taiwan Forces" help us see the time and opportunities we lost?

Language is often filled with illusions. The term "Chaiwan" breezily links the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, as if the "Joint [Mainland] China and Taiwan Forces" constituted an actual force. In fact, we all know that the Taiwan Strait hasn't been filled in. A large gap remains between the two sides. Chaiwan is merely a concept invented by the foreign media. It doesn't even rate the term "imaginary entity." So the next question is, can the governments and people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait give "Chaiwan" real meaning? The cross-Strait division of labor will help maintain a healthy, mutually beneficial relationship. It will increase equality, and help the two sides systematically move away from short term rush orders, hot money/refugee capital, and no cap procurements, to a cross-Strait economic platform. Only then will "Chaiwan" cease being a neologism, and metamorphose into a concept of historical significance.

To say that "Chaiwan" has left South Korea trembling is of course an exaggeration. South Korean companies still see "Joint [Mainland] China and Taiwan Forces" playing catch-up. But during the first quarter of this year, Taiwan's flat panel industry racked up a 56% share of the Mainland China market. It reduced South Korea's market share from 46% last year to less than 30% this year. For Taiwan this is a victory worth celebrating. Had the governments on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait not forsaken hostilities and evinced good faith, how could Taiwan businesses have enjoyed such an opportunity amidst the global chill?

Cross-Strait co-operation has led to satisfying results. But the two sides have also discovered differences, disagreements, even conflicts. These have yet to be overcome and worked out. Especially important is how to keep cross-Strait relationship neither too hot nor too cold. This includes the pace at which Mainland capital is allowed in, and its extent. This includes the "cross-Strait peace dividend" that stock market analysts have been speculating about. All these could lead to unexpected conflicts in cross-Strait cooperation, endangering the whole enterprise. Caution is essential.

South Korea's biggest lament as it watches "Chaiwan's" rise is that both Korea and China are divided countries. The two sides of the Taiwan Strait are now able to work with each other. South Korea meanwhile, must face the threat of North Korean missiles. Opportunities for peace do not come easily. Taiwan has already missed many opportunities over the years. People on Taiwan should be able to understand South Koreans' anxiety. As for Taiwan, its challenge is how to maintain its cherished values and long-term viability. This test has only just begun!

Chaiwan的想像與真實
【聯合報╱社論】
2009.06.02 06:21 am

南韓媒體日前一篇「凶猛追擊的Chaiwan」報導，生動描繪了台海兩岸經濟合作威力對南韓形成的震撼。

「Chaiwan」（中國China加台灣Taiwan）一詞由南韓媒體創製出來，除了反映南韓的敏感神經，也顯示所謂的兩岸融冰已不純然是政治想像的圖景，它已帶來氣候變化，且正向區域擴散。南韓由於地緣上的鄰近，加以經貿上與兩岸具有高度競合關係，因而最早敏銳感受到變化的滋味。

其實，更早在一個半月前，南韓媒體即曾出現「中台ＬＣＤ聯軍夾攻韓國」的報導，指出中國利用「刺激內需」及「家電下鄉」政策拉攏台灣企業，大舉購買台灣產品，並促使兩岸企業合作擴大產能，對韓國三星及ＬＧ等企業的產品造成嚴重擠壓。稱之為「中台聯軍」也好，稱之為「Chaiwan」也罷，都顯示兩岸經濟合作已產生不容忽視的威力。

如果進一步探討「中台聯軍」的意涵，在Chaiwan這個複合詞中，前半截包涵了中國大陸龐大的資金和市場，後半截則包涵了台灣電子產業豐沛的人才、技術和世界觀。亦即，兩岸各具所長，且彼此條件互補，兩者聯結，效果相乘，才出現這支讓南韓發抖的大軍。如果雙方各自單打獨鬥，或彼此勾心鬥角，兩岸也只能看著南韓品牌繼續領其風騷了。

從這個角度看，南韓恐怕要感謝李登輝的「戒急用忍」和陳水扁的「鎖國」，它才能在兩岸的矛盾中找到坐大的空間。台灣耗費了十多年，才走出兩岸「敵對」、「仇視」的陰影；今天兩岸的經濟合作，在台灣雖仍遭到異議人士的詛咒，卻至少幫台灣提早走出金融風暴的低谷和鎖國的困境。從南韓企業界對「中台聯軍」的戒懼，不也讓我們看到曾經錯失的時光和機會？

然而，語言也經常充滿虛幻。Chaiwan一詞，毫不費力地將兩岸連成一氣，彷彿「中台聯軍」是一支具體存在的大軍；實際上，大家都知道台灣海峽還沒有被填平，兩岸間各方面的偌大差距依然存在，Chaiwan只是一個外國媒體塑造的概念，連「想像的共同體」都還稱不上。接下來的問題是：兩岸政府和人民將如何賦予Chaiwan以正確的意涵？兩岸經濟的分工合作，只有維持穩健、互利、對等的深化，並從「急單」、「熱錢」、「上不封頂的熱單」，步步進化至「海峽平台」，Chaiwan才有可能突破新詞之繭，蛻變成有歷史意義的概念。

說Chaiwan讓南韓「發抖」，當然是誇張之詞；因為在韓國企業眼中，仍將中台聯軍視為「追兵」而已。但無論如何，今年第一季台灣面板業在中國市場奪下五成六的市占率，把去年市占四成六的南韓擠到三成以下，對台灣當然是值得慶賀的勝利。若非兩岸政府放下敵意、釋出善意，台灣企業如何在全球景氣寒冬中得到這個機會？

兩岸合作儘管寫下了令人滿意的成績，但雙方也陸續發現彼此的差異，甚至出現歧見和摩擦，這些都仍有待克服及調適。尤其值得注意的是，兩岸交流熱度如何保持不慍不火，包括對陸資開放的速度與範圍，包括股市名嘴信口炒作「兩岸和平紅利」概念，都可能使兩岸合作因在意想不到的地方擦槍走火，而危及全盤棋局，不可不慎。

面對Chaiwan崛起，南韓最大的慨嘆其實是：同是分裂國家，台海兩岸正在攜手合作，而南韓卻須面對北韓發射飛彈的威脅。的確，和平的機會並不是唾手可得，曾經錯過機會多年的台灣，應可以體會韓國的焦慮。至於台灣在Chaiwan概念中，如何保持自己珍視的價值而永續經營，考驗才剛開始呢！