From Flexible Diplomacy to Normal Diplomacy

From Flexible Diplomacy to Normal Diplomacy
China Times editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
June 5, 2009

President Ma Ying-jeou has concluded his state visit to Central America and returned home. His "Voyage for Harmony" consolidated the support of ROC allies. It also demonstrated, through concrete action, Ma's new diplomatic thinking and practices.

President Ma, his wife Christine Chow, and over 100 members of his delegation visited Belize, El Salvador, and Guatemala. On the way there they transited Los Angeles. On the way back they transited Seattle. This is the second state visit President Ma has embarked upon since taking office. It is also the first time the First Lady Christine Chow took part in a state visit.

Compared to last time, this visit was much livelier. A number of surprises arose. Belize experienced a power failure. President Ma's armed bodyguard was detained by Guatemalan security services. Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega postponed his meeting with President Ma three times, and the ROC decided to cancel the meeting altogether. When Ma greeted U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, he introduced himself as "Taiwan's president." This also provoked domestic political debate.

In fact the incident over Ma's bodyguard was minor. Once it was over, it was over. It was merely the result of a miscommunication between the security services of both nations, and a mishandling of the situtation by Guatemalan officials. It will not affect relations between the two nations. President Ma introduced himself as "Taiwan's president." This is also very common. After all, the international community more is familiar with the name Taiwan. It is not necessary to read too much into this.

President Ma Ying-jeou took office a year ago. During this visit his "huo lu wai jiao," i.e., "Viable Diplomacy," or "Flexible Diplomacy," clearly distinguished itself from the diplomacy of the past. Past "Scorched Earth Diplomacy" called for the playing of zero-sum games and the fighting of battles that cannot be won. It was a strategy of reckless provocation. Taipei butted its head against a brick wall until it was left broken and bleeding. Its plight within the international community worsened. President Ma's foreign policy reversed this manner of thinking and operating. It moved toward cross-Strait reconciliation. It allowed the two sides to renounce their life or death zero-sum game. It allowed Taipei to stop squandering resources fighting over allies with Beijing. It allowed Taipei to stop writing huge checks to buy allies.

While In Belize, President Ma explained his five major foreign aid goals. These include eliminating extreme poverty and hunger, strengthening human resources development, fighting infectious diseases, promoting environmentally sustainable development, and strengthening global partnerships. Foreign aid programs require money. Only money that must be spent will be spent. Diplomacy will be forthright. Its "goals must be legitimate, its procedures must be lawful, its implementation must be effective." Only this will win others' respect.

Such a change has come at just the right time. Our past policy of checkbook diplomacy often reduced us to victims of blackmail. Large contributions often lined the pockets of local politicians. They failed to achieve their goal as foreign aid. In the spate of ensuing corruption scandals, they tainted Taipei's image. The result was a loss of both wealth and honor.

Beijing knew Taipei would be forced to compromise in order to retain its allies. Beijing and Taipei would often both offer money and deliver ultimatums. Taipei would spend freely. Oversight of these aid packages would be difficult. One could never determined where the aid would wind up. We never knew who had embezzled the funds and never dared to demand an accounting.

Vast sums were paid out to retain diplomatic allies. But all we received in return was a loss of national dignity, damage to our international image, and the loss of hard-earned taxpayer dollars. The result was clearly harmful to our overall national interests. We had to make a fresh start. But in the past Beijing stood in Taipei's way. We were forced to continue playing this meaningless game.

The main reason President Ma can now say no to such unreasonable demands, is the easing of cross-Strait relations. The two sides have now reached a tacit understanding not to steal each others' allies. Beijing has given the cold shoulder to several nations which have habitually threatened to break relations with Taipei and establish relations with Beijing. Beijing has also turned down El Salvador's invitation to send representatives to its presdential inauguration. When President of El Salvador Mauricio Funes expressed the desire to develop economic and trade relations with mainland China, Ma Ying-jeou made clear he has "no objections," and that Taipei and Beijing have such relations too. Clearly the two sides have jettisoned their previous zero-sum competition in the international arena. Other countries must understand this and adapt to it.

Such a change, has allowed both sides to forsake checkbook diplomacy. It has allowed the relationship between Taipei and its allies to finally return to normal, The two sides must seek substantive consensus, and demonstrate mutual respect. Beijing must also understand that a diplomatic truce is not a favor to Taiwan, but rather a fresh start for cross-Strait relations.

The spotlight was on Christine Chow. During her first state visit she made a concerted effort to fulfill her assigned role. She threw herself into her interactions with the local population. Chow, who has long maintained a low profile and has never attempted to curry favor with the media, demonstrated an authentic and natural style of her own. This is something rare in the political arena, and something the people deeply appreciate.

In conclusion, President Ma's "Voyage of Harmony" could be termed a ringing success. We hope he will continue implementing his new foreign policy, and correcting outdated foreign aid practices. We hope the two sides can deepen cross-Strait reconciliation. We hope both sides will demonstrate mutual respect, and contemplate the future with vision and courage.

中時電子報 新聞
中國時報 　2009.06.05
社論－從活路外交到正常外交
本報訊

馬英九總統一行結束中美洲的訪問行程返抵國門，這次的「久睦之旅」不僅鞏固了友邦的邦誼，更以具體行動展現出全新的外交思維與作為。

馬總統偕夫人周美青與一百多位訪問團成員，此行先後走訪貝里斯、薩爾瓦多與瓜地馬拉，去程過境美國洛杉磯，回程過境西雅圖。這是馬總統就任後第二次出訪，也是第一夫人周美青首次參與國事訪問。

和上次比較，這次的訪問「熱鬧」得多，也出現若干意外狀況。不但在貝里斯遇上停電，還在瓜地馬拉發生馬總統的配槍隨扈遭到瓜國安全單位阻擋事件。而尼加拉瓜總統奧蒂嘉三度延宕與馬總統的會晤後，我方主動取消會面。在與美國國務卿希拉蕊寒暄時，馬總統自我介紹為「台灣的總統」，也引發國內政壇議論紛紛。

其實隨扈的衝突事件，比較是雙方安全單位溝通不良與瓜國相關人員處理不當的問題，只是枝節，過了就過了，不致影響到兩國關係。而馬總統自我介紹為「台灣的總統」，也是很常見的用語，畢竟國際對台灣之名較熟識，不必太予政治解讀。

比較值得注意的是，就任一年以來，馬英九總統所推行的「活路外交」，在這次出訪中，更加清楚明確地表達出和以往迥然不同的理念。往昔堅持零和遊戲的「烽火外交」，總是選擇成功率最低的戰場，以莽撞挑釁的策略，把台灣衝撞得頭破血流，國際處境也日益退縮。而馬總統扭轉了外交政策的基本思維模式和操作策略，藉著兩岸走向和解，也讓和兩岸關係一體兩面的外交揚棄你死我活的零和遊戲，不再和中共耗費資源搶奪邦交國，也不再拿著支票簿任邦交國予取予求。

在貝里斯時，馬總統也親自說明了援外五大策略，以消除極度貧窮及飢餓、加強人力資源開發、對抗傳染病、推動環境永續發展、強化全球發展夥伴為主要方向。任何援外支出必須先有計畫才有預算，不會有不該花的錢，依循「目標要正當、過程要合法、執行要有效」原則，正派辦外交，才會贏得尊重。

這樣的改變來得正是時候。因為，台灣過去的支票簿外交，不但常淪為被敲詐的冤大頭，大筆捐款還常常被當地政客納入私囊。既沒有達到援助目的，又在連番爆發貪汙醜聞後，台灣的形象也無辜遭到牽連，落得名財兩失。

而之所以如此，歸根結柢，是對方吃定了台灣為保邦交而不得不委屈求全，經常兩邊開價要脅。而花了大錢的台灣，對援助計畫的執行難以監督，援助款項的去向也無從考核，即使最後錢不知道被Ａ到哪裡去了，也不敢翻臉追查。

這種只為了維持邦交國數字，而損失國家尊嚴、國際形象及納稅人血汗錢的做法，加減相抵，顯然已經對整體國家利益造成了負面的損傷，亟待改弦更張。但過去因為中共全力封殺台灣外交空間，我們不得不勉力繼續這樣缺乏意義的遊戲。

馬總統現在之所以有本錢對不合理的需索說不，主要還是兩岸關係和緩，雙方達成互不挖牆腳的默契。幾個仍然習慣性放話要和中共建交的國家，至今未獲中共搭理，薩爾瓦多邀請中國共產黨派代表出席總統就職典禮，也遭到婉拒。當薩爾瓦多總統富內斯表示希望和中國大陸發展經貿關係時，馬英九還明確表示「不反對」，而且台灣和大陸也有交流。很顯然的，兩岸在國際間已經拋下了過去的零和競爭，其他國家必須重新理解及適應。

這樣的改變，除了讓兩岸擺脫金錢外交外，也讓台灣與友邦的關係終於能回歸到正常的基本面，就雙方實質需要尋求共識，在平等尊重中相互扶持。而中共也應該理解到，外交休兵不是在給予台灣恩惠，而是在給兩岸關係一個重新開始的機會。

這次鋒頭最健的，可能反而是周美青了。第一次出訪的她努力扮好自己的角色，手舞足蹈地投入表演並親切地與當地民眾互動。低調而且無意討好媒體的她，所展現的真實與自然作風，為政壇所少見，因此很能得到民眾的欣賞。

總結而言，馬總統這次的「久睦之旅」堪稱圓滿成功，我們希望新的外交政策能繼續落實，矯正已過時的援外作法。也期望兩岸和解的氣氛能繼續深化，讓雙方都能以尊重、視野與勇氣思考全新的未來。