Diplomacy Must Be Conducted Standing Upright

Diplomacy Must Be Conducted Standing Upright
China Times editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
July 8, 2009

President Ma Ying-jeou has ended his six day "Journey of Enduring Friendship" and returned to Taipei. This brief, tightly scheduled visit to Central America was his second. It was dogged by one incident after another. Nevertheless, it consolidated our alliances and proclaimed our foreign policy. The previous "Journey of Enduring Relations" was dogged by earthquakes, detained bodyguards, and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega standing President Ma up. This trip was the same. It too was dogged by incidents from beginning to end.

First, a coup broke out in Honduras. President Manuel Zelaya was deposed and deported. Our government was forced to postpone our visit to Honduras. To everyone's surprise Zelaya appeared at at the Panamanian president's inauguration ceremony. When President Ma and his party arrived in Nicaragua, Zelaya made yet another appearance. Daniel Ortega was scheduled to greet President Ma at the airport and play host to him at the state banquet. But in order to discuss the matter of Zelaya's return to his country, he stood Ma up. President Ma was so angry he was tempted to terminate his visit. Our government even threatened to cut aid. Only then did Daniel Ortega come forward to apologize.

The timing of President Ma's state visit was unfortunate. It coincided with a coup in Honduras. As a result, Central America was in an tizzy. The international community was also affected. Add to this Zelaya flitting from here to there, and the situation was totally unpredictable. That original itinerary was affected. It couldn't be helped. It's like calling on someone at an appointed time, only to find a fire raging in his house. Everyone is busy running around dousing the flames, to the inevitable neglect of the guests.

This course, we can understand. Nevetheless the manner in which the Nicaraguan government handled the matter was truly discourteous. Daniel Ortega, who rose to power as a guerrilla, retains a rustic manner. His manner of doing business is unpredictable. Moreover, Latin America has never been known for its formality. Even assuming the schedule had to be changed, Nicaraguan officials should have notified us in advance. They could then have avoided a mess. They should have made arrangements in recompense, to demonstrate their respect for a visiting head of state.

If others conclude it makes no difference how they treat us, that they need not show us even the fundamental courtesies, they are demonstrating a lack of upbringing. They are also implying that they have nothing to fear from us, and can do anything they want to us. Such an attitude is the long term consequence of swallowing our pride in order to retain our diplomatic allies.

Cross-Strait diplomatic battles have been bloody affairs in the past. We have long been at a serious disadvantage. We have long feared that if we lose even a single ally, it will spell the end. Therefore we have been at a disadvantage in dealing with our allies. We have long had to swallow our grievances for the sake of the bigger picture. We have long had to exchange huge sums of money for diplomatic recognition and sponsorship by international organizations. Other parties knew Taipei could not afford to take a hard line, so they often take advantage of our weakness. They even pocketed our contributions and enriched themselves. Once these scandals erupted, even the image of the victim of such extortion was tarnished.

The President of Nicaragua treated the President of the Republic of China in such a cavalier manner, partly because he was busy with the matter of Zelaya. But his underlying attitude was: Taipei is a pushover. This time however, Daniel Ortega ran into a brick wall. President Ma was furious after being repeatedly stood up. He was prepared to end his visit to Nicaragua and leave. Had that happened, it would have been an embarrassment seldom encountered in International diplomacy. Taipei has long been afraid to take such a tough stand. No wonder Daniel Ortega rushed to apologize, and showed President Ma the respect he demanded.

The Republic of China has long been in a tough situation. That much is clear. Asymmetrical relations with our allies have continually undermined our national dignity and drained our economic lifeblood. The public on Taiwan has also been subjected to covert humiliations. This has morphed into anxiety about diplomatic isolation, and resentment against Beijing. Diplomacy is an extension of domestic affairs. Our diplomatic plight has a domestic impact.

The two sides have now reached a diplomatic truce. Taipei need not cave in to everyones' demands, as it did in the past. In response to unreasonable treatment, we can now speak up. Our allies must adapt to this change, because the past method of interaction was wrong. It was unsustainable. It was intolerable to the public on Taiwan, and our Central American allies were unhappy with their politicians pocketing the aid we gave them. President Ma's two visits have made our position quite clear, in both word and deed.

In the past, Republic of China presidents liked to use state visits as pretexts for personal political campaigns. Allies used the opportunity to raise prices. Now that the policy has changed, state visits can be practical affairs. The fanfare, hoopla, and transits through the United States no longer justify such visits. The diplomatic truce is of course not a diplomatic holiday. We must actively promote bilateral cooperation and exchanges, on the basis of equality and mutual respect. We must move away from cross-Strait conflict. Diplomacy must return to normal. Cooperation and assistance must continue, but on a healthier basis.

Foreign Minister Francisco Ou said he did not object to Beijing setting up economic and trade offices with our diplomatic allies. At one time this provoked a storm of controversy. It was rumored that the Presidential Office was unhappy. In fact, during his previous visit, President Ma said he did not oppose allies establishing economic and trade relations with Beijing. Francisco Ou was referring only to low-level trade bodies. He felt no need at the time to openly promote "dual recognition." The bilateral diplomatic truce must also be implemented on the basis of equality and mutual respect. Being afraid of upsetting Beijing would also be unhealthy. Taipei must stand straight. This true internationally, and this is true bilaterally.

推動外交 是該直起腰桿來了
2009-07-08
中國時報

馬英九總統一行六日結束「久誼之旅」返抵國門，這趟是在短時間內密集進行的第二次中美洲之行，雖然狀況連連，但仍發揮了鞏固邦誼、宣示外交政策之效。上次的「久睦之旅」接連遇到了地震、隨扈遭擋、尼加拉瓜總統奧蒂嘉放馬總統鴿子等事件，這次不遑多讓，而且一路「狀況不斷」。

先是宏都拉斯發生政變，總統賽拉亞遭罷黜並遣送出國，我國臨時取消訪宏行程。不料到了巴拿馬，賽拉亞卻突然現身巴國總統就職典禮。馬總統一行轉往尼加拉瓜，賽拉亞也來了，奧蒂嘉為了商量賽拉亞返國之事，原定的接機、國宴都爽約，氣得馬總統一度想中止訪問，我國甚至揚言不惜取消援助，這才讓奧蒂嘉出面道歉。

其實，馬總統此行的時機真是選得不太湊巧，正好遇上了宏都拉斯鬧政變，整個中美洲為此吵得沸沸揚揚，國際社會也為之騷動。加上賽拉亞在那裡飛來飛去，情勢完全無法掌握，原來的既定行程會受影響，也是沒有辦法的事。這就像按照約定時間到訪，結果人家家裡剛好失火，大伙兒跑來跑去忙著澆水救火，對貴賓難免有所怠慢。

這點我們固然可以體諒，但在處理上，尼加拉瓜的確也是不夠禮貌。打游擊出身的奧蒂嘉還帶著草莽氣，行事作風本就難料，何況拉丁美洲也向來不以一板一眼著稱；然而即使行程有變數，也應該事前通報，才不會臨時搞得人仰馬翻。而且應盡可能以其他安排來彌補，以示對到訪元首的尊重。

如果對方認為無論怎樣對待台灣都沒有關係，連基本的禮貌與尊重都不用表達，那不只是顯示其有欠教養，也意味著自以為在彼此的關係中有恃無恐，可以為所欲為。而這，是長期以來台灣為維持邦交忍氣吞聲所慣出來的惡劣習性。

過去兩岸的外交戰殺得慘烈，處於孤立劣勢的台灣深有「退此一國，即無死所」的恐懼，因此在與邦交國互動時居於劣勢，不斷委屈求全，以大筆金援交換外交承認及國際組織中的代言。對方既然知道台灣硬不起來，有時就會軟土深掘，甚至Ａ掉台灣的捐款中飽私囊，東窗事發後連台灣這個被勒索的受害者也跟著形象受損。

尼加拉瓜對台灣總統的接待如此隨隨便便，固然也是因為在忙賽拉亞的事，但基本心態上，恐怕也是認為台灣「好脾氣」。但這次奧蒂嘉卻踢到了鐵板，馬總統對三番兩次被放鴿子十分生氣，甚至不惜提早結束行程離開尼國。果真如此，那就是國際外交上少見的難看場面了，而台灣向來不敢有此膽氣，也難怪奧蒂嘉最後趕來道歉，還了馬總統不少面子。

台灣向來的國際惡劣處境，可見一般。這種不對等的互動模式，不只持續讓國家尊嚴與經貿資源失血，也讓台灣民眾不斷遭到隱形的羞辱，進而轉化為對孤立的焦慮，以及對中共打壓的怨恨。外交是內政的延長，外交困境也會延伸成內政效應。

如今兩岸達成「外交休兵」的共識，台灣不必再和過去一樣任人予取予求，對於不合理的待遇，開始敢大聲起來。我們的邦交國，必須適應這樣的改變，因為過去的互動模式是不對、也難以持續的，不但台灣民意難以忍受，中美洲邦交國社會也對政客Ａ走台灣援贈極度不滿。馬總統這兩次走訪我國的這塊邦交重鎮，已經以具體言行表達得很清楚了。

過去台灣總統喜歡藉出訪替個人造勢，邦交國投其所好抬價而沽，現在政策既變，出訪的安排可以更務實，排場、禮炮和過境美國，都不足以成為出訪的理由。但「外交休兵」並不是「外交休工」，雙邊的合作交流還是應該積極推動，只是必須以平等、相互尊重為前提。抽離了兩岸烽火，外交關係應該回歸本質，以較為健康的態度進行合作及援助。

此行外交部長歐鴻鍊說不反對中共在邦交國設經貿辦事處，曾經引發爭議，傳聞府方頗為不滿。其實馬總統上次出訪時也說過不反對友邦與中國發展經貿關係，歐鴻鍊指的應該只是低層級的貿易機構，他沒必要此時就明著推動「雙重承認」。兩岸之間要外交休兵，也應該要對等、相互尊重，自己動輒戰戰兢兢生怕惹中共生氣，同樣不是健康的互動模式。台灣要直起腰桿來，對國際與對中共皆是。