Profit Sharing: In the Long Term Interest of Both Sides

Profit Sharing: In the Long Term Interest of Both Sides
China Times editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
March 21, 2010

Taipei and Beijing underwent a crisis when Washington sold Taipei arms. Nevertheless consultations over the cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) remained unaffected. Recently, while speaking before the National People's Congress, Mainland Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao even announced a policy of "profit sharing" with Taipei. If this pragmatic policy can be implement in good faith at all levels, we can expect positive and far-reaching impacts.

Mainland Chinese leaders consider cross-Strait differences a fraternal quarrel. They may have differences of opinion with Taipei. Their positions may differ. But blood remains thicker than water. In negotiations over the cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, Beijing is willing to "share profits" as an expression of sincerity and goodwill. If we read between the lines, Beijing seems to be implying that it is willing to make even more concessions during future negotiations, or to allow Taipei to receive even more benefits.

In fact this responds to the concerns of many on Taiwan. A clear disparity exists between Mainland China and Taiwan in size, population, markets, economies of scale, and international status. Some on Taiwan are afraid of being swallowed up or inundated. They feel insecure as they face an uncertain future. After decades of cross-Strait confrontation, exchanges and cooperation have only just begun. They have yet to take effect. The public remains unable to lower its guard. Long-term hostilities cannot be dissolved overnight. That is why even though the government has talked until it is blue in the face, many people on Taiwan remain dubious. They worry that once the door is opened, the local economy will wither and die. Beijing has now explicitly declared a willingness to engage in "profit sharing" with Taipei. Whether this will be translated into concrete moves remains to be seen. The public on Taiwan is adopting a wait and see attitude. It will arrive at its own conclusions about Beijing's goodwill based on the evidence.

Cross-Strait consultations have never been purely consultative. Even ECFA, ostensibly only about trade and investment matters, is not confined to economic relations and trade agreements. The key of course is which items will be allowed in. Based on negotiations and the final agreement, each side will make political declarations to each other and their own constituents. More importantly, they will lay out their plans for the future. The two sides are still being integrated. What is covered on the Early Harvest list remains uncertain. If we want negotiations to be completed on schedule in May, and the agreement signed at the Chiang-Chen meeting in June, we clearly need to step up consultations. We also need to seek internal consensus on Taiwan. The agreement is merely an expression of bilateral attitudes. For Beijing the most important issue is what kind of message it wants to send Taipei. When it comes time for negotiations, it will naturally incorporate its concerns into its political considerations.

Why should the two sides turn swords into plowshares? Because any conflict will directly impact both sides. It will also undermine the next generation's chances of living together in peace and prosperity. Why do we need to sign ECFA? Because it is the basis for wide-ranging economic and trade cooperation. It will provide increased opportunities for Taiwan's prosperity. It will allow cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation to enter a new and more intensive stage.

Of course certain industries may be affected. The same was true when Taipei was admitted to the WTO. Because Mainland China is such an important global economic power, Taipei has an opportunity to establish more favorable relations with others. It has no reason not to seize the opportunity. Some people are worried that Taiwan may be swallowed up. But in a globalized world, as long as one is able to find one's own niche, one can establish one's own little piece of heaven. The real fear is that one will shrink and retreat. We must not do nothing merely because we are afraid of the risk. Doing nothing may cost us even more.

The specifics of the cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement will be decided over the next two months. They may require something of a tug of war. Beijing may need to show what "profit sharing" means in more concrete terms. That might ease public concerns, and enable this vital framework for cross-Strait relations succeed. That might contribute to a peaceful and friendly interactive environment, helping the two sides put past grievances behind them, promote mutual understanding and tolerance, and find better ways of dealing with differences.

We are promoting cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation for our own sake, to ensure our future and to seize opportunities. If Beijing were to make certain concessions, they might be perceived in the short term as "profit sharing." But in the long term they would benefit both sides. Beijing would not be granting concessions to Taipei. Beijing would be demonstrating an even greater commitment to the future.

「讓利」長遠來看對兩岸都有利
2010-03-21
中國時報

儘管之前經過了美國軍售台灣的波折，兩岸經濟合作架構協議（ＥＣＦＡ）協商並未受到影響；日前，中國國務院總理溫家寶更在人大宣示對台灣「讓利」的基本立場。這樣務實善意政策路線如果能落實到兩岸交流的各個層面，可望帶來良性而深遠的影響。

中國領導人認為兩岸的分歧，乃是一種兄弟之爭，即使意見不同、立場互異，仍然斷絕不了血緣之繫、家族之情。而在兩岸經濟合作架構協議談判過程中，中國願意以「讓利」來表達善意與誠意；言辭之間，似乎暗示著未來在談判時有些項目願意作更多讓步，或讓台灣獲取較多利益。

其實這也正回應了許多台灣民眾的疑慮，因為把中國和台灣比一比，無論就幅員、人口、市場、經濟規模、國際地位等各方面，雙方大小懸殊、強弱分明，台灣難免會擔心將被併吞淹沒，對不明確的未來也有不安全感。尤其兩岸對立數十年，才剛剛重新啟動的交流合作，效應還沒有足夠的時間發酵擴大，因此無法讓台灣民眾對中國完全放心，長久的心結不可能一朝一夕就能打開。這也是為什麼，政府說破了嘴，還是有不少基層民眾對兩岸經濟合作架構協議感到疑懼，憂心國門一開，本土經濟命脈將悉數凋萎。現在中國領導人既已明確表達願意對台「讓利」，到底會落實成哪些具體動作，將是台灣民眾拭目以待，並據以評價中國善意的指標。

兩岸的協商，從來就不是單純的協商；即使是只涉及經貿投資事務的「ＥＣＦＡ」，也不僅僅是為經貿而經貿的協議，開放哪些項目、內容如何固然是重點，藉著談判與簽署協議，彼此向對方及各自內部作出政治宣示，並替未來進一步的發展作舖陳則更是重要。現在兩岸的意見仍在整合中，早期收穫清單到底涵蓋哪些也還不定，如果希望依規畫進度在五月完成協商，六月江陳會進行簽署，顯然需要加緊協商，台灣內部也必須努力溝通獲致共識。然而，協議只是雙方態度的代言者，因此對中國來說，最重要的課題，是到底要藉著兩岸經濟合作架構協議向台灣傳達什麼樣的訊息，談判時自然必須納入政治考量。

兩岸為什麼應該化干戈為玉帛？因為衝突不僅會直接重創雙方，也將損害下一代和平相處攜手共榮的機會。為什麼需要簽署「ＥＣＦＡ」？因為它是一個廣泛經貿合作的基礎，有希望為台灣帶來更多繁榮機會，也讓兩岸進入一個更密集交流合作的新階段。

當然，有些產業可能受到衝擊，就像台灣加入世貿組織一樣；但中國既然已是全球一個如此重要的經濟力量，台灣有機會建立比別人更優惠的合作關係，沒有理由不去抓住這個機會。有人擔心台灣被實質吸納，但在一個全球化的世界裡，只要找到利基與獨特位置，就能為自己開創一片天，怕的反而是自己萎縮退步。台灣不能永遠因為擔心風險而什麼都不做，因為那可能失去更多。

兩岸經濟合作架構協議的具體內涵，將在未來兩個月內逐漸成形，其間可能少不了也需一番折衝拉鋸。如中國能具體展現「讓利」動作，有效消解台灣民眾的疑慮，讓這項攸關兩岸關係發展的合作架構成功運作，將能大大有助於打造一個和平友好的互動環境，讓雙方逐漸走出猜忌仇視的過去，慢慢促進對彼此的了解與包容，並且學習以更好的方式處理歧見。

我們推動兩岸更進一步的合作交流，是在為自己、以及未來爭取機會。就此觀之，如果中國對若干談判項目作出讓步，短期而言或許自覺是在對台「讓利」，但長遠來看，這將是對雙方都有利的作法，並不是中國施惠於台灣，而是在展現對一個更美好未來的堅定承諾。