Republic of China Granted Visa-Free Treatment from EU

Republic of China Granted Visa-Free Treatment from EU
United Daily News editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
January 11, 2011

Beginning today, Republic of China passport holders on Taiwan may gain entry to the 35 nations of the European Union without a visa. They may stay up to 90 days. This development means that the public on Taiwan has suddenly gained visa-free entry to 97 countries. This means that the public now has free access to most of the countries they want to visit.

We will soon be celebrating the Republic of China centennial. That Republic of China citizens now enjoy visa free status in 100 countries, makes the approaching centennial even more meaningful. First, the value of the Republic of China has been reaffirmed. The Republic of China is no longer a member of the United Nations. Only 20 or so countries maintain diplomatic relations with Taipei. Nevertheless, nearly 100 countries worldwide recognize Republic of China passports. They recognize the citizens holding these passports, This is tantamount to recognition of the Republic of China. By contrast, Beijing has diplomatic relations with over 170 countries. Yet only 20 countries have granted People's Republic of China passport holders visa-free treatment. The comparative status of the two passports could not be any clearer.

Secondly, this symbolizes international trust in the character of our citizens. These nations subject candidates to careful evaluation before granting visa-free entry status. They evaluate the benefits of economic relations, trade, and tourism. They consider whether an opening may bring incidental risks. In other words, preferential visa treatment is not necessarily the result of diplomatic wrangling. It is often the result of credibility gained by a nation's citizens over long years. ROC citizens from Taiwan have engaged in international trade, overseas travel, and volunteer work for many decades. During their travels, they increased their own knowledge. They simultaneously subjected themselves to public evaluation by the international community. According to the EU announcement, it believes that Republic of China citizens from Taiwan pose no risk of illegal immigration, or any threat to public safety in the EU. Therefore it agreed to remove Taiwan from the restricted list. This was not merely the result of Ma administration negotiations. It was also the result of positive impressions left by millions of Republic of China citizens on the rest of the world.

Thirdly, it proves that the Ma administration's strategy to promote peace is working. The cross-Strait ice is melting. This has reduced costly and futile diplomatic struggles in the international arena. This has also promoted mutually-beneficial bilateral economic relations, trade, and tourism. This has simultaneously reduced cross-Strait confrontation. and is consistent with the international community's desrie for peace. This was a major factor in the EU's granting of visa-free treatment. Five years ago, Tokyo attempted to grant Taipei visa-free treatment. The move was blocked by powerful opposition from Beijing. This time, when the EU moved to grant visa-free treatment to Taipei, Beijing, speaking through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said it had "No objection." Because Beijing demonstrated goodwill, a good thing came to pass. As we can see, the path of peace can often make obstacles disappear.

Similarly, the Taipei American Chamber of Commerce recently released its economic survey. Eighty percent of the respondents were optimistic about Taiwan's economy for the next five years, Ninety percent said ECFA was having a positive impact on Taiwan's economy. Wei Shi-min, president of AmCham, went so far as to say that ECFA had "put Taiwan back on the world map." Many multinational companies are rethinking Taiwan's status among "liang an san di" (Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the Mainland). Wei said that ECFA had "put Taiwan back on the world map," He said the EU had "opened its doors." In fact, the opening was mutual. On the one hand, Taipei is no longer sealing itself behind its own walls. On the other hand, the world is welcoming the public on Taiwan with open arms.

This inevitably reminds us of the Chen Shui-bian era, and its ear-shattering slogans, calling for Taiwan to "stand up and march forth." On the surface, it was asserting our national sovereignty. In fact, the regime's "Rectification of Names" movement was mere show, staged for the benefit of a single individual and a single political party. The same is true of the regime's periodic "head of state diplomacy" trips. These were staged to satisfy the president, who was eager to put on a show of personal diplomacy. Taipei paid a heavy price in lost international breathing space and suffocating domestic tension. His infamous "lost voyage" was especially lamentable. Chen Shui-bian even tried to butt heads with Washington and embarrass the United States. Chen Shui-bian once quipped that "Taiwan [sic] is an abnormal country." His "head of state diplomacy" merely reinforced that perception. It failed to win the ROC any genuine dignity.

Today, nearly a hundred countries worldwide have opened their borders to Republic of China citizens. This was an honor achieved by a normal government and its citizens. Lest we forget, when people open their doors to us, it means we must open our doors to them. We hope other countries will follow suit and open their doors as well. We hope to promote peaceful exchange and goodwill. This is the only way to ensure mutual understanding in our modern world.

Travel abroad! Become free, enterprising, and bold travelers. Cross a hundred borders. Experience the world. Learn from different ethnic groups, and carry a message from the Republic of China to the ends of the earth.

旅行去！台灣飛渡百國免簽
【聯合報╱社論】
2011.01.11 02:53 am

今天起，台灣民眾持中華民國護照進入歐洲聯盟卅五國，一律不需要簽證，即可停留九十天之久。此一進展，使台灣享受免簽的國家一口氣增至九十七國，這表示國人已可以自由進出絕大多數想去的國家。

在慶祝民國百年之際，台灣取得「百國免簽」的成就，更顯意義非凡。第一，這凸顯中華民國的價值受到肯定。我國雖非聯合國的會員，在國際間也僅廿多國與我維持正式外交關係；但全球有近百個國家承認中華民國政府核發的護照、承認持有此一護照的國民，這也形同對中華民國的實質承認。相形之下，擁有一百七十多個邦交國的中國大陸，卻僅有廿國對其開放免簽，國家護照的重量，就在這裡看出高下。

第二，這象徵我國國民的品德和素質取得國際信任。各國評估開放免簽對象，除衡量經貿、觀光效益，也要看開放是否會帶來其他附帶風險；換句話說，免簽的優遇往往不是外交角力的結果，而是長年國民品質所贏得的信譽。台灣人從事國際貿易、海外旅遊和志工服務達數十年，大家除在旅途中增長自己的見聞，其表現也都禁得起國際社會公評。歐盟在公報上說，歐盟認為台灣人不會構成非法移民的風險，以及對歐盟公共安全的威脅，因此同意把台灣從限制名單上刪除。這項成績，不只是馬政府交涉之功，更是緣自千千萬萬台灣人留給世界的好口碑。

第三，這證明馬政府近年經營的和平策略奏效。兩岸融冰，不僅降低了彼此在國際間不必要的外交競賽代價，亦提高了雙方在經貿、觀光上的互惠互利；與此同時，兩岸降低對峙的態勢，也更符合國際社會追求和平的潮流，這是歐盟給我免簽待遇的一大關鍵。五年前，日本要提供台灣免簽待遇時，即曾因北京的強烈反對而備受阻撓。這次歐盟對台提供免申根簽證待遇，中共卻僅透過外交部簡單表示：「不持異議。」正因對岸釋出善意，一樁好事就此輕騎過關。可見，採取和平路線，有時反而更能化解險阻於無形。

無獨有偶，台北美國商會最近發布景氣調查，八成受訪會員看好台灣未來五年景氣，九成認為ＥＣＦＡ對台灣經濟有正面影響。會長魏世民更說，ＥＣＦＡ讓台灣「重回世界版圖」，許多跨國企業重新思考台灣在兩岸三地的地位。「台灣重回世界版圖」的說法，與歐盟對台灣「敞開大門」的行動，其實是相互呼應的：在一方面，是台灣不再築起高牆來封閉自己；在另一方面，世界也張開雙手歡迎台灣人民的到臨。

這不免讓人回想起陳水扁執政時，喊得震天價響的台灣「站起來、走出去」的口號，表面上聲稱在追求台灣的主體性，其實是以「正名」為煙火，製造一人一黨的聲光效果。包括頻繁的「元首外交」，在滿足總統個人的外交作秀之餘，付出的是台灣國際空間飽受打壓的代價，以及內部社會關係緊張的窒息感。尤其那場謎航之旅，陳水扁甚至企圖以橫衝直闖羞辱美國，結果只為台灣徒增「不正常國家」的觀感，卻沒有帶給台灣真正的尊嚴。

如今，全球有近百個國家向台灣開放疆界，這是一個正常政府和所有台灣人民共同贏得的榮耀。不能忘記的是：當別人為我們打開國門，也意味著我們應持相對態度，為其他國家開放台灣；而促進和平及善意的交流，正是這個世界更臻交互了解的不二法門。

旅行去吧！做一個自由、進取而勇敢的旅人，飛越百國疆界，去見識世界、向不同民族學習，也把台灣的訊息捎到海角天涯。