Can Taiwan Build a Platform with a Total War Strategy?

Can Taiwan Build a Platform with a Total War Strategy?
United Daily News editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
September 28, 2011

Summary: Tokyo and Taipei have signed an investment agreement. This proves two things. One. the positive effects of ECFA are beginning to show, and are accelerating. Two. The Ma administration's peace strategy has stabilized cross-Strait relations. It has also increased Taipei's international breathing space. By contrast, the Chen regime's "total war strategy" only brought hardship and suffering upon the nation. This much is abundantly clear.

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Tokyo and Taipei have signed an investment agreement. This proves two things. One. the positive effects of ECFA are beginning to show, and are accelerating. Two. The Ma administration's peace strategy has stabilized cross-Strait relations. It has also increased Taipei's international breathing space. By contrast, the Chen regime's "total war strategy" only brought hardship and suffering upon the nation. This much is abundantly clear.

ECFA is merely a cross-Strait economic cooperation framework. But its impact has already exceeded the impact of cross-Strait interaction. Its impact has already exceeded the impact of economics and investment. Taipei and Tokyo have signed an investment agreement. This shows that the impact of ECFA has widened out. Its scope is no longer merely cross-Strait, but international. Its nature is no longer merely economic, but diplomatic. In short, Taiwan boasts a mature economy that enjoys a unique advantage -- it understands the Chinese mainland. ECFA shows that Taiwan has a role to play. It is no longer merely a case of "Go west, young man!" Taiwan can serve as a launching pad and middleman for those venturing forth to the Chinese mainland.

It's ironic when you think about it. Lee Teng-hui and Chen Shui-bian loudly thumped the tub for "Taiwan's primacy." Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the public, they imposed a Closed Door Policy upon the nation, sealing it shut, forcing its people to miss once in a lifetime opportunities that came with globalization. Many people on Taiwan hoped to transform Taiwan into an Asia-Pacific operations center. Their dreams came to naught. Today, ECFA and the Taipei/Tokyo Investment Agreement are partial remedies to their monumental blunders.

If the Democratic Progressive Party were in office today, Taipei and Tokyo could not have signed such an agreement. The reasons are not hard to imagine. One. The Democratic Progressive Party has done its utmost to incite cross-Strait confrontation whenever possible. Under such circumstances, Taiwan could never function as a gateway to the Chinese mainland. Two. The DPP has a narcissistic strategic outlook. It constantly seeks to create conflict and launch attacks. Japan would never choose Taiwan as an auxiliary base of operations, With so many variables, the investment risks would be far too great. During Chen Shui-bian's eight long years of misrule, Taiwan acquired a reputation as "isolationist." This is the reason why.

On the one hand, the DPP challenges the effectiveness of ECFA. On the other hand, it contradicts itself, and accuses the Ma administration of "selling out Taiwan." The DPP merely exposes its ignorance and ambivalence regarding cross-Strait strategy. As we all know, ECFA is merely one indicator of economic and trade relations. Other indicators are even more significant. The agreement conveys a message of peace, and implies a state of truce. Based on this atmosphere of peace, cross-Strait exchanges can increase. Taiwan can become a launching pad for entry into the Chinese mainland. Even more importantly, other nations engaged in exchanges with Taipei once had to fret about Beijing's reaction. This problem is gradually receding. Improvements of this kind are far more important than cross-Strait economic growth alone.

Consider the most obvious example. Over the past three years, our nation has squandered fewer and fewer resources on diplomatic confrontation. Our citizens may now travel abroad and enjoy preferential visa-free treatment in 117 countries. These are concrete achievements that truly enhance "Taiwan's dignity." Washington has reportedly promised visa-free treatment as well. It may be formally implemented early next year. Citizens of the ROC hoping to visit the United States must line up in front of the AIT, to await cross-examination. This will become a thing of the past. Is this not something to be proud of? Chen Shui-bian used ersatz state visits as a pretext to transit the United States. In a fit of petulance he even embarked on a round the world "lost voyage." He used the nation's dignity as a bargaining chip, in a reckless gamble to further his own political ambition. Contrast the two individuals. Under whose administration did the people of Taiwan experience greater dignity? Is it even necessary to ask?

The DPP often says that "Taiwan must stand up and venture forth." Upon first hearing this rallying cry, one may feel a sense of tragic heroism. But on closer scrutiny, one realizes it is actually a perversion of logic. To insist that one must "stand up and venture forth," presumes that one is trapped and besieged, that one must rise up and take arms. In reality, even when times were their toughest, Taiwan businessmen ventured forth into the world with only a suitcase. Who was prevented from venturing forth? Who needed the DPP's "Pity poor me!" act? Just who is standing before the nation's door, blocking the way, preventing its citizens from venturing forth into the world? Just who is provoking conflict everywhere, then feigning victimization? Just who is defaming others, accusing them of "selling out Taiwan?" Who else, but the DPP?

Today, Taipei and Tokyo signed an investment agreement. This shows that if Taiwan can transform itself into a mature, business-friendly, international platform, it will have no trouble persuading international investors to establish operations headquarters on Taiwan, from which they can venture forth to the Chinese mainland. Such a Taiwan will be able to feel pride and self-confidence. Such a Taiwan need not put on a show of "standing up and venturing forth." Such a Taiwan need not make a ridiculous detour by "venturing forth into the world before venturing forth into [Mainland] China ."

Weaker states survive not by building impenetrable fortresses. They survive by becoming middlemen for international trade and commerce. That is their most secure defense. The peace they secure can be shared by all. Only one political party on Taiwan stands to gain a political advantage by adopting self-destructive national policies. The DPP knows which party that is, but makes a point not to tell.

台灣堅壁清野，何如構築平台？
【聯合報╱社論】 2011.09.28

日本和我國簽署投資協議，說明兩件事：第一，ＥＣＦＡ的積極效應正在發酵，文火已慢慢燒熱；第二，馬政府的「和平戰略」不僅能穩定兩岸關係，也有助於擴大台灣的國際活動空間和量能。相形之下，扁政府時代的「烽火戰略」，只為國家帶來困頓和麻煩，已一目了然。

亦即，ＥＣＦＡ規範的雖只是兩岸的經濟合作框架，但它的溢出效果，卻已超越兩岸互動，甚至超越了經濟和投資的範疇。台日投資協議的簽訂，顯示其擴散效果已從兩岸移向國際，從經貿移向外交。簡單地說，透過ＥＣＦＡ，台灣使自己作為一個了解中國、接近中國的成熟經濟體的優勢得以彰顯；台商可以扮演的角色，不再只是冒險西進，更可擔任世界前進中國的平台與媒介。

說來諷刺，在李登輝和陳水扁把「主體性」的高調唱得最熱烈的時候，台灣也不知不覺把堅壁清野的鎖國堡壘築到了最高點，也從而在那一波全球化潮流中錯失了先機，台灣成為亞太營運中心的夢想化為烏有。如今，ＥＣＦＡ及台日投資協議之簽成，可謂皆是對此一缺憾的補救。

如果今天還是民進黨執政，台日之間絕不可能簽署這紙協議。原因可想而知：其一，在民進黨極力構築的兩岸對立態勢下，台灣毫無可能存在這麼一個「中國門戶」的平台地位或想像；其二，以民進黨的單邊主義戰略思維，總是在尋找藉口製造衝突、發動攻擊，日本絕不可能選擇台灣作為「備援基地」，因為那樣變數太多，投資風險也太高。陳水扁執政的八年，被稱為「鎖國」，原因就在於此。

當民進黨一方面質疑ＥＣＦＡ的成效，一方面又指責馬政府「賣台」，只是愈發暴露了它自己對兩岸戰略的無知與矛盾。殊不知，ＥＣＦＡ只是具體顯現的經貿座標之一，但兩岸之間更重要的東西，其實是蘊含在這個協議背後的「休兵」概念及「和平」氛圍。在這個和平氛圍的基礎上，不僅兩岸之間的交流得以不斷擴展，台灣成為轉進中國的平台地位也變得更為清晰可欲。更重要的是，以往第三國與我交往隨時得「看北京臉色」的障礙，也因此日漸消弭。此一價值，絕對比兩岸純粹經貿增長的成果更值得重視。

最明顯的例子，是近三年我國虛耗在外交對峙上的問題大為減少，且國人出國旅遊享有一百一十七國「免簽證」的優惠待遇，這是「台灣尊嚴」提升的具體成就。最近傳出美國也承諾給我免簽待遇，明年初即有機會正式實施；意味著國人赴美需在ＡＩＴ排隊接受盤問的經驗將成為歷史，這難道不是值得驕傲的事？當年陳水扁屢屢假藉出訪以求「過境」美國，乃至因羞憤而大搞「全球謎航」，把國家的尊嚴當成個人政治豪賭的籌碼；兩相對照，誰主政下的台灣人民更有尊嚴，還需要爭辯嗎？

民進黨常說台灣要「站起來，走出去」，乍聽之下，極其悲壯；但仔細推敲，卻是邏輯倒錯。「站起來、走出去」是假設台灣陷於被圍困狀態，因此要奮起一搏；事實上，台灣早在更艱苦的年代，台商提著一只手提箱就能行遍天下，誰走不出去？又何需民進黨偽裝苦悶來收割悲情？事實上，在那裡擋著國家大門、四處挑釁，再裝成被打壓狀，然後誣指別人出賣台灣的，不都是民進黨嗎？

今天台日投資協議的簽訂，證明台灣若能把自己經營成一個成熟、友善的國際平台，大可吸引各國投資者走進台灣，再經此走向中國。這樣的台灣，可以充滿驕傲與自信，而毋需賣弄「站起來、走出去」那一套悲情，更不必被「從世界走向中國」的捨近求遠詭辯所愚弄。

小國的生存之道，與其拚命興築堅壁清野的鎖國堡壘，不如勤於搭建友善的平台，使自己成為國際間近悅遠來的中轉媒介，那才是最安全的國防。和平的成果可以全民共享，鬥爭的政治操作卻只是一黨獨享刀口舔血的利益，這是民進黨心知肚明、卻不告訴大家的祕密。