Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Chen Deming Says "Taiwan, I Love You."

Chen Deming Says "Taiwan, I Love You."
China Times editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China)
A Translation
December 5, 2013


Summary: The two sides still have differences. But on closer examination, what they have in common far outweighs what separates them. Are we willing to open our hearts to our compatriots? Are we willing to help each other prosper? Are we willing to walk the path of goodwill? Are we willing to promote cooperation? If we are, we can advance the well-being of people on both sides of the Strait. We can create a Golden Age of peace and prosperity for both sides. That is not a pipe dream.

Full text below:

Beijing's ARATS Chairman Chen Deming has just concluded a long and eventful visit to Taiwan. During his visit he met face to face with people from all levels. He explained the Mainland's position on Taiwan. He promoted cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation. He communicated a positive and friendly attitude. All in all, the visit was a success.

This is the first visit to Taiwan the ARATS chairman has made since taking office in April. During the visit the media dubbed his delegation the "Iron Man Delegation." Chen visited one city after another, nonstop, including Taoyuan, Pingtung, Kaohsiung, Chiayi, Taichung, Hsinchu, Xinbei City, Taipei, and eight other counties and cities. Chen visited the Pingtung Agricultural Biotechnology Park, the Kaohsiung Software Park, the Central Scientific Industrial Area, the Neihu Technology Park, Taipei Port, Taichung Port, Kaohsiung Port, and other important points to be opened as part of the Free Trade Zone Pilot Program. He directed his attention on issues related to the Free Trade Zone Pilot Program and cross-Strait economic and trade cooperation.

Chen visited a number of landmark business firms, Including TSMC, HTC, Delta Electronics, Hon Hai, AU Optronics, MediaTek, and Yulon. He visited Mainland-funded businesses on Taiwan. He visited the Bank of China, China Electrical, and the Mainland's Chamber of Commerce offices on Taiwan. He looked into problems encountered by Mainland businesses on Taiwan. He met with political figures and discussed cross-Strait trends. He met and interacted with ordinary citizens. His saw the sights on Mount Alishan. He visited the Eslite Bookstore and got a taste of Taiwan's local culture.

Chen Deming repeatedly used emotionally charged terms to convey his feelings. For example, he said he wanted to experience "Taiwan's heartbeat." During a visit to Kaohsiung, he told enthusiastic crowds, "Taiwan, I love you!" When visiting the Kaohsiung Software Park, Chen Deming spoke in English. He said, "We have the same dream, flying over Taiwan and China."

Chen Deming is seen as someone who knows Taiwan. He served as Mayor of Suzhou and as Minister of Commerce. He has considerable experience with exchanges and cooperation with Taiwan. His emotionally charged language underscores the nature of the cross-Strait relationship. An overarching love for one's compatriots can serve as a common language linking the two sides. Goodwill between the two sides is a valuable asset that can resolve long standing differences. The search for consensus will provide important opportunities, by which the next generation can build a new future.

Cross-Strait relations have undergone many twists and turns. Former ARATS Chairman Wang Daohan planned to visit Taiwan. But President Lee Teng-hui trotted out his "two states theory." Cross-Strait relations went into deep freeze. The two cross-Strait organizations could no longer communicate. Only when Ma Ying-jeou was elected president, could cross-strait reconciliation resume.

Friendly cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation have been highly beneficial to Taiwan. The Green Camp mobilized regardless. Cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation became the target of Green Camp protestors, whose goal was to discredit them. When ARATS Chairman Chen Yunlin visited Taiwan, the Green Camp organized mass protests. Former ARATS Vice Chairman Zhang Mingqing was even shoved to the ground by protestors at the Confucius Temple.

But cross-Strait exchanges have expanded. Mainland China's economic power on the international stage has swiftly increased. More and more people appreciate the market opportunities the Mainland has provided Taiwan. This includes even southern Taiwan DPP county chiefs and city mayors, who have visited the Mainland to sell local agricultural products. The public on Taiwan has become accustomed to increasingly frequent visits by Mainland tourists, Mainland political and economic officials, and Mainland business people. ARATS officials visiting Taiwan has become routine. Cross-Strait civilian exchanges have expanded. The old hostilities have begun to fade.

The atmosphere during Chen's recent visit Taiwan was very different from what it was in the past. Most of the people he encountered were friendly and welcoming. Very few were hostile. Protests were small and peaceful. Public sentiment toward people from the Mainland has changed. Cross-strait relations have visibly improved.

Take Evergreen Group Chairman Chang Yung-fa.  When Chen Deming met with him, Chang said the two sides speak the same language. They eat the same food. There are so many things they can exchange views on. They are like family members. Taiwan and the Mainland should unite to create a win-win situation. They should see each others as kin. They must not let people from other nations look down on them. Chen Deming repeatedly called on the two sides to enter the global market together, and create a win-win situation.

The two sides still have differences. But on closer examination, what they have in common far outweighs what separates them. Are we willing to open our hearts to our compatriots? Are we willing to help each other prosper? Are we willing to walk the path of goodwill? Are we willing to promote cooperation? If we are, we can advance the well-being of people on both sides of the Strait. We can create a Golden Age of peace and prosperity for both sides. That is not a pipe dream.

社論-當陳德銘說「台灣,我愛你」
稍後再讀
中國時報 本報訊 2013年12月05日 04:10

在密集的參訪之後,大陸海協會長陳德銘結束了在台灣的訪問行程,此行既面對面地接觸台灣各層面,也對中國大陸的對台立場作出說明,並且傳達推動兩岸交流合作的積極友善態度。綜而觀之,堪稱圓滿成功。

這是陳德銘4月就任海協會長後的首度訪台,在這趟被媒體戲稱為「鐵人團」的行程中,他馬不停蹄走訪桃園、屏東、高雄、嘉義、台中、新竹、新北、台北等8個縣市;參訪屏東農業生物科技園區、高雄軟體園區、中部科學工業區、內湖科技園區、台北港、台中港、高雄港等台灣自由經濟示範區重要開放點,聚焦在台灣自經區參訪與兩岸經貿合作相關議題。

此外,陳德銘還參訪多家台灣指標性的大型企業,包括台積電、宏達電、台達電、鴻海、友達光電、聯發科、裕隆等。他也訪問在台灣的陸資企業及中國銀行、中國機電商會在台的辦事處,深入瞭解大陸企業在台發展遭遇的問題。他會見政界大老討論兩岸走向,也和基層民眾面對面互動;他親登阿里山賞雲海,也去誠品書店體會台灣的人文況味。

陳德銘更多次以感性的語言表達心意,例如說想來體會「台灣的心跳」,在參觀高雄港時,對熱情民眾的招呼回應說:「台灣,我愛你!」在高雄軟體園區參觀時,陳德銘還以英文說出:「We have the same dream , flying over the Taiwan and China.(我們有共同的夢想,攜手飛越台灣和中國)」。

被譽為「知台派」的陳德銘,擔任過蘇州市長與商務部長,有不少與台灣交流合作的經驗。他對台灣的感性語言,凸顯了在兩岸的互動過程中,民族大愛可以是雙方最基本的共同語言,而兩岸彼此間的善意,更是一項彌足珍貴的資產,也是台灣與大陸化解歧異、尋找共識、為下一代開創嶄新未來的重要契機。

在此之前,兩岸互動曾經經歷過許多波折。前海協會會長汪道涵原本計畫來台,卻因為前總統李登輝突然提出「兩國論」,兩岸關係陷入急凍,兩會協商也為之停擺。直到馬英九當選總統後,開始推動兩岸和解,雙方互動才恢復熱絡。

但是,在綠營政治人物的政治動員下,兩岸友善的交流合作,即使內容明顯對台灣有利,仍然經常成為綠營的抗議抹黑焦點。例如前海協會會長陳雲林首度來台訪問時,就曾經出現激烈的群眾抗爭,前海協會副會長張銘清甚至在孔廟遭抗議民眾擠倒。

不過,隨著兩岸交流逐步推動,以及中國經濟力量在國際舞台迅速崛起,愈來愈多人體認到大陸市場提供的商機對台灣極為重要。即使是民進黨籍的南部縣市長,也紛紛前進大陸推銷當地農特產。台灣社會對日益頻繁來訪的大陸觀光客及政經官員、企業人士,早已司空見慣,海協會官員來訪常態化,兩岸民間交流不斷擴大深化,舊有的敵意隔閡也開始緩解。

這次陳德銘訪問台灣時,氣氛和過去已大不相同,接觸到的多是友善親切的民眾,只有偶爾遇到零星、小規模而平和的抗議活動,今昔相比,對照得出台灣社會在接納大陸人士時的態度變化,也可看出兩岸關係確實已有相當大的進展。

就像長榮集團總裁張榮發在接見陳德銘時所說的,兩岸不論語言或食物都一樣,很多事情大家應該可以交換意見,就像自己家裡的人一樣。台灣和大陸應團結創造雙贏,像一家人,不能讓外國人瞧不起。陳德銘此行也一再呼籲兩岸合作共同進軍全球市場,共創雙贏。

雖然兩岸之間仍然存在著歧異,但仔細檢視,會發現兩岸人民與社會的共通點遠遠大於差異處。如果能夠站在民族大愛、共創榮景的前提下,堅持善意友好的路徑,積極推動各項合作計畫,為兩岸人民福祉創造更大利多,一個和平繁榮的兩岸盛世,不會是夢。

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