A Politically and Economically Secure Cross-Strait Common Market

A Politically and Economically Secure Cross-Strait Common Market
China Times editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
April 9, 2013

Summary: The 2013 Boao Forum for Asia has significance for Taiwan. Newly installed CCP leader Xi Jinping and former ROC vice president Siew were the first to enshrine the concept of a cross-strait common market. At Boao, Xi Jinping spoke of a "win/win trend consistent with peaceful development and cooperation." He said the two sides must increase mutually beneficial cooperation, and promote cross-strait peaceful development. Under Xi Jinping's leadership, the CCP authorities should respect Taipei's views, and ensure Taipei's autonomy. The CCP must respect Taipei's political and economic security, promote cross-Strait cooperation in trade, customs, and currency. The CCP must promote the ideal of a cross-Strait common market, and lay a solid foundation for the two sides' further integration.

Full text below:

A Siew Xi Summit took place in Boao, Hainan on the 8th. Once again, political leaders from Taipei introduced business leaders to newly installed CCP leader Xi Jinping. This is of considerable importance to cross-Strait relations. During the Siew Xi Summit, former Vice President Siew urged the two sides to confront the new strategic picture. He urged the two sides to take part in regional economic integration, and increase cross-Strait cooperation. CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping expressed satisfaction with cross-Strait cooperation and exchanges. He praised former Vice President Siew for his long-standing and far-sighted advocacy of a cross-Strait common market.

During the Siew Xi Summit, former Vice President Siew called on the two sides to "confront the new situation, agree on a common vision, connect with Asia and the Pacific, and revitalize the Chinese nation." Compare this slogan to former General Secretary Hu Jintao's slogan during the April, 2008 Boao Forum. Hu urged the two sides to "confront reality head on, create the future, set aside disputes, pursue a win-win scenario." The current slogan is more explicit about the cross-Strait situation. It urges the two sides to work together to broaden their horizons. By implication, Taiwan businesses hope to relocate. They hope to participate more in Asian-Pacific regional economic cooperation.

The Boao Forum for Asia is dominated by the Chinese mainland. It enables Asian-Pacific government leaders and business leaders to engage in economic cooperation and dialogue. It enables the two sides' top officials to meet and communicate. It enables Taiwan businessmen on the Mainland to voice their concerns about the investment environment.

The ROC delegation made these advanced declarations. Nevertheless the Siew Xi Summit urges "Less politics, more economics and trade," in other words, the avoidance of sensitive political issues. The CCP however, did not create the Boao Forum for Asia as a purely economic forum. The forum also serves a political and diplomatic function. CCP academics and the media, such as Xinhua, consider Xi Jinping's Boao Forum address a declaration of the CCP's new foreign policy, one that reflects current conditions in Asia and the world as a whole. The Boao Forum remains an important mechanism through which the CCP can expand its political and economic relations.

The ROC delegation, led by former Vice President Siew, spoke with CCP leaders. They vowed to take on major political and economic challenges. They informed CCP leaders what they were hoping for. They told CCP leaders they hoped to accelerate follow-up consultations on the cross-strait economic cooperation agreement framework (ECFA). They told CCP leaders that the people and the government on Taiwan want to join international economic and trade organizations. They told CCP leaders that they want to sign free trade agreements (FTAs) with other countries. They politely and indirectly told Xi Jinping and other senior CCP leaders, that they hoped the CCP would not interfere with Taipei's overseas trade activities out of political considerations. In particular, they told CCP leaders they hoped the CCP would not impose a diplomatic blockade on Taipei's foreign trade and economic activities.

Xi Jinping responded. He spoke of the need to increase cross-Strait communication, coordination, and to actively explore how Taipei might participate. He hoped arrangments could be made that would provide new vitality and dynamism to Taiwan's economic development. This was Xi Jinping's first act as leader of the Chinese Communist Party. It was the first time the two sides attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation mechanism and offered a response. Nevertheless Taipei cannot help but worry that the CCP was were merely going through the motions, in order to delay Taipei's  membership in regional economic cooperation organizations.

It is now easier for the two sides to talk about the cross-Strait situation. But overcoming the actual obstacles remains difficult. In recent years, the Boao Forum has become the occasion for political leaders and business leaders in Asian-Pacific countries to meet and exchange ideas. High-level talks take place between the two sides of the Strait at this annual meeting. But hammering out a forceful response to cross-Strait relations remains difficult.

Fortunately, former Vice President Siew spoke directly to CCP leaders. He told them that Taipei hopes to join regional economic cooperation organizations. This does not mean that Taipei will immediately enjoy greater international breathing space. But Taipei must strike a balance in its relations with Beijing and Washington. It must use SEF, ARATS, and other mechanisms to communicate and coordinate. This will complement follow-up consultations on ECFA. By adopting a multi-pronged approach, Taipei may be able to join regional economic and trade organizations in the near future. 

The ROC government used the appropriate channels. It encouraged the appointment of Taiwan experts. CCP leaders, government leaders, and foreign policy leaders, began paying attention to the political views of the public on Taiwan. They realized that the public on Taiwan wants to join regional economic organizations. They realized that this affects the development of Taiwan businesses, and that this is a major issue that affects the livelihood of the people.

The 2013 Boao Forum for Asia has significance for Taiwan. Newly installed CCP leader Xi Jinping and former ROC vice president Siew were the first to enshrine the concept of a cross-strait common market. At Boao, Xi Jinping spoke of a "win/win trend consistent with peaceful development and cooperation." He said the two sides must increase mutually beneficial cooperation, and promote cross-strait peaceful development. Under Xi Jinping's leadership, the CCP authorities should respect Taipei's views, and ensure Taipei's autonomy. The CCP must respect Taipei's political and economic security, promote cross-Strait cooperation in trade, customs, and currency. The CCP must promote the ideal of a cross-Strait common market, and lay a solid foundation for the two sides' further integration.

中時電子報 新聞
中國時報 　2013.04.09
社論－確保台灣政經安全 實現兩岸共同市場
本報訊

    　「蕭習會」八日在海南博鰲登場，這是台灣政治領袖再一次率企業菁英與中共新領導人習近平見面會談，對兩岸關係發展具有相當的重要性。此次蕭習會中，蕭前副總統主張迎向全球挑戰新局，宜由兩岸共同參與區域經濟整合，促進兩岸合作的全面升級；中共總書記習近平則對近年來的兩岸合作交流予以肯定並感滿意，同時稱許蕭前副總統多年來所倡議的兩岸共同市場的概念至有遠見。

    　蕭習會中，蕭前副總統提出：「面對新局，共築願景，攜手亞太，振興中華」十六字言，較之二○○八年四月他在博鰲和胡錦濤前總書記會面時提出的「正視現實，開創未來，擱置爭議，追求雙贏」十六字原則，此次更明確地點出了兩岸所面對的已是全新局面，應攜手合作、擴大格局，而其中更隱含了台灣企盼走出去、在亞太區域經濟合作中有更多參與機會的願望。

    　博鰲亞洲論壇由中國大陸所主導，不僅提供亞太各國政府領袖和企業菁英彼此間進行經濟合作、對話的交流機制，也是兩岸高層直接會面溝通的重要場合；同時，也是台灣企業爭取在大陸地區獲得得更好投資經營環境與條件的發聲管道。

    　不過，必須注意的是，雖然我方代表團先前表示，在蕭習會中將以「少政治、多經貿」為基本原則，不會觸及敏感的政治議題；但是，中共創建和舉辦博鰲亞洲論壇，本來就不僅設定為純然的經濟論壇，而更帶有政治和外交的目的。中共學者和傳媒，如新華網，也都將習近平此次博鰲講話解讀為「就當前亞洲和世界的發展形勢，闡明了中國外交政策的新理念」，顯示博鰲論壇是中共拓展對外政經關係的重要機制之一。

    　因此，以蕭前副總統為首的我方代表團在與中共領導人會談時，也確實承擔起重大的政治經濟的任務：除向中共高層表達希望加速完成兩岸經濟合作協議架構（ＥＣＦＡ）後續協商之外，同時也堅定地表達了台灣人民和政府參與國際經貿組織，以及與其他國家簽訂自由貿易協定（ＦＴＡ）的強烈意願，這不啻是間接而委婉地告訴習近平等領導高層，希望中共方面不要因為政治因素干擾台灣對外經貿活動，尤其不要以外交手段封鎖台灣對外的經貿活動空間。

    　對此，習近平則回以：「加強兩岸相互溝通、協調，並積極探討參與的方式，希望能夠在提供台灣經濟發展新的活力與動能，做出安排。」雖然這是習近平作為中共新領導人以來，首度對兩岸共同參與亞太經濟合作機制所作出的回應，但台灣方面不免擔心這只是虛應故事的說法，用以推遲和迴避台灣參與區域經濟合作組織。

    　當前兩岸情勢是雙方容易談的議題已逐步處理，但困難的議題依舊難解。而博鰲論壇近年來逐漸成為亞太各國政商菁英聯誼交流的場合，在這樣的例行年會中，即使有兩岸高層會談，恐怕也不易為兩岸關係激盪出有力的回響。

    　幸而蕭前副總統仍直接向中共高層傳達了台灣方面希望參與區域經濟合作組織的願望，雖然未必真能很快地有助於台灣達成拓展國際經貿空間的目標，但只要我國政府努力在美中關係中取得平衡，並運用既有的兩岸兩會機制及其他互動平台繼續溝通協調，再配合落實ＥＣＦＡ的後續協商，多管齊下，或能在不久的將來實現台灣參與區域經貿組織的構想。

    　也因此，我方亦宜透過適當的管道，促使初上任的「知台派」中共黨政體系和外交系統領導人正視台灣人民的想法和各個政治勢力的立場，務使其認知到台灣方面認為參與區域經濟組織乃是攸關台灣企業發展、人民生計的重大議題。

    　對台灣而言，二○一三年博鰲亞洲論壇的重要意義就在於，中共新領導人習近平與台灣最早揭櫫兩岸共同市場理念的蕭前副總統的共同與會和對談。習近平在此次博鰲講話中提出了「順應和平發展、合作共贏的時代潮流」，要採取進一步深化兩岸互利合作，促進兩岸和平發展，未來在習近平領導下，中共當局也應尊重台灣的想法，在確保台灣自主性、維護台灣政經安全的前提下，推展兩岸在貿易、關稅、貨幣等領域的全面合作，才能逐步實現兩岸共同市場的理想，為兩岸進一步整合的遠景奠定堅實的基礎。