The Thoughts after the For Taiwan Conference (II)
By Dr. Hsin-Hung Wu May 7, 2000

The tensions might be rising between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits after President-elected Mr. Chen's inauguration on May 20 if Mr. Chen's inaugural address does not have a common agreement on "One China policy." Right now, everything seems to be quiet between the two sides. However, this scene looks like the heavy storm might be coming pretty soon.

In order to strengthen the security of Taiwan, there are several ways that Taiwan is supposed to do concurrently. First, Taiwan should improve itself in many ways, including having a better and organized democratic system; unceasingly strengthen the economic development and environmental protection, etc., to make it a better place to live. Second, the China-Taiwan issue should be noticed internationally. That is, the China-Taiwan issue cannot be treated as a domestic matter. On the other hand, it should be judged by other third countries or organizations, such as the United States, Japan, European Commissions, etc. Third, helping develop China is also the best way to protect Taiwan. Right now, the only threat to Taiwan's security is China. If any kind of peaceful agreement can be reached by the two sides, there are no any means to invest a lot of budgets to buy weapons. Finally, Mr. Chen is supposed to address the principal on "One China Policy" to release and resolve any types of misunderstandings during the presidential election and before. In addition, the special state-to-state relation proposed by President Lee should be softened. Moreover, the new ministers of foreign affairs and Mainland affairs of the Executive Yuan are not supposed to insist the Taiwan Independence or special state-to-state comments.

Making Taiwan a better place to live can increase the gap between Taiwan and China. Unfortunately, air, water, environmental pollutions, etc., are very severe in Taiwan. In order to solve these problems, equilibrium should be achieved between economic development and environmental protection. However, due to some political reasons, there are lots of high-energy, including water, energy, and pollution, consuming industries forced to stay in Taiwan. This policy should be re-considered, particularly the constraints of energy, use of land, pollutions, and environment in Taiwan. There is no need to put all of the industries in Taiwan. On the other hand, some lower-end, lower value-added industries, or highly polluted industries should be considered to be leaving to other countries.

The cross-Straits relation is the main focus for Taiwan's future. To strengthen our safety, we have to use any means of ways, such as political, personal, and economic methods, to cooperate with the United States, Japan, and other European countries. The best way to do is to put their benefits or profits in Taiwan. That is, based upon their interests, Taiwan issue can become an international matter.

We, on the other hand, have to change our ways of thinking! First, helping China is helping us politically and economically. Promoting our democratic development in the past decade would tell the Chinese in China that a democratic system is the best-fit for them, too. Under this system, they can enjoy everything they want, including the freedom of speech, the freedom of religion, and the freedom from fear. Furthermore, Assisting them in economic development can make them enjoy the benefits of capitalism. The people in China can be more easily to access the different types of information, knowledge, etc., so that the Chinese government is forced to reduce its controls in many things, such as media. Finally, helping China is also the best way to protect Taiwan. The benefit is even far better than buying a lots of weapons. One of the reasons to cause the tension rising is that there might be some misunderstanding between China and Taiwan. Through some types of cooperation and communications, the two sides can be more easily to mutually understand.

Addressing one China policy might be the best way so far to ease the tension. That is, China and Taiwan both agreed the one China policy in 1992. However, due to improper policies proposed by President Lee, the special state-to-state relation (even though it is a fact), the possibilities of confrontations or even wars are increasing. Many official governmental figures in the United States have been warning us that if we do not go back to one China policy, then any type of confrontations or wars could happen pretty soon. Under such tension, the confrontations or wars are expected to happen, and the unknown is when and what types of them! Under one China policy, we can emphasize that one China means the Republic of China or the China in the future. We also can express that we are Chinese in Taiwan, and we are the free China compared to the communism China. All of these are well within one China policy described and defined in President K.S. Chiang and his son. Right now, peace or war might be decided in Mr. Chen's inaugural address on May 20. If he does not show his sincerity and agreement in one China policy and we are the Chinese in Taiwan, Taiwan could be endangered. Hopefully, he will know this and is forced to speak them out!

Speaking one China policy and we are Chinese does not mean we succumb. On the other hand, it is the only way to protect Taiwan. China is willing to negotiate with us until the above policies are achieved. Under these circumstances, the talk, including the three links, can become practical. All of these can be the best and cheaper weapons to protect Taiwan, promote economic development into the next level, have better environmental protection, and so on. (Please read my attached Chinese file.)

Right now, the first thing to do to release the tension is to lower down our status and not to be so out-spoken. The word exchange between the two sides does not make any sense and any good to both sides. In contrast, the best way is to talk with each other monitored and judged by the third countries, such as the United States, as soon as Taiwan agrees one China policy back to the status in 1992. As long as both sides can have concepts in common and discuss on the table, i.e., one China and reunification in the future, I believe Taiwan can be a better place to live! If not, I am afraid that confrontations or wars could happen in any means and any time, and we will lose whatever we have including our democratic system and economic development!

註：台灣必須加強自衛能力與擴展外交。中共是以台灣的實力來做談判的彈性，投降中共不等於就可以“和平”，陳水扁先生已聲明五不原則，而致力於兩岸和諧。此篇為吳教授個人意見，可以供大家參考。
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