Talks needed to prevent tragedy

Chiang Shao-nan, a coast guard officer abducted by Chinese fishermen, returned to Matsu on Monday. His abduction on Sunday once again highlighted the urgent need to regulate civilian exchanges across the Taiwan Strait. The government and its counterpart in Beijing must reach a consensus as soon as possible on issues such as fishing, smuggling and the handling of illegal immigrants in order to avoid a repeat of such incidents. Otherwise, a slight mishap could lead to a major tragedy.

No one can guarantee that coast guard officers will not open fire in self-defense if Chinese fishermen, armed with knives or other weapons -- try to hold them captive. This is something no one would want to see. A responsible government would take such steps.

The Beijing government should take aggressive action to prevent such "accidents." It should not create more political hurdles and impede negotiations on the handling of such practical matters.

During the 1993 Koo-Wang talks in Singapore, Taiwan and China reached a consensus on starting talks on non-political issues involving practical matters. Deplorably, Beijing backtracked from that consensus after the talks and insisted that Taiwan's government first recognize its "one China" principle before any talks could begin. Such an unreasonable precondition would amount to capitulation before any talks were held. The government and people of Taiwan were, of course, unable to accept such an unreasonable demand. As a result, tragedies and criminal activities have become commonplace in the Taiwan Strait.

Beijing needs to wake up to reality. Taiwan's economic, safety and social conditions are far better than those in China. People naturally seek greener pastures. If there is no normal, legal channel for exchanges between the two sides of the Strait, many poor Chinese will continue to risk their lives to reach Taiwan.

Lives were lost last month in such a bid. Smugglers threw their human cargo overboard after being discovered by coast guard vessels off Penghu and chased. Six Chinese women died and several others were injured. The incident attracted considerable international attention.

The Beijing government must not be allowed to continue to look the other way as its people lose their lives at sea or its fishermen commit serious crimes. Beijing should know that an increase in such ignominious incidents will only cause the Taiwanese people to look down on its incompetence and inhumane mindset.

The government set up the Straits Exchange Foundation in 1991 in order to provide a channel for dialogue with Beijing authorities in the absence of official, state-to-state negotiations. Priority was also given to promoting talks on non-political issues. It is high time that China's rulers once again recognize the foundation and allow the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits to interact with it. Only then can the people on the two sides of the Strait be spared unnecessary trouble and heartbreak.