|
Taiwan increasingly
leaning toward China: Stanton
By Lee Hsin-fang and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff
writer and CNA
Democratic Progressive Party
Chairman Su Tseng-chang, right, and former American Institute in Taiwan director
William Stanton chat during the annual meeting of the World Taiwanese Congress
in Taipei yesterday.
Photo: CNA
Former American Institute in Taiwan (AIT)
director William Stanton yesterday took issue with opinion polls showing that a
majority of Taiwanese prefer maintaining the ¡§status quo¡¨ in dealings with
China.
Taiwan is actually increasingly leaning toward China, he said, and the ¡§status
quo,¡¨ as perceived by Taiwanese, was ¡§problematic¡¨ and ¡§an illusion,¡¨ given that
China is growing ever stronger and Taiwan is increasingly dependent on China
economically.
Taiwanese cannot unilaterally decide the development of cross-strait ties,
Stanton said at the annual meeting of the World Taiwanese Congress in Taipei,
adding that how much patience China shows toward maintaining the ¡§status quo¡¨
remains a question if bilateral relations do not proceed the way China sees fit.
Pro-unification advocates often think of themselves as realists and say Taiwan
has no choice other than uniting with China, and they optimistically imagine
that with time and the model that Taiwan provides, it would ultimately produce a
beneficial influence over China, Stanton said.
However, the Chinese Communist Party has given no indication that it would
actually support democracy or brook any challenge to its authoritarian rule,
Stanton said.
Moreover, although China¡¦s economy is stronger than ever, it has also brought
with it a rekindling of nationalism, expansionism and a hawkish mindset, he
said.
Taiwan should develop a broader and more in-depth understanding of what
challenges its national security faces, and re-examine its national defense
budget, he said.
The declining support for national security may stem from the falling morale of
its armed forces, he added.
Taiwan should strengthen and invest more in national defense, while reducing
market protectionism, Stanton said, adding that Taiwan should adopt measures
that would increase its appeal to foreign investors, as well as step up
processes to set up free-trade agreements with other nations.
|
