台灣大地文教基金會
Let's give to Taiwan the place it should be (II)

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Viewpoints 8.
Let's give to Taiwan the place it should be (II)
By Consultant Stephane TIGNEL May 7, 2000

I. Geopolitics : 3 superpowers

Until now, there is only one superpower in the world : United States of America. If E.U and some countries of Asia set up their rules, the global situation would become fairer for the citizens of these two areas at least.

It's useless to mention again about American hegemony. Just two related news to show how much narrow gets their ability to decide everything in face of a growing competition. Last month, they asked to Beijing not to buy any AWACS to Israel so as not to disturb the strategic balance between Taiwan and Mainland. At the same time, they answered that they can't sell any destroyers Aegis to Taiwan but only some long-range radar. What does it mean? The U.S.A cannot afford a growing
military power in Asia. The unmentionable reason is more to prevent these forces from being too strong in comparison with American ones than to prevent them from being attempted by starting a fight in the Strait.

On the other hand, in order that some countries open widelier their market, U.S.A give them a lot of pressure or intend judicial inquiries against them. Sometimes they just think that the competition is too much strong and they try and prove that it is not legal, as it is with Airbus company or investments in the automobile sector in India, Philippines and South Korea.

Facing these kinds of difficulties, China would like to establish another pole to get rid of western (and American) supervision. Then, some countries as Israel will maintain some relations with both countries : U.S.A and China. They will be helped or will exchange some technologies with both of them. As a matter of fact, China should become stronger, well-informed of all the new technologies and maybe of the weaponry got by some countries. Last month, China discussed about getting closer with Greece, South Africa, Turkey and Israel. What about Taiwan? Why does Taiwan insist so much to follow the steps of U.S.A only?

E.U is also trying to oppose its system to the American's. What is European Union? It is the name of 15 countries who decided to make many important decisions together rather than apart. Of course these countries still have their own power, and then, their own institutions. But some organizations are in charge of having the economies converging. They are the European commission, the European Parliament, etc...

But as many analysts say, the 15 countries don't harmonize their politics. That's why they are not so strong as they could be. It has been appearing clearly with the depreciation of Euro, which is the currency of 11 of these countries. The tumble of Euro is not entirely negative because it permits European countries to import with a lower price. But it shows that it is an emergency for European citizens to use this currency. Indeed, it seems that Europe is not well-unified and that their currency is not governed by any State. At least, it is the feeling of traders and investors. Moreover, at the meanwhile European citizens don't use their currency, U.S dollar stays over-appreciated and the growth keeps turning to American advantage.

These discrepancies between the superpowers or able-to-be-superpowers should lead to a stronger reaction from Taiwan.

II. Taiwan's position

For sure, Taiwan's leaders, especially Annette Lu, receive a lot of pressure from Beijing. The soon-to-be vice-president especially was insulted many times. But under this kind of situation, they still intend to keep cooperating only with the same countries as under K.M.T's rule. Of course they will change the way to cooperate, above all concerning the international help. But the relations will be held with the same kind of countries. It means that the result will be the same as now. Then China who wants to get more power over the world will go on isolating Taiwan as much as possible.

Why don't Taiwan's leaders in their speeches mention about the emerging countries such as Poland and Greece? Both of them are facing some difficulties right now, but they might overcome them quickly. What about tying the economical relations with E.U? If E.U could invest more and more in Taiwan and Taiwan in E.U, it would give them some power to decide the things as we request. It would turn the situation to E.U's advantage, as they could discuss their views about Taiwan's situation to U.S leaders. Thus, Taiwan's ability to get some helps or services would be reinforced.

Abraham Burg, president of Knesset, the Israelian parliament said : Israel, which is sometimes so much isolated as it is a small country, isolated in an ocean of animosity, cannot ignore Taiwan's interests in an area which looks so much alike with the Near-East. That's why Israel decided to get some help from both America and China.

But Taiwan's leaders and citizens repeatedly ask Washington to be more active for the stability in the Strait, without asking that so much firmly to E.U. They also refer to the Acts signed with U.S.A to sell some weapons to the island. But is that sure that Taiwan's Navy has the expertise to use those systems very well in case of war or during the training activities? Just think about the lost of four F-16 fighter-jets and two Mirage 2000-5. Some analysts, among them James Mulvelon, a Rand Corp. expert on the Chinese military, say that Taiwan had better to learn how to build its weapons rather than buying them.

It is unbelievable that, so as to serve its interests first, a country as U.S.A tries to know what happens abroad and tries to influence the investments and all the life of citizens in this country. Taiwan should develop the relations with other countries as they want without thinking about American and Chinese opinions. Taiwan hopes will be deceived as long as the leaders will be waiting for the U.S.A's kindness. At the same time, Beijing is trying to frighten the leaders more than Taiwan's citizens. But these one will have to suffer from the consequences of the isolation
every day in their life. Just two examples. It is so much clear when a Taiwanese need a visa to travel, or when Taiwanese doctors would like to know more about the big health organizations. Why not to try and reduce these difficult or bad situations?

Let's give Taiwan the chance to get some economical cooperation with E.U so as to build together the fourth superpower.

 

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