SARS talks ignited China tussle

 

CROSS-STRAIT TIES: Old disputes can always be renewed when occasion provides and last week's WHO-sponsored conference proved to be the perfect opportunity

 

By Melody Chen

STAFF REPORTER

 

The World Health Organization's (WHO) two-day Global Conference on SARS in Kuala Lumpur, which ended on Wednesday, illustrated the complications that occur when academia clashes with politics.

 

China and Taiwan's sovereignty disputes were nothing to the WHO. The health body is just one of the stages where the two countries' sovereignty problems rage.

 

Both the WHO and Taiwan's delegation to the conference, headed by Center for Disease Control (CDC) Director-General Su Ih-jen, said the conference was scientific in nature.

 

Some academics in Taiwan's delegation, including Ho Mei-shang, an Academia Sinica researcher, and King Chwan-chuen, a professor from National Taiwan University, showed a strong aversion to political interpretations of their moves at the conference.

 

They grumbled about the media's focus on the political, rather than the academic, aspect of the conference.

 

Their complaints reflected at least two points of view put forward by observers of the conference.

 

Firstly, the media wanted audiences. Politics sells better than academic issues about SARS.

 

Secondly, the delegates' dislike of political interpretations of their moves in the conference revealed their awareness of the sensitive political atmosphere in which they were embroiled.

 

The political atmosphere inside the SARS conference was perhaps most acutely felt by the representatives of Taiwan and China.

 

Taiwan's delegation made it clear their country is a sovereign state, whereas China regarded Taiwan as its renegade province. Old disputes can always be presented in new forms when occasion provides.

 

The SARS conference is only the latest of such occasions. The WHO invited Taiwanese experts to join its conference for the first time in nearly 30 years. Taiwan had reason to rejoice over the "big step forward," as Su called it.

 

China, however, managed to recommend to the WHO that PFP Legislator Kao Ming-chien join the conference. China's recommendation of a Taiwanese lawmaker to join the conference was a gesture intended to show the communist country's power over Taiwan.

 

Kao has certainly tasted the bitterness of China's recommendation and is now desperate to clear his name after being accused of betraying Taiwan.

 

Kao was undoubtedly under the spotlight at the conference, however he drew so much attention that the Taiwanese delegation's true achievements at the conference were overshadowed.

 

While WHO officials in the past avoided contact with Taiwanese officials at public events, a number of the health organization's top brass at the conference happily received Su and other Taiwanese delegates.

 

Upon her arrival at the conference venue, WHO Director-General Gro Harlem Brundtland shook hands with Su while being surrounded by the media.

 

After the conference's closing ceremony on Wednesday, WHO Executive Director for Communicable Diseases Dr. David Heymann joined a reception party held by the Taiwanese delegation to congratulate their participation in the SARS conference.

 

At the reception party was also the highest-ranking American officials attending the conference, Dr. James Hughes, director of the National Center for Infectious Diseases of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 

"In the past, WHO officials were unwilling to meet up with Taiwanese officials. This time, they were even willing to join our reception party and congratulate us," a senior Taiwanese health official said.

 

The official said that the WHO representatives probably received permission from their superiors before coming to the party.

 

"It is a big breakthrough in Taiwan's relationship with the WHO. But we have paid a price for the breakthrough. So many people died of SARS in Taiwan," the official said.

 

International relations, added the official, sometimes rely heavily on personal contacts. The interaction between the WHO and Taiwanese officials was good, but it takes time to nurture the relationship, the official said.

 

On the other hand, Gao Qiang, China's Vice Minister of Health heading China's delegation to the conference, avoided political issues as much as he could.

 

Su said he was prepared for three sets of gestures Gao might display in the conference to lower Taiwan's status. "But Gao made none of the gestures," Su said.

 

There have been various interpretations of China's low profile at the conference.

 

Lin Shih-chia, executive director of the Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance in Taiwan, a lobby group for Taiwan's bid to enter the WHO, said China's performance at the conference was delicately designed.

 

In Gao's briefing on China's SARS situation in the conference, he acknowledged the country's mistakes in handling the epidemic.

 

"It is a rare move for a communist regime to acknowledge its mistakes," Lin said.

 

Gao's report is a sign China's new leadership is adjusting itself after the country's initial cover-up of the disease that wrecked lives in other nations, Lin said.

 

But China's quietness over the cross-strait issue at the conference does not mean it has changed its views on Taiwan.

 

"Their `one China' principle basically remains the same," the health official said.

 

China's WHO meddling works against them again

 

By Sandy Huang

STAFF REPORTER

 

In view of the recent outcry over PFP Legislator Kao Ming-chien's attendance at a WHO-organized SARS conference in Kuala Lumpur last week on the recommendation of China, political observers said that Beijing's latest attempt to belittle Taiwan have once again proved counterproductive.

 

Rather than affirming its claim to the Taiwanese public that Taiwan is a part of China, Beijing ended up stoking Taiwan's resentment toward Beijing and fanning independence sentiment.

 

"On the outside, Beijing appeared to score points as it showed to the international community that -- by adding a Taiwanese representative onto its own recommendation list -- Taiwan is part of China," said Shane Lee, a professor of law and politics at Chang-jung University.

 

"Yet on the inside, Beijing appeared to drop points as its aroused public indignation and awoke the Taiwanese public's awareness on sovereignty and identification with Taiwan," Lee said.

 

Indeed, Beijing has touched a sensitive nerve regarding the debate between independence and unification.

 

In Taipei, a group of TSU supporters showed up in front of the PFP headquarters protesting against Kao's acceptance of China's recommendation.

 

And in Kaohsiung, over 500 pro-green supporters staged a protest outside the city's PFP offices charging Kao and PFP Chairman James Soong with treason.

 

Echoing Lee's comments, Hung Mao-hsiung, an international relations graduate research fellow at National Chengchi University, said that Beijing made the recommendation in a bid to belittle Taiwan on the international stage.

 

The incident also highlighted the Chinese Communist Party's true essence, "which is inflexible and harbors an an arrogance that reeks of its determination to take action regardless of consequence and how other people think and feel," Hung said.

 

Hung said it is China's communist mentality that prompts China to often act in ways that more often than not draw a negative response in Taiwan.

 

"Despite previous lessons that its oppression of Taiwan is likely to result in a strong backlash, Beijing finds it hard to refrain itself from doing so because of its communist nature," Hung said.

 

"Given its communist nature, Beijing, regardless of the fact that there have been increasing interacting and exchange between people on both sides of the strait, still chooses to resort to methods that hurt the feelings of people in Taiwan," Hung said. "Beijing really ought to learn to respect Taiwan's democracy."

 

Chang Ya-chung, director of the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies at Nanhua University, said he can't think why Beijing, with Taiwan's presidential election less than nine months away, would try to stir up trouble that can only serve to turn Taiwanese against it.

 

One hypothesis is that China might have the kind of bureaucracy that forces it to make these kinds of decisions, Chang said.

 

Chan also commented on Taiwan's peculiar political state.

 

"Where else in the world would you find a legislator's loyalty to the nation being questioned or presidential candidates that always have to emphasize and defend their loyalty to their nation?" Chang said.

 

 

 

Kao betrayed his nation's interests

 

By the Liberty Times editorial

 

`The SARS outbreak fully proved that the medical and health system of Taiwan far exceeds that of China -- not to mention that the personal income of the Taiwanese people is about 20 times higher that of the Chinese. How could the people of Taiwan wish to live under China's roof, where they can't even enjoy their current standard of living?'

 

The invitation to participate in the World Health Organization's (WHO) SARS conference in Kuala Lumpur should have been a great opportunity for Taiwan to show the world the results of its battle against SARS. For no reason, however, the WHO's invitation list included an extra person, PFP Legislator Kao Ming-chien. There seems to be evidence that China recommended Kao to the WHO, lending a strange atmosphere to Taiwan's participation in the conference.

 

Many people have raised suspicions regarding this PFP legislator's motives over the past few days, while the PFP hollers "unjust accusations" in retort. It even brings counter charges saying that this is a collective plot by the green camp and government officials to launch a gradual attack on Kao and the PFP by setting them up as being immoral.

 

We should all be able to slowly make out what the true story behind this incident really is once evidence begins to leak out and once Chinese officials begin to provide evidence. It is worth noting that the PFP time and again has stressed in public that neither it nor Kao have been driven by any motivation to harm the national interest.

 

In order to make us all believe that they love Taiwan in deed as well as in word, however, the people concerned should explain to the uninitiated, in no uncertain terms, whether the "Kao Ming-chien model" -- which makes a constitutional one China and the "one China" framework a precedent to the WHO -- will cause the blue camp to hurt the sovereignty of Taiwan by belittling it.

 

In fact, this incident should be given further collective thought by politicians. Regardless of whether they are members of the ruling or opposition parties, politicians are, in a wider sense, servants of the people, and the right to participate in political activities is bestowed upon them by the democratic system.

 

Therefore, even though politicians may hold different political points of view or different political ideals, they still have to fulfill the most solemn responsibilities towards this land and this great people. If politicians do not have the best for the nation or its people before their eyes, but always do their level best in the quest for powerful positions or individual interests, even mistaking an enemy nation for their own, they will, in the end, be abandoned by the public.

 

The fact that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are ruled by different governments is nothing new, but the result of the circumstances of history. Even though some of the 23 million Taiwanese arrived here earlier and some later, everyone is striving towards the same dream of the ideal home.

 

The problem is that China is a bully with absolutely no respect for the people that choose Taiwan, ceaselessly intriguing to take over Taiwan. To be able to deal with Taiwan, China is actively expanding its arms arsenal in an attempt at forcing Taiwan to capitulate.

 

The international community, however, is constantly warning China that it must not take to arms. This has caused China to change its ways and instead attempt peaceful unification while at the same time intensifying its economic war for unification against Taiwan, completely surrounding Taiwan with armed threats and economic strategies.

 

Leaving distant happenings to the side, Taiwan had to pay a high price for being affected by SARS because China concealed the epidemic and brought its misfortunes on others. Even at the height of the epidemic, China isolated and pressured Taiwan.

 

Apart from constantly using the "one China" principle to interfere with the WHO's assistance to Taiwan, Beijing also lied to the international community, claiming that it helped Taiwan fight SARS, leaving us open to the attack of the disease.

 

Today, the epidemic here is finally under control, and the WHO has also lifted its travel advisory. However, China played dirty tricks at the WHO's meetings by recommending that a pro-China politician help Beijing patch up its lies at the meetings.

 

The people of Taiwan are filled with righteous indignation over such actions. Can our politicians really pretend not to see this?

 

Election and opinion poll results over recent years have showed that mainstream opinion is to maintain the status quo, and constantly improve people's lives.

 

The SARS outbreak fully proved that the medical and health system of Taiwan far exceeds that of China -- not to mention that the personal income of the Taiwanese people is about 20 times higher that of the Chinese. How could the people of Taiwan wish to live under China's roof, where they can't even enjoy their current standard of living?

 

Unfortunately, some politicians, media and business people only see the economic development in certain areas of China, and covet the relatively cheap land and labor costs across the Taiwan Strait. They have pressured the government to implement its policy of "active opening," which allows them to invest in China while they insist on pulling the island closer to Beijing politically.

 

To be honest, such pro-China words and deeds that only take immediate profits into consideration are but a misfortune to the public that will spell disaster for our children.

 

The living standard in China is low. Both democracy and rule of law are absent, and human rights and freedom are not protected there. If Taiwan's economy and politics gradually lean towards China, it will become another Hong Kong -- which is rapidly sinking after the handover to China, both economically and politically, losing its past vitality due to gradual Sinicization and marginalization.

 

Hong Kong has already lost its glory in the six years following its being handed over to China. If Taiwan walks right into China's trap, misfortunes similar to Hong Kong's Article 23 legislation will soon arrive here.

 

Affected by "China fever," some Taiwanese have lost their faith in their homeland and choose to either study or work in China, believing that China is their future hope. They should really consider this issue -- China's suffers severe unemployment problems.

 

How much room is there for foreigners? In addition, by choosing to study and work in backward China -- rather than more advanced European countries, the US, or Japan -- what future international competitiveness will they gain?

 

Different politicians hold different views. This shows the opening and diversity of a democratic society.

 

However, this does not mean that these views can ignore this nation and its people. If the views proposed by politicians only seek to satisfy the short-term interests of a minority, or depart from our national identity, they can never gain a permanent foothold in this democratic society.

 

In recent years, some politicians have been selling their pro-China ideologies in the name of economic improvement. So long as we listen and think carefully, it's not difficult to understand that such ideologies do not make Taiwan and its people a priority.

 

The SARS outbreak once again showed us that some politicians still fantasizing about China only serve as Beijing's tools for dealing with the island.

 

Once Taiwan's sovereignty is gone, its people will lose their protection, and even those pro-China politicians will be abandoned by Beijing because they sold themselves and their own values.

 

 

 

 

Parties tell US to keep nose out of domestic affairs

 

INTERNAL DEBATE: DPP Deputy Secretary-General Lee Ying-yuan said that the Taiwanese have the right to voice their opinion in a plebiscite

 

By Chang Yun-Ping

STAFF REPORTER

 

Ruling and opposition parties were in agreement yesterday that the US should not stop Taiwan from holding referendums to decide matters concerning internal affairs.

 

Chinese-language newspapers on Saturday reported that in a meeting with President Chen Shui-bian director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Douglas Paal had expressed opposition to the idea of the country holding plebiscites on domestic issues.

 

Chen pledged in May to hold two referendums coinciding with the next presidential election on March 18 regarding Taiwan's entry into the World Health Organization and whether construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant should continue.

DPP Deputy Secretary-General Lee Ying-yuan said yesterday he wasn't fully aware of the whole situation, but that it would be fine for the US to pay attention to Taiwan's referendum on the fate of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant because it concerns US companies who hold many of the site's construction contracts.

 

However, Lee said any difference of opinion between the US and Taiwan could be resolved through further communications.

 

Lee, a former deputy representative to the US, said that US concerns over the referendum are normal because bilateral relations between the US and Taiwan have intensified in a number of areas, including the US' selling of weapons to Taiwan and negotiations over a free-trade agreement.

 

He also said that a referendum is not a move to promote Taiwanese independence.

 

Pan-blue leaders also said the US cannot interfere in Taiwan's internal affairs.

 

"Even though Taiwan's timing of the referendum and the kind of issues discussed should be considered discreetly, Taiwanese citizen still have the right to express their opinions on public policies," PFP Chairman James Soong said.

 

KMT Chairman Lien Chan also said the right to hold a referendum is the basic right of Taiwanese citizens and cannot be meddled with.

 

DPP legislative caucus whip Chen Chi-mai said a referendum vote is a basic individual right of any citizen in a democratic country, and it is not right for the US to oppose it.

 

"The US is a democratic country and for years it has held referendums concerning issues of public administration and construction," Chen said. "It is unlikely the US would oppose the idea of a plebiscite."

 

The DPP will continue to push for draft bills of the referendum law or the initiation and recall law in the legislature in a bid to realize the twin referendums, Chen said.

 

Premier Yu Shyi-kun said on June 14 that a referendum is the direct exercise of civil rights, which can be found in what he claimed the "rights of initiative and referendum stipulated in the Constitution."

 

US opposes referendum, government officials say

 

PLEBISCITES: Officials in Taiwan say they may go ahead with plans to give citizens a direct say, even though Washington fears such a move would provoke Beijing

 

By Monique Chu

STAFF REPORTER

 

The US opposes Taiwan holding referendums, regardless of whether they are sanctioned by a referendum law, high-ranking Taiwanese officials said yesterday.

 

A spokesman for the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said Washington planned to comment on the issue tomorrow.

 

A local newspaper said yesterday that AIT Director Douglas Paal had expressed Washington's opposition to any national referendum, regardless of the issue concerned, during a meeting with President Chen Shui-bian that same day.

 

The report also said Paal told Chen that Beijing opposed any referendum in Taiwan as it deems the move too provocative.

 

Presidential Office spokesman James Huang as well as AIT spokesman Robert Howes declined to confirm the meeting or to comment on the report.

 

It is common practice for the Presidential Office not to comment on any of the head of state's meetings that are closed to the press.

 

The government has vowed to study holding a national advisory referendum on whether to halt construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, as well as on whether Taiwan should join the World Health Organization.

 

Presidential Office Secretary-General Chiou I-jen said the US has shown its concern over the referendum issue, but added he still has room to maneuver.

 

Chiou said the government is evaluating whether to go ahead with these advisory plebiscites next year.

 

The government plans to hold the advisory referendum on public policy issues rather than on the sensitive reunification-independence issue, Chiou said.

 

A high-ranking Taiwanese official, who declined to be named, said Chiou's response indirectly confirmed the US message.

 

"The US has indeed opposed any referendum," the official said.

Anti-nuclear protesters demanding an advisory referendum to decide the fate of the Fourth Nuclear Plant march through downtown Taipei yesterday.