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EDITORIAL: Beef must
not poison other issues
While officials now tell us that the feed additive ractopamine contained in some
US beef does not pose a health risk, the longstanding controversy over its
import into Taiwan could, if mishandled, poison relations between Taipei and
Washington.
Fundamentally, the problem lies with special interest groups in Taiwan and the
US. In Taiwan, those who oppose lifting the ban on US beef containing
ractopamine residue have adopted a policy that seeks to protect the domestic
meat industry. Protectionism is every bit as important as health considerations
in this dispute ˇX witness the legislators and activists who have made this issue
their own, but have nothing to say about the proven nefarious effects of
cigarettes, or motor vehicle pollution.
As for the US, its policy on the matter is alimented by a lobby that seeks to
maximize the export of meat products. It is also an election year, which tends
to make policymakers more receptive to such pressures.
Although the beef controversy should be treated as an isolated trade spat
between two countries, there has been a tendency on both sides to politicize the
matter by tying it to other elements of the relationship. As a result, if the
situation is not handled with political deftness, it could damage relations
between Taipei and its most important ally.
In Taiwan, there is an underlying anti--Americanism to the opposition to US beef
imports and some of the protesters who took to the streets in protest ˇX
including Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators ˇX do little to hide
their feelings. Indeed, one suspects that there are some within the DPP who have
taken up this cause more as a means to get even with Washington for its
perceived meddling in the Jan. 14 presidential election.
While Taiwanese have every right to decide what does and does not end up on
their dinner plates, it would be a mistake to regard US insistence on exporting
its beef products, or Taipeiˇ¦s acquiescence, as a sign of US imperialism.
Equally unpalatable is the attempt by some on the US side to link the US beef
issue to other policy initiatives, such as negotiations on the Taiwan-US Trade
and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA). The political and economic
ramifications of the agreement for Taiwan cannot be emphasized enough, if only
because it would provide a key counterbalance to the Economic Cooperation
Framework Agreement (ECFA) signed by Taipei and Beijing in June 2010.
Holding TIFA talks hostage until the beef issue is resolved comes close to
blackmail, which is not conducive to friendly relations. It is, however, very
close to how Beijing approaches negotiations with Taipei.
Both sides must be willing to compromise, while making sure that whatever
decision is ultimately made does not undermine other aspects of their bilateral
relationship.
Taiwan stands to gain nothing, but could lose a great deal, if the US beef
dispute becomes a rallying point for anti-Americanism (for cynical politicians
who seek rapprochement with Beijing at the expense of relations with Washington,
such an outcome would be like manna from Heaven). Who knows what would happen to
US security guarantees or arms sales to Taiwan if things reached such a point.
Cool heads must prevail, particularly as there is already a certain degree of
apprehension over the level of US commitment to Taiwan.
While not sacrificing its national interest, vulnerable sectors and yes, public
health, Taiwan should not give vacillating US politicians more reasons to treat
it like an unwanted side dish.
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