Ma succeeds in moving Taiwan closer to China
Updated
It's been a year, since Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou won office, with the China-friendly Kuomintang improving relations with its mainland neighbour.
In the past twelve months, Taipei has dropped rhetoric about Taiwan's independence, and is promoting closer economic ties. President Ma's anniversary also drew tens of thousands to the streets in opposition protests last weekend saying the KMT is putting Taiwan's long-term independence at risk.
Presenter: Sen Lam
Speaker: Dr Chwei Liang Chou, University of Queensland and former Taiwanese presidential advisor
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DR CHWEI LIANG CHOU: Yes, I think President Ma Ying-jeou has done that. And although I don't agree with him, you know, it caused a lot of Taiwan's independence. So the point very debatable and it seems to me, that Ma Ying-jeou has leaned towards China so much that Taiwan now - 23 million people have been divided again with a very, very, very, very difficult ideological divide.
SEN LAM: So are you saying that Ma Ying-jeou, over the past 12 months, has managed to improve relations but at a very heavy cost to the people of Taiwan?
DR CHWEI LIANG CHOU: Yes, in the long run. Maybe not in the short term. Even the Minister of Health attended the World Health Assembly meeting right now, or last week, this week. And really,Ma Ying-jeou accepted China's conditions. So Ma Ying-jeou was not correct by saying that he does not accept China's One China principle. Clearly he has done so. That's why the observership Taiwan now has of the WHA is really at great cost.
SEN LAM: But we can't deny the fact, though, that over the past 12 months, relations with the mainland have improved and therefore transformed the Taiwan strait from what used to be a fairly risky flashpoint, potential flashpoint, to now a region of prosperity and security. Aren't those the facts?
DR CHWEI LIANG CHOU: That remains to be seen because China is not economics for economics' sakes, always economics for political sakes. Because of that, they really - although economically, you're right, a sort of superficial prosperity has been created. But, you know, on the political front, Taiwan is taking a great risk.
SEN LAM: And do you think it's all the more reason for Ma Ying-jeou to push for better relations, the fact that China still has 1,500 missiles pointed at the island? Isn't that reason enough to strike for better relations, rather than, for instance, in the day of Chen Shui-bien, to consistently annoy Beijing?
DR CHWEI LIANG CHOU: Well, on the other hand then, Chen Shui-bien had years, in spite of the threats of missiles. China has not - did not really carry out, you know, attacks, although Chen Shui-bien was irritating towards China, but Chen Shui-bien maintained a sort of independence for Taiwan. So I guess here, now, you look from Taiwan's perspective. For many Taiwanese people, they really feel that although Chen Shui-bien has done something that China did not like, Ma Ying-jeou has done something China like a lot, but in the long run may not be necessarily good for Taiwan, what Ma Ying-jeou has been doing.
SEN LAM: But would you agree that the even the Pan-Green camp, the DPP, the Opposition, even they recognise the importance of good relationships with the mainland? The Mayor of Kaohsiung, I understand, is planning a trip to Beijing. So do you think that the DPP itself is also realising that it has to repair the broken relationships under the term of Chen Shui-bien?
DR CHWEI LIANG CHOU: OK, Mayor of Kaohsiung Chen Chu is hesitating. I think she is going to visit China because of her, you know, role as hoster - as a host of the World Games. Now the question - you're right in saying that Pan-Blue people, Pan-Green and Pan-Blue, they all Taiwanese people like to have good relations with China. The question is at what price again. If you watch carefully last week's demonstration, as mentioned in your introductions, 800,000 Taiwanese people went to the streets and they all expressed their anger at Ma Ying-jeou's to be so easily leaning towards China, sacrificing Taiwan's standing. That's a path I think many Taiwanese people, not just Pan-Green, but many Taiwanese people would not accept.
