Taipei(AsiaNews/Agencies) – The year started as it finished: marked by the controversy betweenChinaandTaiwan. But rather than political clashes, it is steadily growing social and economic ties that are assuming ever more importance.
In his New Year address, the Taiwanese president, Chen Shui-bian, waved the idea of possible independence for the island, reiterating that “only the people ofTaiwanhave the right to decide the future ofTaiwan.”Beijing’s answer was swift with a spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office recalling thatChina“is on guard against all secessionist initiatives”. In the days that followed, representatives of the Chinese government urgedWashingtonto respect its commitments withChinawith regard toTaiwan, meaning progressive disengagement.
On 31 December, Joseph Wu Jau-shieh,Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council chairman, criticisedHong Kong's electoral system, sayingBeijingwanted to inhibit the development of democracy inHong Kong. He was speaking during a teleconference with Kuan Hsin-chi, chairman of the Civic Party of Hong Kong.Beijing’s press office countered this by accusingTaiwanof collusion with political groups ofHong Kongto compromise ties withChina.Beijinghas long been offeringTaiwana status similar to that grantedHong Kong.
Despite the commotion of the controversy betweenBeijingandTaipei, social and economic ties between the two countries are growing non-stop.Taiwanfirms have made direct investments inChinatotalling more than US$150 billion and 50% of people travelling fromTaiwanhead for mainlandChina.
Significant developments are expected in the tourist sector too. Now Chinese tourists must get special permission and direct flights are allowed only for the big feasts, avoiding a lay over inHong Kong. Agreements in the pipeline would allow – by the Lunar New Year that falls on 18 February – up to 1,000 tourists every day. There is also talk of allowing weekly direct charter flights, even if sectors of the PDP government are opposed to this for fear that easier exchanges may encourage de facto dependence onBeijing.
Experts attribute the proclamations of independence by Chen to the imminence of political elections slated for December 2007 and a presidential poll set to take place in March 2008. After all, December’s municipal elections handed victory to his Democratic Progressive Party despite scandals that rocked his family and the DPP and the sluggish national economy. This shows that the pro-independence spirit is indeed widespread. Chen has long announced constitutional reform will take place in 2007 to pave the way for declaration ofTaiwan’s independence, although his political opponents accuse him of seeking to draw popular attention away from the scandals overwhelming his family and party.
For its part,Beijinghas seen that threats only play into the hands of the DPP policy and could create tension with theUnited States. But economic ties are steadily growing with theUS, to say nothing of the need to cooperate in crises likeIranandNorth Korea. The 2005 Anti-Secessionist Law, in whichBeijingprovides for the use of military force against any breakaway bids byTaiwan, brought only critical reactions. Now it seems thatChinawill wait for the 2008 presidential poll, perhaps hoping that a less hostile president will triumph, like the head of Kuomintang Ma Ying-jeou. However, KMT has also drawn attention to the fact that, according to a recent survey, more than 60% of Taiwanese do not consider themselves to be Chinese citizens.
