Promoting Cross-Strait Peace and Reconciliation Through Trade, Economic, Cultural, and Educational Exchanges
Upon the invitation of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission(OCAC), Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairman Jaushieh Joseph Wu gave a special report today (6th) on “Peace and Development: Creating a New Cross-Strait Win-win Situation” at the 2004 Conference of OCAC Commissioners, and engaged in a dialogue with the OCAC commissioners attending the session.
Chairman Wu first explained the present cross-Strait situation from four perspectives, including major trend of military balance between both sides, China’s diplomatic oppression of Taiwan, Taiwan’s democratic development, and cross-Strait trade and economic exchanges. At the same time, he also expounded on the Government’s post-May 20 cross-Strait policy of “goodwill, active cooperation, and permanent peace.” The participating OCAC commissioners expressed thanks and praises to Chairman Wu for his analysis of the present cross-Strait relation and for the Government’s ideals in addressing Mainland affairs.
When asked by the commissioners why the objective of peaceful and stable cross-Strait development was not achieved in the past few years, Chairman Wu stated that there are several reasons why cross-Strait relations could not develop positively, including military pressure from China, diplomatic oppression, and misunderstandings of Taiwan, which resulted in the failure to achieve the expected positive outcome in spite of the frequent trade and economic exchanges between civilian sectors on both sides of the Strait. If China would continue to make its policies through a collective decision-making process in the future, it might tend to adopt more radical policies toward Taiwan since some members of its policy-making body do not belong to Taiwan-related agencies and thus have no proper understanding of Taiwan. Therefore, Chairman Wu especially urged the participants to make a comprehensive explanation to Chinese officials whenever they had the chance to have any contact with them that Taiwan has made every efforts in formulating policies for the promotion of cross-Strait peace and development, and hoped to achieve more goodwill and permanent peace through the increase in cross-Strait trade, economic, cultural, and educational exchanges.
Moreover, the participating commissioners were also concerned about such issues as the situation of mainland Chinese spouses, smuggling of mainland Chinese goods, mainland Chinese stowaways, and missing mainland Chinese tourists. Chairman Wu pointed out that among the approximately 210,000 cross-Strait marriage cases verified by the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), 90,000 couples are residing in Taiwan. There are indeed many cases wherein mainland Chinese spouses have come to Taiwan by fake marriages to work illegally; the location of some of them is also unknown. However, after the Government recently implemented port safety and security control mechanisms by conducting interviews at the airports, the situation has been significantly ameliorated. Chairman Wu also stated that under World Trade Organization (WTO) regulations, Taiwan has allowed 70% of Chinese products to be legally imported into Taiwan. However, illegal smuggling and stowaway cases are still rampant. Nevertheless, concrete results have also been reaped due to the Coast Guard Administration‘s vigorous action in deterring unlawful conducts.
At the same time, Chairman Wu also pointed out that mainland Chinese tourists absconding from tour groups poses a worrisome problem for social order and national security, which is also an issue faced by many other countries. Although some mainland Chinese people enter as tourists and stayed in Taiwan illegally as tourists, the number of these cases ranks one of the lowest in the world. However, the Government has never lowered its guard. It has reinforced its security management mechanism at the present stage by conducting inspections before passengers board their flights, after they complete customs procedures, and during their sightseeing activities, which are all conducted thoroughly and properly. The agencies concerned have also regularly reviewed the implementation of these mechanisms. Therefore, the policy to allow Mainland people to come to Taiwan for sightseeing would not be changed just because of a few illegal cases. It is hoped that the mainland Chinese people visiting Taiwan for sightseeing could not only enjoy the beautiful scenery, but could also experience the atmosphere of Taiwan’s democracy and freedom.