"Confederation" and the "two-state position"

Lung-chu Chen

Taiwan's presidential candidates continue to put forth their positions on the China policy. The latest addition offers a confederation formula for Taiwan and China.

A confederation is a union of two or more sovereign states in pursuit of common interests, generally based on an international agreement. Under a confederation, each constituent member retains its own sovereignty and manages its own affairs. Historically, the most notable example of confederation is that of the thirteen colonies established after the American Declaration of Independence. However, it lasted only eight years (from 1781 to 1789). Today, there is no known confederation in existence.

Under its "one China" policy that asserts Taiwan as part of China, China has refused to renounce the threat or use of force against Taiwan. It shows no respect whatsoever for Taiwan's equal status. Under such circumstances, it is impracticable to talk about the confederation formula for Taiwan and China.

So long as the Chinese leaders refuse to treat Taiwan equally, Taiwan must insist that the cross-strait relationship is an equal yet special state-to-state relationship. This is a matter of national survival and dignity for the island nation of Taiwan.

Here and now, to talk about the unification formula of confederation is basically contrary to the popular wishes of the Taiwanese people. Taiwan's democratic values and system are in stark contrast to China's Communist party dictatorship. The overwhelming majority of the Taiwanese people support the special "two states" position and are firmly opposed to China's "one country, two systems."

Taiwan needs to consolidate its position of state-to –state, then, and then only, to engage in constructive dialogue with China in exploring and developing mutually satisfactory special relations.