Beware of China's Tactics to Divide and Conquer

Lung-chu Chen

Recently, the so-called "China fever" has been sweeping over Taiwan, manifesting in such demands as "small three links," "direct religious voyage", and city diplomacy. Above all, members of the Legislative Yuan have visited China individually or in small groups, or are making plans for such pilgrimages. It has been reported that China is working hard to befriend various sub-groups in the Legislative Yuan and trying to establish a second track in dealing with Taiwan.

Since March 18 and May 20, the Chen Shui-Bian administration has made repeated good will gestures toward China, but has not received a positive response in kind. Beijing has insisted that Taiwan accepts the "one China principle" first before any talk.

It has been Beijing's ultimate goal to annex Taiwan by insisting on the "one China principle." Toward that goal, Beijing has been extremely shrewd in its strategies — verbal attacks and military threats, carrots and sticks, divide and conquer.

The Chinese Communist Party practices one-party rule, controls all the mass media in China, expresses its Taiwan policy with one central command and tolerates no dissent. In contrast, in the free and open society of Taiwan, there are all kinds of voices, and some people are more Communist Chinese than Communist Chinese themselves. Beijing has simply exploited Taiwan's free environment, generating contradictions within Taiwan and seeking to divide and conquer.

As Taiwan seeks to establish peaceful relations with China, it badly needs internal unity. But, under the spell of the China fever, many people have forgotten all about national dignity and national security. Thus, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to achieve internal consensus concerning Taiwan's policy toward China.

In terms of Taiwan-China relations, there has been the established channel of communication between Straits Exchange Foundation and China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits. There is no need to establish a second track between Beijing and various sub-groups of Taiwan's Legislature. Indeed, such a second track would be harmful to Taiwan.

It is time that those legislators who are genuinely concerned with the future of Taiwan speak and act responsibly and thoughtfully. The 23 million people are watching and listening.