If Beijing truly wants links, ditch the missiles

Lung-chu Chen

China's threat to Taiwan is the constant focus of Taipei's national security considerations. There are many elements to national security, but defense, social and even economic security are central to it.

Military security is the most fundamental element, since it guarantees the basic protection of life and property. Social security should serve as a just mechanism for the distribution of social resources and the care of disadvantaged groups, turning them into a resource for society. Economic security emphasizes the question of how to maintain economic vitality and advantage in the face of intense global competition.

Taiwan's economy has developed strong economic and trade ties with China in recent years. Stable and friendly relations with China could lead to economic interdependence, which would facilitate further integration of the regional economy.

The cross-strait relationship is, however, neither stable nor friendly. The overdependence of Taiwan's economy on China's markets will have a negative impact on Taiwan's national security as a whole.

China's military threat, divergent views on national identity in Taiwan and the views of some industrialists that Taiwan will become uncompetitive if direct links are not established prompts the business sector to pressure the government to establish a revised notion of national security.

Only when government, industry and civil society have established a basic consensus on national security will we be able to discuss the establishment of direct links in earnest. Proponents of direct links -- the government in particular -- must publicly and unambiguously explain the pros and cons of doing so, in order to assist in the formation of this necessary consensus.

Since the issues involved are complex and and likely to have a far-reaching impact, we can only establish links on the premise of guaranteed national security and dignity and the people's welfare. China's verbal attacks and military threats are hindering the establishment of direct links. If China really wants direct links, she should immediately remove the missiles aimed at Taiwan.

Improving mutual understanding and trust, without the military threat and on the basis that each side benefits equally, will automatically lead to the establishment of direct links, if that is what China wants. This understanding and trust could be established through the mechanisms of the WTO by promoting the normalization of interaction between Taiwan and China.

In short, extreme caution should be used when considering establishing direct links, which must include both economic and national security considerations.

Chen Lung-chu is chairman of the New Century Foundation.