Taiwan should stop U.N. bid: scholars

Teng Chung-chian, director of NCCU's Center for International Negotiation, and Yen Chen-shen, chairman of the NCCU Institute of International Relations America-Europe Division, made the remarks in a forum that discussed President Ma Ying-jeou's pursuit of a “diplomatic truce” with China and Taiwan's foreign relations strategies.

“We don't have to participate in the U.N. Instead, we should try to tap into other U.N. organizations, based on the World Health Assembly (WHA) model,” Teng contended, referring to Taiwan's participation in this year's WHA as an observer under the designation “Chinese Taipei.”

“We should weave our way through, given all the advantages we have, which can be used for expanding Taiwan's international space,” he added.

The frosty relations between Taiwan and China have been thawing since Ma took office in May 2008, and his proposed “diplomatic truce” is aimed at ending the longstanding diplomatic tug-of-war between the two sides over allies.

Ma is also touting the strategy of “modus vivendi” or “flexible diplomacy” to leverage greater international space for Taiwan.

The WHA's invitation to Taiwan this year to attend for the first time as an observer, after 12 failed attempts by the country to do so, is widely viewed as a measure of the success of Ma's policies and his administration's engagement with China.

Yen said at the forum that the “Chinese Taipei” designation used in the WHA may be the best possible common ground that Taiwan and China can find on the issue of Taiwan's participation in international agencies. Taiwan should use that model and set its priorities straight on the question of which international organizations it wants to join, he suggested.

According to Yen, it might be possible for Taiwan to participate in U.N. specialized agencies, funds and programs such as the International Labor Organization; United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; U.N. Environment Program; U.N. Children's Fund; International Atomic Energy Agency; United Nations Institute for Training and Research; and the Office of the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights.

He said that public hearings should be held, with the participation of relevant social groups and experts, to determine which organizations should be given priority in Taiwan's efforts to expand its international space.

Also, Yeh went on, Taiwan must file its applications before going to the negotiation table with Beijing.

“We should not naively believe that China will just let us participate in those organizations,” he cautioned.

As to how long the flexible diplomacy strategy will work, Yen said that the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is a key factor, as Beijing is likely to make certain concessions for fear that the Taiwan centric DPP might return to power.

Cheng Tuan-yao, director of NCCU's Institute of International Relations, said that stable cross-Taiwan Strait relations are the pillar on which Ma's “flexible diplomacy” rests.

“Our government should maintain effective communication with Beijing. At the moment, there is only indirect communication and some goodwill, and there is lack of mutual trust between the two sides,” Cheng said.

He contended that in order to put Taiwan's diplomatic efforts on the right track, the country should continue to seek a “balance point with China,” consensus with the opposition, and the support of major international countries.

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