Wed, Jun 22, 2005 page8

• Editorial: Wang's campaigning harms Taiwan

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  Yesterday at about nine in the morning, Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平), accompanied by about 15 legislators from the National Defense Committee, joined National Defense Minister Lee Jye (李傑) on board a fully armed 3,855-tonne Knox-class frigate.

  These legislators say that the trip was made to protest Japan's unreasonable expulsion and detention of Taiwanese fishing vessels. It was even more surprising to hear Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), who has studied law and supposedly has a global perspective, say that Taiwan should not step back from a war with Japan and should force Tokyo to negotiate a clear demarcation of fishing rights. What kind of craziness is this?

  What is also perplexing is that Ma described Wang's boarding of a navy frigate protecting Taiwanese fishing boats as "an impulsive action." Ma, like Wang, is a contender for the chairmanship of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), and his comments suggest that there is more than meets the eye regarding Wang's actions to protect Taiwanese fishermen. It would seem that Wang's trip is as much about raising his profile in the chairmanship campaign as anything else -- and that this has led Ma, who missed out on this effective electioneering, to express sour grapes.

  Wang must be condemned for endangering national security for the sake of his election campaign. If such a protest accidentally sparked a conflict which resulted in casualties or even death, it would not matter who was at fault. Taiwan would be faced with a dilemma over whether or not to go to war with Japan. China is already looking hungrily at Taiwan, so is there really any need to use a naval deployment to force a conflict with Japan?

  The more serious problem is that Wang, as the legislative speaker, has set a terrible example of direct interference by the legislature in the affairs of the executive branch. While it is permissible for the head of the legislature to visit a neighboring country for peaceful exchanges, for him to board a naval vessel in the company of the Minister of Defense to participate in a quasi-military protest action against a neighboring country is highly unusual and quite insolent. The procedures of constitutional government have been disrupted by Wang's infringement of the rights of the executive, and his stunt is an affront to the president's role as the commander-in-chief of the armed services. Wang's fault is compounded by the fact that the trip was tainted with accusations of electioneering. How can the Japanese take such actions seriously?

  For this reason we strongly criticize PFP Legislator Lin Yu-fang (林郁方), a member of the legislature's National Defense Committee, for calling for the deployment of naval vessels to protect Taiwan's fishermen. Such protection would have to be provided constantly, and this is not something the navy can provide, for it cannot always have vessels patrolling in disputed waters. That's why international disputes over fishing rights are resolved through negotiations. Nobody should approve of a show of force like yesterday's, because such actions can only be expected of terrorists or militaristic regimes.

  Taiwan simply cannot afford to make more enemies, and it has no need to echo China's anti-Japanese sentiments. Japan is Taiwan's friend, and apart from a small section of society that leans toward China, every one believes this to be the case. We must ask Wang not to let his political ambition get the better of him. We also ask President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) to fulfill his duties as commander-in-chief and be willing to say no to unreasonable requests.
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