An article entitled Sovereignty is the basis of economy written by The Taiwan Association of University Vice Chairmen Michael Tai (戴正德) was published in the Chinese-language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times' sister newspaper) on March 10. In it, Tai says that if the Taiwanese people place economic development before national sovereignty and independence, Taiwan's economy will lack foundation. He also reminds us that economic development requires national sovereignty and independence.
Unfortunately, the private-sector negotiations with China concerning weekend cross-strait charter flights, Chinese yuan exchanges and allowing Chinese tourists to visit Taiwan are actually detrimental to Taiwan.
To meet the requests of Taiwanese businesspeople investing in China and the domestic tourism industry, the government is equating "guaranteeing" sovereignty with "delaying" sovereignty and deceiving the public by entrusting the private sector with the negotiations. It is thus selling out the sovereignty of Taiwan while being trapped by Beijing's talk of Taiwan being a domestic Chinese matter.
Hopefully, the government will consider Taiwan and understand the profound meaning of Tai's words before it is too late.
The weekend flights and the currency exchange plan can hardly be seen as part of economic development. Although such flights will save time for businesspeople in Taiwan, it will also increase investment and tourism expenditure for businesspeople and the public.
According to a survey by the Chinese National Federation of Industries, opening cross-strait links will lead to an annual increase in Chinese-bound investment of almost NT$300 billion (US$9 billion). While a survey conducted by the Mainland Affairs Council shows that Taiwanese tourists traveling to China would increase by about 1.6 times, with an increase in expenditure of NT$70 billion, while spending by Chinese tourists in Taiwan is estimated to reach NT$25 billion.
A quick calculation suggests that Taiwan will suffer a net outflow of at least NT$345 billion per year if the plans are approved.
In addition to paying attention to the principle that economic development requires national sovereignty and independence, it is necessary to gain an in-depth understanding of the significance of economic autonomy and development when pursuing sovereignty and independence.
When Taiwan's capital and resources gradually shrink because of the opening of cross-strait links and deregulating banking investments in China, China's attraction will become stronger. By that time, any measure aimed at improving the domestic investment environment will be ineffective. Officially allowing trade in the Chinese yuan will cause it to gradually replace the New Taiwan Dollar and unhindered cross-strait trade will give it the status of a semi-national currency.
The "Three Yesses" -- yes to the pursuit of independence, name change and a new constitution -- will become an empty slogan. Economy feeds sovereignty, and when sovereignty no longer gets the nutrition it needs, it will wither and die.
Taiwan's economic foundation remains good. As long as the government protects our sovereignty and does not lift the bans on cross-strait links, China-bound investments by local banks and high-tech industry, the investment ceiling and circulation of the yuan which represents Chinese sovereignty before Beijing recognizes Taiwan's sovereignty, the fourth "Yes" -- the pursuit of economic development -- will follow automatically. This in time will lead to a change in the national title, a new constitution and normalization of Taiwan's national status.
Huang Tien-lin is a former national policy adviser to the president.
Translated by Eddy Chang
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