During his visit to North Korea on Aug. 4, former US president Bill Clinton managed to secure the release of US journalists Laura Ling (凌志美) and Euna Lee, who were arrested for illegal entry into the country on Mar 17. This move turned over a new diplomatic leaf for the US and North Korea and brought hope for peace in Northeast Asia.
North Korea is notorious for marching to its own drummer and ignoring worldwide criticism of its nuclear tests. Japan is in a constant state of fear of North Korean aggression because many Japanese have been kidnapped and harassed by the reclusive state over the years. Although Japan has tried to seek assistance from China, its attempts have been futile. North Korea has fired ballistic missiles off its eastern coast several times, but Japan has been unable to do anything about it.
Since assuming office, the administration of US President Barack Obama has adopted soft diplomatic policies. Its efforts to extend goodwill and engage in dialogue with North Korea have produced a significant outcome. In addition, the appointment of Hillary Clinton as US secretary of state has favorably softened the US’ rigid diplomatic policies. Her husband, Bill Clinton, has been credited for his skillful diplomatic tactics in talks with the leaders of other countries.
Why would North Korea make a friendly gesture toward the US? This question can be answered from two perspectives. First, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, who is said to have suffered a stroke last year, is trying to lay the groundwork for a better relationship with the US for his Western-educated third son, Kim Jong-un, who is expected to succeed him as North Korean leader. Besides, Kim Jong-il wanted to relax tensions between the two countries, which had been raised by North Korea’s nuclear tests.
Second, amid anti-terrorism and anti-nuclear sentiment in the international community, a rising China has had no choice but to criticize many of North Korea’s policies. Although it used to be a close ally of China, the reclusive state is now intent on befriending the US so as to gain advantage from both sides. North Korea lost nothing by releasing the two journalists, but it took a significant step in its diplomatic relations with other countries. China should be the most worried if North Korea becomes friends with the West. We will have to wait and see whether Beijing will offer more carrots than sticks in order to bring its North Korean counterpart back to the negotiation table.
Since President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) took power, he has made peace with China his priority and repeatedly made concessions on cross-strait matters. Last December, Ma refused to allow the Dalai Lama to visit Taiwan because he said the timing was not appropriate. In his speech to mark the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre this year, Ma made no reference to the demands for re-evaluating the bloody crackdown, but instead affirmed the progress China had made on human rights over the last 10 years. Moreover, both the US and Japan, which have a major influence on cross-strait peace and which have economic interests in the Taiwan Strait, have started to show an indifferent attitude toward Taiwan, a move that has prompted pro-Taiwan activists to worry that the government’s excessive reliance on China will compromise Taiwan’s sovereignty. The government should be well aware that Taiwan has long been protected by the US’ Taiwan Relations Act.
This is the bottom line that prevents China from invading Taiwan. Moreover, the inclusion of “the situation in areas surrounding Japan” in the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the US and Japan has strengthened the two countries’ protection of cross-strait security.
The Ma government should model its dealings with China on North Korea. Although wavering between the US and China, the North Korean government has been able to gain maximum benefits without giving up its sovereignty. Both South and North Korea are calling for unification, but neither would give away their status as independent states.
Taiwan’s future should not be dependent on Chinese goodwill. The government must not only establish an equal relationship with the US, Japan and China, but also carry out comprehensive economic and trade cooperation and establish substantial exchanges with other countries. Only through multilateral cooperation can Taiwan maintain its sovereignty and long-term peace and not become subject to the “one China” framework.
Fan Jen-fei is a former national policy advisor.
During his visit to North Korea on Aug. 4, former US president Bill Clinton managed to secure the release of US journalists Laura Ling (凌志美) and Euna Lee, who were arrested for illegal entry into the country on Mar 17. This move turned over a new diplomatic leaf for the US and North Korea and brought hope for peace in Northeast Asia.
North Korea is notorious for marching to its own drummer and ignoring worldwide criticism of its nuclear tests. Japan is in a constant state of fear of North Korean aggression because many Japanese have been kidnapped and harassed by the reclusive state over the years. Although Japan has tried to seek assistance from China, its attempts have been futile. North Korea has fired ballistic missiles off its eastern coast several times, but Japan has been unable to do anything about it.
Since assuming office, the administration of US President Barack Obama has adopted soft diplomatic policies. Its efforts to extend goodwill and engage in dialogue with North Korea have produced a significant outcome. In addition, the appointment of Hillary Clinton as US secretary of state has favorably softened the US’ rigid diplomatic policies. Her husband, Bill Clinton, has been credited for his skillful diplomatic tactics in talks with the leaders of other countries.
Why would North Korea make a friendly gesture toward the US? This question can be answered from two perspectives. First, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, who is said to have suffered a stroke last year, is trying to lay the groundwork for a better relationship with the US for his Western-educated third son, Kim Jong-un, who is expected to succeed him as North Korean leader. Besides, Kim Jong-il wanted to relax tensions between the two countries, which had been raised by North Korea’s nuclear tests.
Second, amid anti-terrorism and anti-nuclear sentiment in the international community, a rising China has had no choice but to criticize many of North Korea’s policies. Although it used to be a close ally of China, the reclusive state is now intent on befriending the US so as to gain advantage from both sides. North Korea lost nothing by releasing the two journalists, but it took a significant step in its diplomatic relations with other countries. China should be the most worried if North Korea becomes friends with the West. We will have to wait and see whether Beijing will offer more carrots than sticks in order to bring its North Korean counterpart back to the negotiation table.
Since President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) took power, he has made peace with China his priority and repeatedly made concessions on cross-strait matters. Last December, Ma refused to allow the Dalai Lama to visit Taiwan because he said the timing was not appropriate. In his speech to mark the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre this year, Ma made no reference to the demands for re-evaluating the bloody crackdown, but instead affirmed the progress China had made on human rights over the last 10 years. Moreover, both the US and Japan, which have a major influence on cross-strait peace and which have economic interests in the Taiwan Strait, have started to show an indifferent attitude toward Taiwan, a move that has prompted pro-Taiwan activists to worry that the government’s excessive reliance on China will compromise Taiwan’s sovereignty. The government should be well aware that Taiwan has long been protected by the US’ Taiwan Relations Act.
This is the bottom line that prevents China from invading Taiwan. Moreover, the inclusion of “the situation in areas surrounding Japan” in the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the US and Japan has strengthened the two countries’ protection of cross-strait security.
The Ma government should model its dealings with China on North Korea. Although wavering between the US and China, the North Korean government has been able to gain maximum benefits without giving up its sovereignty. Both South and North Korea are calling for unification, but neither would give away their status as independent states.
Taiwan’s future should not be dependent on Chinese goodwill. The government must not only establish an equal relationship with the US, Japan and China, but also carry out comprehensive economic and trade cooperation and establish substantial exchanges with other countries. Only through multilateral cooperation can Taiwan maintain its sovereignty and long-term peace and not become subject to the “one China” framework.
Fan Jen-fei is a former national policy advisor.
TRANSLATED BY TED YANG
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