Taiwan welcomes China deals, ponders impact on autonomy

1 day ago

TAIPEI (AFP) — Taiwan Wednesday broadly welcomed historic deals with China as a boost for the faltering economy, but some wondered if closer integration would erode the self-ruled island's autonomy.

agreements Signing deals on trade, transit and tourism will have solid benefits for Taiwan's economy by improving links with its cross-strait rival and main market, media and analysts said.

But some questioned whether the deals were the first step towards Taiwan becoming a second Hong Kong, which became a Special Administrative Region of China's post-colonial rule in 1997 and lost aspects of its autonomy.

"Beijing is obviously the big winner from the talks and has Taiwan in its grip," said Lee Shiao-feng, a political analyst at the National Taipei University of Education.

Heavy-handed security was also criticised as authorities appeared determined to protect Chen Yunlin, the most senior Chinese official to visit here since civil war ended in 1949, from pro-independence activists who roughed up his deputy last month.

The four agreements, potentially worth billions of dollars, introduce direct cargo shipping and postal services, increase passenger flights and shorten existing routes across the Taiwan Strait.

They also pledge cooperation on food security in the wake of several Chinese scandals, and China promised to let more of its citizens visit the island, just 180 kilometres (112 miles) off its eastern coast.

The deals Beijing claims sovereignty over Taiwan, which split from China when the nationalist Kuomintang lost the civil war and fled here.

It has more than 1,000 missiles aimed at the island and has vowed to retake it, by force if necessary, especially if it declares independence.

Chinese envoy Chen, head of China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, signed the deals with Chiang Pin-kung, his local counterpart as head of the Strait Exchange Foundation.

Their meeting, the second between the two envoys and the first in Taiwan, has sparked widespread criticism and vocal protests that Taipei is making too many concessions to its once sworn enemy in order to win the deals.

"I don't see the Ma government upholding Taiwan's sovereignty by banning the national flag during Chen's visit," political analyst Lee told AFP.

"Instead it is embracing Beijing's 'one China' stance," he added, referring to Beijing's official position that Taiwan is part of China.

Taiwanese security forces tried to prevent demonstrators displaying banners critical of China, or displaying the island's flag.

Followers of the Falun Gong movement, banned in China, and Tibetans were not permitted near the talks venue or to display the Tibetan flag, which is also banned in China.

Taiwanese media hailed the deals as the start of a new era in the cross-strait relationship , most concentrating on economic benefits.

"The agreements will have concrete impacts on the welfare of the Taiwanese people," said the China Times newspaper. "They will help lure back outflowing capital to revive Taiwan's slowing economy."

The Economic Daily News agreed, but called on Taiwan's leaders to be cautious when it comes to talking politics with China.

The pro-independence Taipei Times said that while proponents of the deals say they are putting people's livelihoods first, the island is likely to become even more dependent on China that it already is.

"If Taiwan is turned politically and economically into a second Hong Kong, China will be able to annex it without even firing a shot," it said.

其他報導

華盛頓郵報:

自一九四九年來訪問台灣的最高層級中國官員陳雲林，在短暫的會晤中，話則不多，也並未稱呼馬英九為總統，顯示北京仍不會公開承認台灣政府主權。

報導說，這激怒了場外的抗議者，他們的喧囂聲遠及數里外；許多人將馬英九接受陳雲林的對待詮釋為投降。一位頭綁著「我的國家台灣」黃色絲帶口號的中年男子說：「馬英九表現得不像個總統，他像是中國皇帝的奴才。」

報導提到，抗議團體有許多為贊成獨立的反對黨民主進步黨支持者，他們和防暴警察抗爭，試圖推倒封鎖街道的帶刺鐵絲網路障。許多人揮舞著綠旗並舉著「共黨土匪，離開台灣」口號的標語牌。

華盛頓郵報說，據反對黨統計，抗議群眾數量在下午近傍晚時增加至二十萬

CNN

CNN主播以插播的方式，並引用東森新聞台拍攝的畫面，向全世界的觀眾報導馬英九會見陳雲林，支持台獨群眾憤而抗議的新聞，畫面上也出現「北京特使訪台，抗議者憤怒」，以及「台灣的馬總統接見北京高層外交官」等標題。CNN並提到5日晚間，國民黨主席吳伯雄在晶華酒店宴請陳雲林，抗議群聚飯店外和爆發衝突的消息，整段報導長達4分鐘。

NHK

日本國營媒體NHK更在晚間最重要的新聞時段，關注馬英九與陳雲林歷史性的會晤，以及在野黨的抗議活動，「台灣在野黨的支持者和警方發生激烈衝突，混亂持續當中，主要是抗議中國和台灣正式進行對話，已經傳出有人受傷。」NHK主播還說，「中國和台灣雙邊都表示，這是60年來，中國派出最高層級官員訪問台灣，進行歷史性的對談，這次在野黨的抗議活動，可以顯示台灣一部分民眾對中國強烈的警戒心。」

「泰晤士報」、「每日電訊報」BBC網路新聞報

網路新聞報中國外交部發言人秦剛在記者會答覆美國大選結果對美國與中國雙邊關係的影響時，呼籲美國總統當選人歐巴馬，繼續遵守「一個中國」政策，停止出售武器給台灣，並說台灣問題是美中關係的重要問題。 BBC網站上刊登馬英九總統與陳雲林在會面時互贈禮物的兩張照片，同時有數千名民進黨支持者包圍陳雲林5日晚間赴邀晚宴的晶華酒店，與警察發生肢體衝突的錄影畫面。網路上並特別以小方塊方式，刊登馬總統所說，「未來兩岸都應面對現實，不應再否認彼此的存在」。