Trojan Pandas - from Taiwan May 2005

Special to Accent
for May 16, 2005.
777 words

Beware the Trojan Panda
By Diana Leeson
Even the New York Times is confused. First Taiwan Opposition leader Lien Chan made a ‘groundbreaking’ visit to the mainland to meet with Chinese President Hu Jingtao. Chan is a nationalist who sees the potential economic and security benefits of being reunited with one of the world’s burgeoning superpowers.
Then, just a week later, CNN Asia announced that yet another Opposition leader, James Soong, was heading to China to speak with the President and military leader. Although Soong is leader of another Pan-Blue Opposition party, he does not share the views of the Kuomintang’s Lien Chan when it comes to Taiwan sovereignty.
The New York Times called Soong an ‘emissary’ of Taiwan President Chen Shuei-Bian as he was charged with the delivery of a ‘secret message’ from the pro-Independence leader to the President of China. In fact, Soong is far from an ally of Shuei-Bian, but he does want to see Taiwan reunited with the mainland.
It was later revealed that the proposition made by the Taiwanese President to the mainland President was that there be a ‘One China; Two Parties’ policy. Sort of a face-saving measure for Shuei-Bian, while simultaneously serving to hold the Chinese military at bay. China and Taiwan went their separate ways after a long, drawn-out civil war that ended in 1949. The mainland has been pressuring the island of Taiwan to return to the fold ever since.
In a recent poll on www.forumosa.org., an English forum for people who like to discuss just about everything about life in Taiwan, only 7% voted that Taiwan should attempt re-unification with the mainland as soon as possible. On the other end of the scale, only 11% voted that Taiwan should declare its independence right away. (Keep in mind that this particular move would welcome ‘non-peaceful measures’ from one of the largest armies in the world...) The largest number of voters on the poll, 44%, said that Taiwan is basically independent and should try to peacefully and slowly move in that direction, without causing too much of a fuss. That would appear to be what President Shuei-Bian is doing. Like a dog heading for the buffet table, he figures if he moves an inch at a time and pauses frequently to smile and look innocent, he will reach his goal with the powers-that-be none the wiser.
The other voters on the poll were divided amongst a few different ideas. 17% said that maybe the Taiwanese Independence movement should wait until it is safe to hold a referendum voicing the opinions of the people. Some thought that Taiwan should move toward a close relationship with the mainland, while maintaining as many freedoms as possible. Still another group thought that Taiwan should wait until China became a democratic nation before re-unifying. That may take awhile. Only 4% voted that Taiwan should do all it can to maintain the ‘status quo’, echoing the words of Taiwan’s most powerful ally, U.S. spokesperson Condoleeza Rice.
It may take awhile before we know how Chen Shuei-Bian’s proposal of ‘One China; Two Parties’ is received or accepted by Hu-Jingtao. At the moment, we only know that the President of China was well pleased with the visit from his nationalist comrade from La Isla Formosa, Lien Chan, as the Opposition leader returned to Taiwan with a coupon for two giant pandas!
Immediately, pro-independence spokespeople started raising the red flags of warning. Does accepting this rare gift mean that we are admitting we are part of China, and not a separate entity? Are these Trojan Pandas??
Taiwanese officials immediately applied the brakes to the whole idea of accepting the pandas. Both research institutions and zoos may apply to play host to the animals, but as they are a protected species, the ‘rental fee’ totals approximately $1million per year. Also, the Chinese government reserves the right to request the immediate and unquestioned return of the giant pandas at any time. Along with the ‘gift’ of the giant pandas, Taiwan was offered concessions on fruit imports and tourism, after Lien Chan’s visit. Granted, it was the first official visit of any Taiwanese official to mainland China in over fifty years. But the fact that Lien Chan is pro-reunification makes the pro-independence side wary.
One internet ‘Forumosan’ noted: “I’m all in favor of pandadiplomacy; just not too keen on pandering diplomacy.”
Another poll on the website asked, “Are you in favor of Taiwan receiving the gift of two giant pandas from China?” 23% voted yes. 32% voted no. And 43% voted yes, but only if China takes Lien Chan in return.

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