Study On The Relationship Between The Taiwan And Asean Countries After The Cold War

It is in the interest of China’s sovereignty, territorialintegration, peaceful rising and the great rejuvenation of the Chinesenation to solve the Taiwan issue peacefully and to realize China’sreunification eventually. It is a systematic project to solve the Taiwanissue, including many kinds of issues, among which Taiwan’s“international space” issue is a very important, sensitive andcomplicated one, always causing the unhappiness, even confrontation toboth sides across straits. Thus, if it is solved reasonably, it willdefinitely expand and deepen the essential connotation of peace anddevelopment across Taiwan straits, and thus increase the opportunitiesto the peaceful solution of Taiwan issue, improve the peacefulreunification and peaceful rising.Taiwan “international space” issue is the one related withTaiwan’s foreign relations to the rest of the world, defining theexisting form and the scope of rights. It can be evaluated by three angles:the issue of the countries with diplomatic relations with Taiwan, theissue of the countries with non-diplomatic relations of Taiwan, the issueof Taiwan’s participation of international organizations and meetings.The Southeast Asia is an important area where Taiwan authority developsforeign relations. The relation between Taiwan and the ASEAN countriesis a typical example to study Taiwan “international space” issue. Before1970s, most of the ASEAN countries followed the USA with a policy ofpro-Taiwan and against the new China. After1970, with the USAgovernment’s initiative to get close with the PRC, the ASEAN countriesalso recognized the new China, severing the diplomatic relations withTaiwan. However, the economic and trade relations between Taiwan and theASEAN countries were improved.In the late of1980s and early of1990s, the dismantling of thesocialist states in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe and the break-downof bipolar pattern, have some effects on the development of the relations between Taiwan and the ASEAN countries. Lee Teng-hui authority activelyimproved the project of political democratization and regime localizationin Taiwan, making great changes to Taiwan’s political environment.Taiwan authority weakened One-China Principle, diluted the pursuit ofreunification, avoided the political negotiation across straits; putforward publicly “Two States Doctrine”. In foreign relations, theauthority practiced “pragmatic diplomacy” to reenter internationalorganizations, to develop essential relations with some countries, alsoto obtain double recognition from international community. Taiwan’sleaders visited the Southeastern nations, established representativeagencies in each other and improved the agencies’ level. The authorityalso carried out “southward policy” twice, with the aim to hinder thetide of investment to Chinese mainland, also to enhance the economic tiesbetween Taiwan and the ASEAN countries, by which to improve bilateralpolitical ties.Since Chen Shui-bian’s coming to power in2000, the authority denied“1992consensus”, preached “One State on0ne Side Doctrine” andcollided with One China Principle. Within the island, Taiwan authoritycarried out such radical pro-independence measures as“referendum”,”constitutional reform”, limited cross-straitexchange, and Eliminated Chinese culture. The authority carried out“fire diplomacy”, but cannot expand Taiwan’s “international space”,and made the crises often happen; the USA-Taiwan relation and theJapan-Taiwan relations worsen. The ASEAN countries were worried about andoppose Chen Shui-bian’s dangerous actions, unwilling to developpolitical relations with Taiwan. Economic relations are influenced.Taiwan’s economy is facing the difficult situation of marginalization.Since2008, Ma Ying-jeou’s authority has recognized Chinese nation,maintained the present cross-strait situation of “No ImmediateReunification, No Independence, and No Use of Force” on the basis of“1992consensus” and “One China in Constitution”. The authority isaimed to improve the compromise across straits, improve the economic tiesand cultural exchanges. The authority put forward“Flexible diplomacy” to develop foreign relations, claiming the reconciliation and diplomatictruce with the Mainland, keeping the present situation of the countrieswith diplomatic ties with Taiwan, reestablishing the mutual trust betweenTaiwan and the USA, Japan, expanding Taiwan’s participation ininternational organizations. The authority takes advantage of Taiwan’seconomy, actively carried out “economic diplomacy”, and pursued to signFTA with the ASEAN countries, pushing the relations between Taiwan andthe ASEAN countries forward.In the post-cold-war era, the ASEAN countries all established orrecovered the diplomatic ties with China, adhering to one-China policy,opposing “Taiwan Independence” firmly, hoping the two sides can solvethis issue by a peaceful way. The ASEAN countries also paid more attentionto developing relations with Taiwan, carrying out “balance policy”between Taiwan and Mainland, enhancing the economic ties with Taiwan, andtaking advantage of Taiwan to contain Mainland. The traits and revelationsof the relations’ development of Taiwan and the ASEAN countries in thepost-cold-war era are as follows. Firstly, the main aspects of therelations are ones of economy, trade, science and technology. Secondly,the relations have developed as improvement-worsening-improvement.Thirdly, the economy of Chinese Mainland’ enhancement is a safeguard tomaintain One China principle.Ma Ying-jeou’s authority also seeks to participate in the economicintegration of the East-Asian area. Chinese mainland should help Taiwanto join in it on the basis of one China principle, which will help Taiwanget rid of economic dilemma and show mainland’s goodness to improve therecognition to China. Both sides have common interests in South-easternAsia, should enhance cooperation and make constructive contribution tothe region’s peace, stability and prosperity. Both sides should adhereto the principle of economy, culture first and politics then, from easyto difficult, gradually creating a new situation of both sides’cooperation in South-Eastern region.