DR. LIEN CHAN ON TAIWAN'S PROGRESS
By Dr. Holli Semetko
Aremarkable statesman and renowned scholar, Dr. Lien Chan’s
bold “journey of peace” to the Mainland in April 2005
captured the attention of the world by starting the first dialogue
in more than half a century between the Kuomintang Party (KMT)
of Taiwan, the Republic of China, and the Chinese Communist Party
of the People’s Republic. Speaking at Peking University,
his mother’s alma mater, he respectfully acknowledged that
some at home criticized his historic journey. In an eloquent and
passionate speech, Dr. Lien moved above the political fray to
call for “a win-win future” based on “plurality
and tolerance,” “mutual help and benefit,” and
“maintenance of the status quo and adherence to peace.”
His call for cooperation to bring greater prosperity also brought
hope for peace across the Taiwan Strait.
Fast forward three years to April 2008 in Atlanta, just one month
after Taiwan’s historic election campaign that ushered the
KMT back into the presidency after eight years out of office.
Hundreds came to hear former Vice President Dr. Lien Chan speak
at Emory University. His speech on the triangular relationship
between Beijing, Taipei and Washington D.C. reflected his continued
dedication to peace and stability in East Asia. At Emory, Dr.
and Mrs. Lien met President James Wagner, Provost Earl Lewis,
Emory College Dean Robert Paul, and a number of key faculty in
East Asian Studies which cosponsored their visit with The Halle
Institute. Dr. and Mrs. Lien also celebrated their visit to Atlanta
with members of the large and growing local community as well
as businesses in Atlanta’s Taipei Economic and Cultural
Organization (TECO).
Educated in the U.S. with doctoral and master’s degrees
in political science from the University of Chicago, and his bachelor’s
degree from National Taiwan University, Dr. Lien and Mrs. Lien,
who holds a master’s degree in biochemistry from the University
of Connecticut and an honorary degree from St. John’s University,
have two sons and two daughters, each accomplished in their own
fields of study. Pictures, transcripts and video of Dr. Lien’s
speech at Emory University can be found www.halleinstitute.emory.edu.
I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. and Mrs. Lien again in June
2008 in Taipei, over a dinner they kindly hosted to introduce
Emory University to a number of prominent leaders in higher education,
science, business and public policy. Dr. Lien’s toasts to
the future growth of Chinese studies at Emory University were
well received by all. It was a magnificent twelve-course meal
that sustained me throughout most of the next day when I visited
the remarkable National Palace Museum that is home to a breathtaking
collection of centuries old Chinese porcelains and decorative
arts.
In an exclusive interview with Emory In The World, I
asked Dr. Lien about some of the latest developments the 2008
election.
What has been the immediate impact of the election?
Recent developments in Taiwan, the Republic of China, have moved
the nation towards greater harmony and security. The Kuomintang
Party (KMT) has returned to power after eight years in opposition,
2000-2008. The KMT won landslide victories in both the legislative
elections last January and the presidential election last March.
Ma Ying-jeou, who succeeded me as Chairman of the KMT, was inaugurated
as President on May 20th.
The new KMT government has adopted policies towards the mainland
of China, which are in stark contrast to those of the previous
administration. Whereas the previous administration did its utmost
to isolate the two sides of the Taiwan Strait and ferment mutual
animosity, the current administration has succeeded in bringing
the two sides closer and promoting peace, development, prosperity
and win-win situations.
What specifically has changed in the cross-Strait situation?
Since June cross-Strait talks have been resumed through the Taiwan-based
Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) and the Mainland-based Association
for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS). SEF Chairman Chiang
Pin-kung and ARATS President Chen Yunlin reached agreement on
the inauguration of direct weekend cross-strait charter flights
and a wider opening of Chinese tourists to Taiwan. And since July,
regular weekend charter flights have been in place, and Taiwan
has opened its doors to over 15,000 Mainland tourists as of September.
These developments bode well for peace across the Strait and help
promote mutual trust.
The SEF and ARATS have agreed to a second round of talks by the
end of the year. Issues to hammer out include the expansion of
weekend passenger charter flights, the establishment of new flight
routes, cargo charter flights, direct shipping links, and cross-Strait
cooperation in combating crime and disaster relief. Even joint
oil exploration cooperation may be discussed.
What in your view are the major accomplishments of the
first several months of President Ma’s administration?
The newly elected Ma Ying-jeou government has re-established,
to a large degree, the mutual trust between the United States
and the Republic of China, which eroded considerably during the
Chen Shui-bian administration. When President Ma took his first
state visit to Latin America, he transited through the U.S. without
giving the Bush administration any cause for concern.
The Ma Ying-jeou government also lifted restrictions on currency
exchanges. Since the end of June, the New Taiwan Dollar (NT) and
the Chinese Yuan (RMB) have become convertible in the Republic
of China for the first time ever. This benefits not only Mainland
tourists but also Taiwanese businessmen returning to Taiwan. The
Ma administration has also reached the decision to recognize academic
credentials from Mainland universities beginning next year. This
will allow students from the Mainland to conduct graduate studies
at universities in Taiwan. These two unilateral measures further
thaw the once icy ties with the Mainland.
Society has become more harmonious. Confrontations between the
Green and Blue camps have dwindled. Even the prosecution of various
scandals involving numerous members of the former administration
and their family members is being handled in accordance with a
manner befitting democratic institutions. Politics has been put
on the back burner and the serious business of dealing with day-to-day
concerns has taken its place.
How has Taiwan been affected by the current global economic
downturn?
Taiwan is not immune to the global economic downturn, rising fuel
costs and commodity process, or the recent banking crisis. In
addition, Taiwan has been hit by one typhoon after another and
melamine-tainted dairy from the Mainland have recently been pulled
from the shelves. There is no shortage of pressing issues which
are more important than political bickering.
Do you have any closing comments for Emory in the World readers?
The above observations are only skin deep and miss a key point.
Through all of this, we have upheld the core values of freedom,
democracy, human rights and the rule of law. By doing so, the
Republic of China continues to hold the moral high ground. We
hope one day in the future, Chinese everywhere will be able to
enjoy the aforementioned core values. We hope one day in the future,
the governments on Taiwan and the Mainland can see eye-to-eye
on matters large and small. We hope one day in the future, the
people of all nations can put aside their differences and learn
to work together towards a better world.
Holli Semetko, PhD is the Vice Provost for International Affairs
and the Director of the Office of International Affairs & The
Claus M. Halle Institute for Global Learning.For more on Dr. Lien’s
visit, please go to
www.halleinstitute.emory.edu
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