Diplomatic Relations: A Common Asset

Diplomatic Relations: A Common Asset
China Times editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
April 17, 2012

Summary: The Republic of China's participation in the activities of the international community is relevant to everyone's welfare, to our nation's survival,  and to our continued prosperity. Foreign aid must be subject to reasonable oversight and effective supervision. Foreign aid that must be spent, should be spent. The Republic of China's foreign aid provided the children of Burkina Faso with solar powered table lamps, enabling them to do their homework. If the Republic of China can ignite a few lamps, and increase the amount of light and warmth in the world, what's wrong with that?
Full Text below:

Today, President Ma Ying-jeou concluded his Voyage of Friendship visit to Burkina Faso, Gambia, and Swaziland. This is the sixth state visit he has embarked upon since taking office. This is the first time he has visited Africa. His visit bolstered ties between the Republic of China and her African allies. It gave the public an opportunity to understand the upside of the Republic of China's friendly relations with others.

The visit included a great deal of diplomatic protocol. It also included a great deal of interaction with the local population. It enabled President Ma to show the public on Taiwan how our support for the local populace was actually helping people. It enabled everyone to see that our money was doing many positive things. President Ma and other heads of state even did push-ups, hauled bags of rice, and otherwise entertained themselves. Their interactions brought the two sides closer together.

Unfortunately, opposition DPP legislators have been sniping at Ma's diplomatic truce. They claim that Taipei has become a vassal of Beijing. They claim that the visit was pointless. During the visit, Ma announced that we were providing them with financial assistance. Meanwhile, back home, the government raised gasoline and electricity prices. It imposed a capital gains tax, This invited criticism. President Ma's overseas trip was rushed. Yet he felt compelled to respond from time to time through facebook.

It is true that the Republic of China does not have many allies in Africa. They are having a difficult time with economic development. Their living standards are not as high as Taiwan's. Some on Taiwan may look down their noses at these tiny allies. Subconsciously, we feel more than just a sense of superiority. The only nations willing to establish diplomatic relations with us are small and poor. In order to maintain diplomatic relations with them, we are forced to provide them with economic resources. As a result, we feel low self-esteem. We feel humiliated. We feel resentful. Our resentment distorts the way we perceive our allies and the foreign aid we provide them.

The fact is, exchanges between members of the international community have always been based on mutual benefit, cooperation, and quid pro quo relationships. Cooperation must be beneficial to all, Only by benefiting others, can one obtain others' cooperation. Only by benefiting oneself, can one make sure that cooperation is worthwhile. What each country wants and what each country is able to give, are not the same thing. Both sides must communicate with each other, consult with each other, bargain with each other. They must seek the optimum conditions for exchanges. Only then can they reach a cooperative arrangement.

Under international law, the Republic of China government needs diplomatic recognition to support its claim as a sovereign state. It makes no difference that we enjoy diplomatic relations with only 20 odd states. That is enough to provides international proof of our sovereign status. That is enough to ensure votes or expressions of solidarity during our calls for participation in international organizations. Diplomacy is a common asset that must be cultivated regardless which party one belongs to. To use the epithet "pointless" to describe our diplomacy or our allies, demonstrates a lack of respect for this essential national asset.

The Republic of China has been isolated by the international community. But it seeks to return to the international community. The Republic of China hopes to regain international recognition and respect. As a member of the international community, we have exceptional economic strength. Living standards are relatively high. We have the wherewithal to provide economic support for our allies. We have the wherewithal to contribute to the welfare of the disadvantaged. These are all worthwhile assets.

We have sought participation in international activities for many years, including the Conference on International Cooperation and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The Republic of China has contributed to charitable activities in many countries, not just our diplomatic allies. Self interest is often the prime consideration in international politics. But many other activities are rooted in human compassion and transcend politics. This is exactly how friendship and mutual understanding take root.

The Republic of China hopes to participate in the activities of the international community. Therefore we must demonstrate that we are a developed nation that can make a positive contribution to others. That will enable us to join. The international community will receive real benefits. If the Republic of China is democratic, open, and willing to give back the international community, it will be affirmed by the international community. If we wish to return to the international arena, but are unwilling to contribute, how can we convince others to let us join? The OECD requires foreign aid expenditures amounting to 0.28% of GDP. Our government's foreign aid expenditures amount to only 0.10% of GDP. The fact is our contributions are still too small.

Domestic prices are rising at the moment. That is why our foreign aid has provoked controversy. Scare resources may have a crowding out effect. But these are matters that must not be conflated. Our financial structure needs improvement. It must reflect costs. We must make taxes more equitable. We must ensure long term fiscal stability. Only then can the ship of state operate smoothly. Only then can we improve foreign relations, enhance the Republic of China's international image, and safeguard her sovereignty and dignity. These are all equally important.

The Republic of China's participation in the activities of the international community is relevant to everyone's welfare, to our nation's survival,  and to our continued prosperity. Foreign aid must be subject to reasonable oversight and effective supervision. Foreign aid that must be spent, should be spent. The Republic of China's foreign aid provided the children of Burkina Faso with solar powered table lamps, enabling them to do their homework. If the Republic of China can ignite a few lamps, and increase the amount of light and warmth in the world, what's wrong with that?

中時電子報 新聞
中國時報 　2012.04.18
社論－外交是全民資產 需要齊心維護
本報訊

    　馬英九總統今天完成訪問布吉納法索、甘比亞及史瓦濟蘭王國的「仁誼之旅」，這是他就任以來第六度出訪，也是首度走訪非洲。此行不僅進一步加強我國與非洲友邦的邦誼，也讓國人了解台灣援助友邦的正面意義。

    　這次訪問除了正式儀節之外，還安排了不少與當地民眾的互動，馬總統藉此讓台灣民眾看到我們的支援，為當地人民提供了哪些具體的幫助，讓大家知道我們的錢做了不少善事；甚至馬總統還和對方元首比起伏地挺身、扛米袋，娛樂之餘，也在活潑互動中拉近友誼。

    　遺憾的是，在野黨立委批判馬英九的外交休兵，已經讓台灣彷彿成為中國的藩屬，此次出訪是可有可無的「雞肋出訪」。而在訪問期間宣布提供經濟援助後，由於國內正值油電調漲、證所稅研擬開徵，也引發若干批評，以至於馬總統人在海外行程忙碌之餘，還不時得透過臉書提出答辯。

    　沒錯，我國在非洲的友邦規模並不大，經濟發展也相當困難，民眾生活狀況明顯不如台灣。台灣有些人也許因此看不起這些小友邦，因為潛意識裡，我們不只有優越感，還為只能和小而窮的國家建交，為維持邦交必須持續付出經濟資源，感到既屈辱又自卑，這樣的怨恨，扭曲了我們看待友邦及對外援助的心態。

    　其實，在國際社會中，國與國之間的交往，本來就建立在互利、合作與利益交換上。合作必須利人利己，利人才能得到對方的配合，利己才有推動合作的價值。而每個國家想要的、能給的都不一樣，雙方必須溝通磋商討價還價，找到合適的交換條件，便能形成合作關係的內涵。

    　在國際法上，台灣仍然需要外交承認作為主權國家地位的支撐，不管我們的邦交國是不是只有廿幾國，它仍然是一項國際承認的證明，也是我們在參與國際組織需要表決或聲援時的基本支持聲音。外交是全民的資產，不管哪個政黨執政都一樣要經營。「雞肋」這種字眼，不管是在形容外交還是對方國家，都對外交這項重要國家資產缺乏尊重與維護之心。

    　受到國際孤立的台灣，一直希望能重回國際社會，也希望台灣的存在價值能夠得到國際間的肯定與尊重。那麼，作為國際社會的一員，尤其是經貿實力屬於前段班、人民生活相對富足的台灣，對後段班的友邦加以扶持，為促進弱勢民眾福祉作出些貢獻，也是很有意義的事。

    　事實上，台灣這些年來努力尋求參與國際事務，包括國際合作會議、歐洲復興銀行的發展計畫等等，台灣對許多國家的公益活動都提供資源，而且並不限於對邦交國。國際政治固然往往以利害算計為主要考量，但仍舊有許多實質交流活動，是超越政治而回歸於單純人性的，這也正是友誼與相互了解能夠植根之處。

    　台灣想參與國際社會，就必須展現自己是個能帶來正面能量與貢獻的優質國家，能夠得到台灣的加入，對國際社會將有實質助益。而一個民主開放並且願意回饋國際的台灣，在各方面都會受到國際社會肯定；如果我們一味要求重回國際舞台，卻吝於付出，何以說服別人讓台灣加入呢？ＯＥＣＤ（國際經合組織）規定援外經費占ＧＤＰ的○．二八％，而我國僅占○．一％，其實仍屬偏低。

    　由於正逢國內多項費用起漲之際，我國對外金援也引發議論，但是，資源固然可能有排擠效應，卻也不能全部混在一起談。國家的財政結構的確需要更加健全化，在反映成本、加強賦稅正義下，使財政運作可長可久，國家各項事務才能夠順利推展。而推動對外關係、提升台灣國際形象、維護台灣主權尊嚴，同樣也是重要的國家事務。

    　台灣的國際參與攸關人民福祉與國家生存發展機會，只要是經過合理審查與有效監督，應該花的援外錢還是應該花。看一看布吉納法索的小朋友在台灣援贈的太陽能檯燈下做功課的畫面，如果台灣能夠為這個世界點燃幾盞溫暖的燈，有什麼不好？