CHINA / Taiwan, HK, Macao
Commentary: Chen Shui-bian fears pandas
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-04-04 17:07
While people all over the world love giant pandas, Taiwan leader Chen
Shui-bian is determined to keep them out of the island.
Under Chen's direction, Taiwan's "Council of Agriculture" reached a
decision on March 31 that Taiwan would not accept the two giant pandas
donated by the Chinese mainland as goodwill gifts, saying the natural
environment in Taiwan doesn't suit pandas.
Two pandas play at the China Giant Panda Research Centre in Wolong,
Southwest China's Sichuan Province in this undated photo. [Xinhua]
Chen's fear of the two lovely giant pandas is understandable. The pandas
will further boost affinity and harmony across the Taiwan Straits, which
is good for people and regional peace but unfavorable to Chen's efforts
to promote "Taiwan independence".
His fear, however, is not justified.
Animal experts in Taiwan quickly pointed out that Taiwan is well capable
of supporting the giant pandas because Taipei has one of the best zoos in
the world.
Giant pandas live in two kinds of environment. There are more than 1,800
giant pandas living in the wild and more than 180 live in captivity on
the Chinese mainland.
The mainland has donated more than 20 giant pandas to foreign countries,
including the United States and Japan, all of which are faring well.
Taiwan people have shown strong desire to see the pandas on the island.
Two zoos in Taiwan have applied to house the two animals.
KMT spokesman Chang Jung-kung said Taiwan authorities' rejection of the
animals meant "they are obstructing peaceful coexistence and harmonious
exchanges of two sides of the Taiwan Straits from a narrow ideological
perspective".
Taiwan authorities have shown the same mentality in obstructing sale of
Taiwan fruits to the mainland and the entry of mainland tourists, which
will benefit Taiwan farmers and the tourism sector on the island.
Such mentality also guided Taiwan authorities' decision to forbid
mainland film actor Zhang Guoli to enter Taiwan and forbid mainland pop
singer Li Yuchun to speak to the press during her performing tour in
Taiwan.
In sharp contrast, the mainland allows free entry of Taiwan show business
personnel and allows them to speak to the press freely.
Cross-Straits relations have kept growing despite obstructive efforts of
Taiwan authorities.
According to statistics of China's Ministry of Commerce, the Chinese
mainland had approved a total of 68,095 projects funded by businesspeople
from Taiwan by the end of 2005, with a contractual investment of 89.7
billion U.S. dollars from Taiwan. Indirect cross-Straits trade volume hit
495.81 billion dollars by the end of 2005, including 414.08 billion
dollars of Taiwan export to the mainland. As a result, the mainland is
Taiwan's No. 1 export market and largest source of trade surplus.
Boosting harmony and affinity across the Taiwan Straits is a tendency
supported by compatriots and conforms with universal law. Wise and
responsible politicians should push forward rather than obstruct this
trend, no matter what his previous platform was.
Even Chen Shui-bian himself acknowledges "Taiwan independence" is a
dead-end alley. So why not conform to the general trend of the times and
people's wishes then?
Chen should stop treating affinity between compatriots as a thorn in his
flesh. His current position will not only cost him his political life,
but also endanger peace in the region.
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