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.... Letters & Opinion

18th September 2012
Cross-Straits and Dire Straits

As far as I’m concerned, there were only two major surprises in Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony’s address to the nation last week Tuesday evening.

The first had to do with what many Saint Lucians had rightly predicted: that Saint Lucia will maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan. As cited by the prime minister in last week’s address to the nation, “the dynamic reality of global geopolitics” was an underlying factor that forced the Saint Lucia Labour Party to not include the question of making a definitive choice between China and Taiwan in their 2011 Manifesto.

In fact, the prime minister added that the SLP was content to simply say thus: “An SLP Government will never negotiate Saint Lucia’s foreign policy via secret deals and personal gifts and promises. Whenever our Party establishes relations with another country, it will always be on the basis of principle, mutual respect, shared interests, and sound international practice.”

On page 77 of the SLP’s “Our Blueprint for Growth” Manifesto presented last year, the party made light of the fact that the international arena and geopolitical landscape have changed significantly over the past 20 years. Major shifts of economic and political power have allowed countries like Brazil, India and China to emerge as major centres of economic and political influence. Additionally, the rules of international trade are now determined largely by the World Trade Organization (WTO), economic partnership agreements and hemispheric trade agreements.

I think that Taiwan, too, should be added to that list. In 2010, Taiwan’s economic growth reached 10%, the highest rate in almost 30 years, international trade jumped more than 39% to US$526.04 billion, and the job market rose with most businesses set to recruit. As a result, the IMF estimated Taiwan’s 2010 GDP-PPP per capita at over US$34,700, surpassing those of Finland, France and Japan.

The time was indeed ripe – the SLP Manifesto states – for a comprehensive review of Saint Lucia’s foreign relations policy. As such, the SLP promised that if elected the “government will undertake a major review of the external relations policy within our first thirty days in office and use the recommendations of this policy review to shape a new Foreign Relations Strategy.” We all know by now that former prime minister Dr. Vaughan Lewis was the man given the nod to shape such policy. His work on such policies continues.

To his credit, Dr. Anthony has always maintained that former Taiwanese ambassador Tom Chou had overstayed his welcome by behaving in a manner unbecoming of an ambassador. In March of 2009, the SLP went as far as withdrawing any courtesies extended to the former ambassador. When the SLP assumed office in December of last year, Ambassador Chou lacked the platform on which he seemed to shine in times gone by.

The SLP, it seemed, got what it wanted: a recall of Ambassador Chou and an annual commitment of US$12 million (or EC$32.6 million) from Taiwan should Saint Lucia maintain ties with the East Asian country. Last Tuesday, Dr. Anthony made it known, however, that this annual contribution from Taiwan represents “a far cry from what was made available to the former UWP Government during its tenure.”

But here’s the PowerPlay strategy that Dr. Anthony pulled that seems to amaze everyone: sending a delegation to China while simultaneously announcing maintaining diplomatic ties with Taiwan. One can only wonder how both China and Taiwan interpret such a major chess move. Dr. Anthony seems to suggest that China remains a true friend of the SLP while Taiwan remains a national friend of the Saint Lucian people. He did, however, make perfect sense of the China/Taiwan diplomacy that has been budding over the past few years, though. Here’s what Dr. Anthony said in one of the most crucial paragraphs of his Tuesday night speech:
 
 
“After 60 years of hostility across the straits that divide China and Taiwan, the two sides have in the past four years entered into an era of cooperation and peaceful co-existence and shared understanding. They have signed many bilateral agreements based on peaceful cooperation in everything, from trade to tourism, travel, science and technology. Under the current Taiwan Government, China and Taiwan are rapidly building bridges across the straits that have hitherto divided them. Both sides have ceased traditional hostilities. We applaud them both.”

With the United States indebted to the Chinese to the tune of a few trillion dollars, China seems intent to do all it can to become the world’s leading superpower – and by a big margin. After being used and dumped by a few “friends” in the past, the Chinese have also learned their lesson. In September of last year, at the China/Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum in Trinidad and Tobago, Vice-Premier of the People’s Republic of China, Wang Qishan, delivered an address to Caribbean leaders at the opening ceremony.

According to the Vice-Premier, China stands ready to support the Caribbean region by investing heavily within the small and vulnerable economics in these parts. As such, China will offer up to US$1 billion in preferential loans to Caribbean nations to support local and economic development. He also indicated that China will provide US$1 million to the Caribbean Development Fund (CDF), as well as no less than 2,500 training opportunities for Caribbean countries and 30 opportunities with Master’s Degrees for Caribbean professionals to study in China.

If you asked me, China has realized that paying for international diplomacy is a futile strategy. The best way to maintain any significant power – and whatever friendship – seems to be having nations be indebted to you. The United States of America currently suffers that fate of being tied to an ally they owe but simultaneously criticize for its poor human rights record.

If both China and Taiwan see no problem with the current posture being taken by Saint Lucia as regards our foreign policy with the two nations, so be it. But if they do, who’s to say that either will not use us as a pawn for their own purposes? Only time will tell.

The second major surprise in Dr. Anthony’s address to the nation has to do with the launch of an investigation into the manner in which Taiwanese funds were given to the last Stephenson King-led administration. That the prime minister would announce that the investigation is already underway suggests that we may yet again go through another Commission of Inquiry-like procedure. Things will certainly be revealed to suit this party or that party’s favour. Whatever does surface – good or bad – needs to be made as pellucidly as possible to all Saint Lucians.

In summing up, it would be remiss of me if I didn’t indicate that the prime minister did make mention that Saint Lucia cannot be seen as if our sovereignty is for sale to the highest bidder. The recent visit to China does not prejudice Saint Lucia’s decision to maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan, he said.

But given the fact that these two nations – like most other Asian nations – put a hefty price tag on loyalty, respect and honour, at least one of the two is definitely feeling slighted. At the end of the day, though, tough economic times call for tough economic measures. And despite the ostensible warming of relations between China and Taiwan, there is no denying that either cross-strait friend can lend a helping hand in alleviating our dire straits. And hence the phrase “Wha’ wrong widdat?” seems to be the popular response from certain quarters.

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