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---"Focused Coverage Informed Perspectives"--- Mon, Sep 8, 1997 editionPanama update
Taiwan considers aid to Panama Canal development scheme
also: Tung Chee-hwa arrives in US; China puts squeeze on 'fees'; Dalai Lahma to open office in Taipei; Greenpeace protests in Taipei; a lost friend
TAIWAN
Panama: (China-Taiwan Dispute Dominates Panama Canal Conference ) The New York Times has an article today which provides more perspective and information on Taiwan's and China's diplomatic war currently being fought in Panama.Journalist Larry Rohter writes, Panama had hoped to use the conference to show the world it will be able to manage the canal after 1999, when the US returns it to Panama. But ever since 1995 when the conference was announced, Beijing has waged an unceasing campaign to make sure that the invited guests would stay home or Taipei would not be invited.
In many ways it has worked, and only four heads of state, including Lee Teng-hui, in attendance. Most major international shipping companies have refrained from sending high-level delegations, writes Rohter. Interestingly, Chang Yung-fa, who heads up Taiwan's Evergreen Marine Corp., Taiwan's largest shipping company, stayed away.
"In recent years, Evergreen has become one of the most prominent investors in Panama, with projects that include a large container port, an industrial park and an airline. But Chang and his company also have substantial interests and ambitions on the Chinese mainland, which diplomats here said could be endangered unless he lowers his profile in Panama."
Rohter writes, stripped of its political dimensions in this way, the conference has become a mere discussion of technical questions, including such things as the modernization of the canal's locks. Hwoever, There is some expectation that President Lee might announce Taiwan's intention to defray the cost with a $400 million contribution; according to some diplomats in Panama, it already cost Taiwan $800,000 for Panama to consent to its mere presence at the conference, writes Rohter.
"Panama Canal Conference opens today" is a China Times (Shibao) article in Chinese Big-5 encoding. Reading the article also requires a subscription to the paper.
The paper reports: as the conference opened, Taiwan's Transportation Minister Cai Zhaoyang spoke about his government's responsibility to participate in the conference's most important issues. For its part Taiwan would also raise for discussion of the upwards to US$ 5.4 billion development plan for the canal, Mr Cai said. By participating in this talk Taiwan could draw up an appropriate level of to fund the Panama Canal's development.
One more interesting point: it is estimated that 5 percent of Panama's 2.5 million people can claim some Chinese ancestry. Many of the immigrants are form the mainland and their sympathies likewise lie there. Writes Rohter, "To prevent further erosion of its support, Taiwan has in recent months made generous donations to educational and other projects that benefit the local Chinese community."
Diplomacy: ( "Li lauds links with St Lucia" ) Premier Li Peng said yesterday that China and St. Lucia will develop their relationship based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-Existence, reported the China Daily.
POLITICS
Hong Kong: Tung Chee-hua arrives in Washington
( "Tung pledges to help America 'understand'" )Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa arrived in Washington last night to begin a trip designed to reassure the Clinton administrations and congress that it is "business as usual" in Hong Kong . American lawmakers, concerned for the future of democratic institutions in Hong Kong, will likely question Tung at length about the electoral package put forth by his administration.
Mr Tung said: ''The Americans are concerned about democracy and freedom. We are also concerned about democracy and freedom. We just hold different views.''
As more news comes in on this, we'll keep you posted. In the meantime the South China Morning Post has an editorial in today's edition in which they characterize Tung's trip as a test of his diplomatic skills. The paper does not foresee the same level of smooth sailing as he enjoyed during his recent trip to Malaysia and Singapore; and predicting rough waters ahead over the electoral package, which is unpopular among those polled in Hong Kong, the paper does say Mr Tung can spotlight some strong points to the US: permitting a US nuclear submarine to pay a call "was a convincing demonstration of genuine autonomy and proof of the territory's continuing openness to the West," writes the paper. Moreover, "He can demonstrate to Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin that economic policy has not changed and the dollar peg remains solid."
National Congress: "Beijing buzzes with expectation as Congress nears" is a rather short piece from the China Daily anticipating the 15th National Congress, which will convene in Beijing in four days. The piece paints a rosy picture of Beijing streets and people, who tote heavy and brimming baskets---an image contrary to what some might offer of other, more remote and poorer regions in the nation. See Labor in the Sat, Sep 6, 1997 issue and the lead story in the Wed, Sep 3, 1997 issue for more information on labor unrest in Sichuan.
Dalai Lahma: Taipei, Sept. 7 - The government has approved the establishment in Taiwan of a de facto mission of the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, a newspaper reported Sunday. The Tibetan government-in-exile's envoy in Britain is to arrive in Taiwan shortly to head the "Dalai Lama Tibetan Religious Foundation," the United Daily News reported.
Business policy: helping big bussiness before the crunch?
( "Abolition of random fees benefits State firms" ) China is apparently in the midst of a nationwide campaign to crack down on 'unauthorized' fees levied by local governing bodies against companies and individuals. The government thinks, putting the squeeze on such activities will benefit state-owned enterprises by as much as 15 billion yuan ($1.8 billion), the China Daily quotes a senior official."The unauthorized fees usually include random levies, unauthorized fines and the arbitrary requisition of donations from enterprises," writes the paper.
There is some expectation that during the National Congress, set to begin in four days, that the government will announce more austerity measures designed to force these large and money-loosing state-owned enterprises to turn a profit. We might consider reading this piece and this campaign in that context, as another way by which the government will aid state-owned enterprises through its rational and legalistic policies.
Greenpeace: Greenpeace staged a protest in downtown Taipei to voice its opposition to the ROC's plan to ship nuclear waste to North Korea. Taiwan has had an arrangement with the North Korean government to send its waste to North Korea. The plan has always met with vociferous opposition from those within Taiwan and South Korea, who object to such deals for environmental reasons. Yesterday
Hong Kong: Swire House to be demolished
( SCMP Internet Edition ) The South China Morning Post reports today that Swire House, a major office building in the heart of Hong Kong's Central district, will be demolished next year to make way for a completely modern office space designed specifically for multinational financial companies. The HK$2.3 billion building, tentatively referred to as 11 Charter Road, will be completed in 2003. A picture is provided.
ART & FRIENDS
Looking for a friend: 'Asia's Mexican Mosaicist' where are you?
Many months ago I had the good fortune of stumbling upon "Britt Towery's Front Page"---actually, as I reconstruct it now, I was deliberately seeking a web site for the literature of the twentieth-century writer Lao She when I found Brit's Towery Lao She Collection. Please see the "Tue, Apr 8" issue for more information.But I'd like to draw your attention to Brit's latest addition: a celebration and expose of his friends Francisco "Pancho" Borbora and Ana Liang. The web site recounts the meeting of the Mexican artist and his Cantonese wife and his art. There are images of Borbora's art.
And there is an appeal, a hope, that anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of Pancho and his wife Ana Liang could contact Brit.