The president of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias, got a king’s welcome in Beijing Wednesday, as the photos above show, and it’ll create heartburn in some corners of Latin America as a result.
Hardly any Latin American presidents get the kind of reception in China that Arias is getting.
On Wednesday, a full color guard greeted him in front of the Great Hall of the People, and President Hu Jintao was at his elbow. Arias is meeting with Premier Wen Jiabao and Wu Bangguo, the head of the National People’s Congress, on Thursday. Together, these are the three highest leaders in China’s Communist Party.
So why is a little Central American country, population four million, getting such a grand reception? For starters, Costa Rica on June 1 ditched Taiwan and launched diplomatic relations with mainland China.
The photos above convey a strong message: Recognize China, and this is how we’ll treat you.
Taiwan later complained that Costa Rica was given an “astronomical figure” of aid by China to flip-flop. That’s life in the big leagues, boys.
Who would be upset by Costa Rica’s royal treatment? For starters, plenty of other Latin presidents don’t get this kind of reception in Beijing. But Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez is likely to be particularly irked. Last time he was in Beijing, President Hu refused to see him. Premier Wen met with him, and there was no huge color guard. That’s because China wisely doesn’t want Washington to think it’s siding with its nemesis in Caracas. Hugo was thinking about coming again to Beijing this autumn. But the Chinese balked, and wouldn’t promise a meeting with Hu. Chavez is now aiming for the spring. But I wouldn’t bet on a big Chavez-Hu meeting despite Venezuela’s promises of major oil shipments to China.
Adding spice to the situation, Arias happens to be one of Chavez’s most vociferous and articulate opponents in Latin America. He’s arriving in Beijing after winning a major vote in San Jose from his citizens in support of a negotiated free-trade agreement with the U.S. Chavez hates the idea of free trade with the U.S.
There also happen to be 60,000 Chinese-descended Costa Ricans in the country Arias rules, and trade is soaring. Already, China is Costa Rica’s second-largest trade partner, behind the U.S.
If Taipei is serious about seeking independence, or to support their claim of being 'already independent', why don't they stop this silly game of keeping diplomatic relations with two bit countries under the name of Republic of China?
For the same effort and money, they can be recognized as Republic of Taiwan, or for that matter, Repubic of Banana Flavored Nitwits.
Since they claim they are 'already independent and sovereign', why do they need some tin pot dictators to recognize them --- for which they pay 'astronomical sums' in bribes for the privilege?
On the same note, why don't Taipei give up (evacuate, clear, cease to exert control, etc.) control over the small islands just off the coast of mainland China if they are 'already independent'?
After all, from the same historical analysis the DPP use to justify their claim to sovereignty and independence, it follows that these islands unequivocally belong to China. The same would go for other islands that Taipei has historically not controlled, that too has to be handed back to China.
By holding onto these islands, they give China casus belli to go to war against their 'independent' and 'sovereign' nation to recover lost Chinese territory.
Likewise, why don't Taipei offer to unconditionally give back to China the antiques and valuables looted from China during their retreat from the mainland? i.e. everything in the National Palace Museum and in private collections, gold and other valuables stolen from China, etc., etc.
Grown men (and women) don't play the games that Taipei plays with formal recognition by countries who do not matter much, if at all.
Perhaps it is time for Taipei's MOFA to be sent back to the pre-school of international relations to learn the ABCs of diplomacy?
If they are sent to pre-school, they might be expelled or disciplined for doing the kind of things that gets them promoted to Vice Minister at 'MOFA' (Taipei).
Posted by: Lao Bai Xing | October 24, 2007 at 11:44 AM
Geopolitics is far more complex... recognition game is one of the tactics for long term strategic goals such as territorial integrity (PRC) or political leverage (ROC/DPP).
Posted by: Nike | October 24, 2007 at 03:11 PM
Lao bai xing, i enjoyed your post.
Unfortunately, the DDP has always had an 'anything goes' approach to achieving their goals, so much that just about any method made could be justified and forgiven as a tactical manuever by its supporters.
They do not associate internationally as the Republic of Taiwan, because this would a true declaration of independance ~ one which carries REAL consequences, instead of the regular verbal condemnations from Beijing they use to tame the sheep.
Also, they will not cede control of the coastal islands because that is of course an 'entirely different' matter; Taiwan Nationals should not be forced to relocate from their homes, and a referendum to keep the island will yeild obvious results. Historical analysis can easily be replaced with 'modern realities' if it better suits a policy.
National Chinese treasures and original gold reserve brought over by the Nationalist that founded and developed the ROC, will certainly not be returned. Taiwanese have always been smug about the fact that they have all the goodies, and the Forbidden city in Beijing is just one huge empty shelf. They will ensure the horde remain in Taiwan, the same way that the British museum doesn't return any of its artificats pillaged during days of the Empire. Recent redefinition of the National Museum in Taiwan from a National Heritage to a center of International culture, more than hints to the intention to classify the Chinese national treasures (by far the bulk of the museums artifacts) as international. The original national gold reserve taken from China, and used to create modern Taiwan can be classified as reparations paid by the Nationalists to the Taiwanese ppl for the suffering it caused during the 1940s~1990s. They can claim it as money taken by the KMT, used to build the ROC and thus not associated with the DDP or an independant Taiwan; avoiding the fact that any future Taiwan will be build upon KMT's legacy of developing a rural island into an Asian Tiger.
Rationalizations can be made for any sort of policy. For strong powers its called being dominant and assertive. In the DDP's case its all the countless trivial maneuvering but impotence in facing the one issue that matters, which makes it look underhanded and pathetic.
Posted by: rio | October 25, 2007 at 02:31 AM
Well, rio....
If the DPP were to hold a referendum on secession or even to change the status quo, it follows that they will have to agree to give the same rights to every local government or parts thereof under their control the same rights to hold their own referendum to decide if they would like to remain a part of China, to be with a future 'Republic of Taiwan or whatever', or be themselves an independent country, or for that matter, to join another country, like the Philippines, the USA, Japan, Canada, Australia, as the case may be.
If Taiwan is divisible from China, then Taipei is divisible from Taiwan, and so should every locality within Taiwan.
Posted by: Lao Bai Xing | October 25, 2007 at 12:26 PM
Lao Bai Xing: You don't divide an administrative region like the way you cut your birthday cake. If you think it is going to work, probably you should be the one to go back to pre-school. ;-)
Posted by: Nike | October 25, 2007 at 11:00 PM
No way would I cut an administrative district like a birthday cake!
I would hire Karl Rove to divvy up the districts for the side I am on!
Texas Republicans are the 'state-of-the-art' electoral district experts.
Posted by: Lao Bai Xing | October 26, 2007 at 10:56 AM
Ah... That sounds like what a cowboy would do. I remember China was like that thousands of years ago. They call it "Period of Warring States". What interesting thoughts they are for solving the problems of Taiwan, Xinjiang, Tibet, and tension among local provinces! Ancient Greek’s model of city states is even better. Abraham Lincoln really had it wrong to start the civil war with the Confederate south. Weren’t these southern people vote for their independence? How about we apply the same concept to solve the problems in Spain’s Basque Country, Canadian Quebec, Northern Ireland, Tamil in Sri Lanka, Thailand’s Muslim south, South Sudan, and Kashmir? At the end, a preschooler will be more likely to have it right than we do.
Posted by: Nike | October 26, 2007 at 01:36 PM
As much as i'd agree with you overall Nike, Quebec and Canada perhaps isn't the best of examples. Quebec actually had 2 referendums already on whether to separate from Canada, and in both cases the citizens chose to stay safely Canadian and continue whining about independance, rather than braving it alone as a true independant state.
And the China/Taiwan case is different from the other examples you'd mentioned. Because China is special, and U.S treats the matter of Taiwan specially because of China, not Taiwan. If Taiwan was in a similar situation with another country, it'll be like the case of the other examples you've given; neck deep in blood and violence. And the US wouldn't bat an eye.
Posted by: rio | November 05, 2007 at 05:35 AM