After the presidential election on March 20, various heated debates continue. Tamkang Forum, held by College of International Studies last Tuesday (Mar 23, 2004), and “Perspective for a New Society Forum,” co-sponsored by Institute for Taiwan Defense and Strategic Studies and Taiwan Future Studies Association last Friday (Mar 26, 2004), invited domestic and international scholars for the discussion concerning Taiwan’s future. “Mutual trust,” “Ideologies,” and “Defense and Strategy” were the issues constantly being raised during the discussion.

Tamkang Forum placed its main focus on such issues as referendum, ideologies, quality of political leader, and ballot-recount. From a legal point of view, Dr. Ming-siang Chen, chair and Associate Professor in Public Administration at Tamkang and also a member of Central Election Committee, expressed that both President’s Office and Executive Yuan have no right to intervene since the case has been preceded by the juridical system. He encouraged the protestors in front of President’s Masson to drop their slogan of “immediate ballot-recount” since the case has been proceeded by Taiwan High Court. Dr. Chwei-liang Chiou, Professor of Southeast Asian Studies at Tamkang, argued that “democracy meant fair and open election.” If rough demonstration were transformed into a riot and results in repression and the enforcement of martial law, “that would be Taiwan’s tragedy,” Professor Chiou worried.

From the perspective of international relations, Dr. Thomas B. Lee, Professor of Graduate Institute of American Studies at Tamkang, indicated that “Taiwan should not ignore America’s ‘one China’ policy in Asia while emphasizing the Taiwan Relation Act,” regarding the triple relations among the U.S., Chian, and Taiwan. Dr. Ting-ko Chen, Dean of the College of Business, viewed this event from the perspective of crisis management. Taking the demonstration in front of Tien-an-meng square as an example, Professor pointed out that any public gathering should not exceed one week, otherwise, it will only get worse. As a leader, President Chen Shui-bian will have to the problem, and Taiwan will be facing a political setback and sluggish economic development.

In the “Perspective for a New Society Forum,” Dr. Ming-hsien Wong, Associate Professor of International affairs and Strategic Studies and also chairman of Institute for Taiwan Defense and Strategic Studies, indicated that economic cooperation will play key role in the interactions between both sides of Taiwan Straits, due to the in-reversible process of globalization and the fact that both China and Taiwan have participated the World Trade Organization (WTO). The relations between two sides after 320 election can be divided into two phases: the first observation period from Mar 20 to May 19 and the second period after the presidential inauguration ceremony on May 20. Professor Wong argued that “only free market and democracy can secure Taiwan’s privilege for competition, and which is the only in our hands.”

C. H. Lin, chairman of Taiwan Future Studies Association expressed his pessimistic view for the future economic interaction between two sides under the guidance of current Executive Party. He suggested that economic development should override ideology pursue, economic interaction should override political negotiation, and international economic concerns should override domestic ones.”

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