Taipei, July 3 (CNA) The idea of a "China Union" modeled on the European Union (EU) to integrate Taiwan and China is unlikely to happen, a French scholar said Tuesday in Taipei.
The problem of the "China Union" idea lies in the size of China and its 1.3 billion population, which is a huge difference compared to Taiwan's territory and its 23 million population, Thierry de Montbrial told businessmen in a speech at the European Chamber of Commerce in Taipei (ECCT) that examined the EU-China and future Taiwan-China relations.
De Montbrial, who is on his third visit to Taiwan, founded the French thinktank French Institute for International Relations (IFPI) in 1979 and has been its president since then. He is scheduled to meet President Chen Shui-bian and other high-ranking local officials during his visit.
Cross-Taiwan Strait relations have been deadlocked mainly because of the rhetoric used by each side, he said, adding that the situation could be different 20 years from now if prudent conscience can be developed on both sides.
Citing research conducted by the IFRI on China's future as a global player, de Montbrial observed that China wants peace for its domestic development and wants to avoid any conflict -- including its relations with Taiwan. The only exception will be a Taiwanese declaration of independence, he pointed out.
"China will be open to any arrangement other than that, " he said.
The EU model cannot be replicated. In fact, there is no so-called "model" that can be duplicated because the EU was born under a specific atmosphere, environment and set of circumstances, de Montbrial said.
One possibility for that to happen would be a division of China, he added.
"The EU structure is a process, not an architectural plan that was drawn up and built up according to the plan, " he said.
To build up a union, there should be political and economic integration, he said.