SUPER-OPTIMIZING CHINA - REUNIFICATION AS AN EXAMPLE

Whereas political issues and problems in China are complicated, effort s to ''super-optimize'' are essential and can be fruitful. The reunifi cation issue is discussed to illustrate even highly politicized proble ms in China are amenable to super-optimum solutions. At the moment, so me reunification options have been proposed: KMT-CCP negotiation on eq ual footing; KMT's military takeover; CCP's military takeover; the ''o ne country, two systems'' formula, convergence by democratization, and incremental convergence through trading and communication. Yet, neith er parties find the alternatives desirable in terms of optimal satisfa ction. By applying SOS rule # 2 (finding items that will provide large benefits to one side but only small costs to the other side), # 5 (co mbining the conservative and liberal alternatives where they are not m utually exclusive), and # 6 (removing the source of the conflict), reu nification and democratization are made feasible and all parties-conce rned are better off. The specific proposals are that Taiwan should int roduce a wholesale buy-out scheme that costs US$30 billion, that a new republic be established, and that legislative powers should be shared among the majoritarian and non-majoritarian institutions. Together, t hese arrangements could ensure stability and result in democratization .