The state of Cross-Straits relations

The breakthrough meeting in 2005 between Hu Jintao and Lien Chan, representing the Communist Party of China and the Kuomingtang (KMT) respectively, opened a window of opportunity for greater exchanges across the Taiwan Straits.

Despite the continued reluctance of the Ma Ying-jeou government in Taipei to answer Beijing's call for political reconciliation between the two sides, impressive changes have taken place on a business and people-to-people level.

On the fifth anniversary of the reconciliation of the two parties - for the first time since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949 - the optimism of many columnists on the political relations across the Taiwan Straits may be premature.