The Cross-Straits Economic and Trade Forum reached its climax on Saturday when, following the reading of a joint proposal by the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Taiwan-based Kuomintang (KMT) on upgrading economic and trade across the Taiwan Straits, the mainland's Taiwan Affairs Office unveiled 15 measures to echo that appeal.
You could feel the warmth from the repeated applause in the audience.
If the joint proposal is a work of strategic consensus, each of the 15 CPC initiatives is a guarantee of concrete benefits to people on the island of Taiwan.
Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan, the most hysterical critic of the recent rapport between the CPC and KMT, has accused the two of political posturing. Right before the forum opened in Beijing, Chen vilified the event and the meeting between CPC General Secretary Hu Jintao and KMT Honorary Chairman Lien Chan as a "fig leaf" for the CPC to conceal its "malicious intent."
Incidentally, the forum was originally scheduled for December 2005 in Taiwan, but had to be put off and relocated due to Chen's desperate opposition.
If Chen takes his own words seriously, he should check out each of the 15 measures and explain to the people of Taiwan why the mainland leadership needs a "fig leaf."
The CPC leaders have never tried to hide their intention to sow seeds of trust and intimacy between people on the two sides of the narrow Straits. The 15-item gift package is very much in keeping with their earlier promise to do everything to improve relations across the Straits.
The mainland's new offer of goodwill is a prescription of practical remedies for some of the Taiwan economy's chronic headaches.
We do not think the intent is malicious in any sense if the mainland opens its doors wider to fruit growers in Taiwan, acknowledges records of higher learning certified by Taiwan educational authorities, allows Taiwan medical professionals to practise on the mainland, and simplifies procedures to facilitate sightseeing trips across the Straits.
Instead, we are curious about Chen's allergy to the olive branches from the other side of the Straits.
On numerous occasions, Chen challenged the mainland to "release goodwill." But each time Beijing makes a move to assuage ties, Chen flusters and exasperates.
The confusing signals he has emitted have set us wondering what is under Chen's fig leaf.
Talking about his eight-hour trip from Taipei to Beijing, the humorous Lien Chan gave his speech at the forum the subtitle "symposium on the corner-cutting project."
There indeed are too many corners to cut on the road between Beijing and Taipei. Chen has proved himself the most devoted engineer and defender of such detours.
If Chen is determined to continue to sabotage the CPC's and KMT's joint endeavour to build confidence across the Straits, he must tell the people why a broader market, more job opportunities and convenience in travel and medical care are threats, instead of benefits.
(China Daily 04/17/2006 page4)
