Pillars of Ma's cross-Straits policy

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By Zhu Songling (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-16 08:06

Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou will officially assume his office as Kuomintang (KMT) chairman at the 18th KMT congress on Oct 17, that is tomorrow. He emphasized in a speech on Oct 10 that he would make efforts to rebuild cross-Strait relations in the future. This cannot be done overnight considering the long-term gap and misgivings across the Taiwan Straits. To peacefully develop cross-Strait ties, both sides should be patient and face realities so as to strengthen mutual trust, seek common ground and overcome differences.

In his speech, Ma introduced the expression of "Chinese culture with Taiwan's characteristics", indicating an intention that Taiwan province might "peacefully compete" with the mainland in times of peace. The orientation of cross-Straits relations in the future deserves more attention.

After resuming the new position, as both the regional leader and chairman of the ruling KMT, Ma will be veritably the top leader of Taiwan. This is vital to the relationship between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and KMT as well as cross-Strait relations.

It is believed that both sides of the Straits will continue to follow a path of peaceful development after Ma takes up KMT chairmanship. After he wins, Ma has stated clearly that he proposes to incorporate the "common vision of peaceful development across the Taiwan Straits", developed by General Secretary Hu Jintao on behalf of CPC and Lien Chan on behalf of KMT, into KMT's political guidelines at the 18th congress. In his response to Hu, Ma said that the two parties should "face realities, build mutual trust, shelve disputes and create a win-win situation", reflecting his idea of adhering to the path of peaceful development of cross-Straits relations.

Ma's promise reflects widespread public sentiment. In the past 20 years, despite the ups and downs of cross-Straits relations and unstable political conditions on the island, the mainstream of public opinion in Taiwan has always favored peace, stability and development. In June 2008, the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and Taiwan-based Strait Exchange Foundation (SEF) resumed negotiations after nine years of suspension, bringing cross-Straits relations to a new phase of peaceful development. Until now, there have been three rounds of talks between ARATS and SEF leaders, with nine agreements and one consensus reached between the two organizations. Public opinion polls indicate that the trend of peaceful development of cross-Straits relations has people's support on both sides.

After Ma becomes the KMT chairman, the CPC-KMT platform will continue to play its key role in cross-Straits relations. Even if the meeting between top leaders of the two parties cannot be facilitated soon, the CPC-KMT platform is still an extremely important force for promoting development of cross-Straits ties.

As the regional leader and the ruling party chief, Ma will be the top decision-maker of the island's policies toward the mainland. It would be easier for Ma to help implement the objectives of the Cross Straits Economic and Trade Forum and agreements between ARATS and SEF.

According to Taiwan's regional political system, although the leader of Taiwan is vested with executive powers, his influence on elected bodies, mayors and county magistrates is much less than that of party chiefs. As new chairman of KMT, Ma can facilitate communications between the administrative authorities and representative bodies, in which he will also have a say.

To make substantial progress, cross-Straits ties have a long way to go. Doubtless, there are also disadvantages to cross-Straits relations in Ma's election. As the regional leader, Ma must face the pressure of re-election, which can make him more cautious than his predecessors in terms of cross-Straits relations. After Ma takes up the post of KMT chairman, he will have to carefully balance the interests of different sectors including the US and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) - the island's biggest opposition party - to win maximum support and minimum criticism. Hence, Ma's cross-Straits policy of "three no's" (no unification, no independence and no use of force) will not change in a short term.

In terms of cross-Straits policy, Ma's "administration" also faces strong pressure from the DPP. In the island, consensus on such issues as the future development of both sides across the Straits and the framework of cross-Straits interaction cannot converge in the short run. That is also the difficulty Ma needs to make breakthrough in his cross-Straits policy.

Moreover, as the leader and ruling party chairman, Ma will regard the interests of the island and the local people as the main goal of his "administration". It is necessary for Ma to fulfill his political plank of "promoting peaceful development and ending the state of hostility across the Straits, and signing the cross-Straits peace agreement" mentioned in 2008 during his election campaign.

The author is a researcher at the Institute of Taiwan Studies under Beijing Union University.

(China Daily 10/16/2009 page8)