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The deadlock and crises in cross-strait relations do not depend on the political color of the ruling party in Taiwan. The reason many Chinese citizens held such high expectations -- which were actually up in the clouds -- was because the Chinese authorities endlessly avoided the essence of the cross-strait issue. Further, they purposely misled the citizens, by means of "spin control," into thinking that the tension across the Strait was all caused by the call for independence by the Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan. Thus, Chinese citizens came to believe that if the troublemaker, the DPP, lost power, cross-strait relations would immediately improve.
The new leadership representing the KMT will not portray China as a "foreign country," but it will insist on claiming that Taiwan is the Republic of China. Will China, which proclaims itself "the only legal representative of One China," go along with that?
Moreover, if the KMT ever indiscreetly criticizes China's affairs -- such as referring to human rights or dictatorship, or calling for things like reciprocal democracy or equal distribution of wealth as conditions for unification -- will the "great, glorious and correct" CCP easily accept this?
In this context, one could say that the "unification versus independence" struggle allows for a release of cross-strait tension, while the issue of "democracy versus autocracy" could raise tension. In this case, tension will remain across the Strait.
As for the character of the new leader of Taiwan, Ma Ying-jeou, he is a patriot, but this does not mean he loves the Chinese Communist Party that now represents the New China.
Ma said in 2005, when he became chairman of the KMT, that he would pursue a "new centrism." The term at first pleased the CCP, but later it failed to do so. This was because the so-called "new centrism" referred to anti-independence on one hand and anti-communism on the other. Certainly, loving Taiwan is not equal to pursuing its independence, and opposing communism does not mean rejecting the eventual unification of China.
The KMT will be 100 years old in 2011. Unlike an inexperienced greenhorn, the party leadership realizes that the first task of its elected leader is to give life to Taiwan's declining economy.
During his campaign, Ma said that his efforts to repair cross-strait relations would be based on conditions that benefit Taiwan. This may mean that improving relations will be restricted to economic issues.
Still, increasing economic interaction across the Strait will surely deepen the relationship, improve mutual understanding and provide conditions for further communication between Taiwan and the mainland. But if Taiwan under the KMT leadership only focuses on increasing its revenues, it will not fully meet the expectations of the people in China.
The key to this issue lies on China's side. At present, China has not positively implemented democracy; that is the fundamental issue in the minds of the Taiwanese and the real obstacle to the unification of the two sides. If the CCP, which wields power in the New China, insists on its ideology of one-party dictatorship, there will be no foundation for unification. And without that foundation, whichever party holds power in Taiwan, there will be no substantial improvement in cross-strait relations.
Now that circumstances appear to be more favorable, I hope the Chinese authorities will grasp this opportunity to strengthen communication, dialogue and consultation with Taiwan, and create a better atmosphere for more contacts and cooperation. They should not show an arrogant or barbaric attitude toward the rights of the Taiwanese people. Otherwise, they will miss a good opportunity for reconciliation, and further alienate the 23 million people of Taiwan. They could also stir up calls for independence once again.
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(Qin Geng is a freelance writer based in Haikou, Hainan Island, in southern China. This article is excerpted and translated from the original by UPI Asia Online. The original may be found at http://minzhuzhongguo.org/. ©Copyright Qin Geng.)
