Smile for Separate Ways

Resulting in a simple reconfirmation of old principle, though, it was undoubtedly a historical meeting. President of People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping and President of Republic of China, Ma Yingjeou met in Singapore on Saturday. It was the fist time for both leaders to have a meeting, since China had been separated in 1949. Xi and Ma reconfirmed the Consensus 1992, which recognized that both Taiwan and continental China belonged to “one China.” They knew, however, that they were going separate ways.

At the beginning of the meeting, both leaders exchanged message for peace between the coasts. “We opened new historical page. History will register today,” told Xi, stressing historical significance of the meeting. “Both coasts declared message for our determination to concrete peace in Taiwan Strait and promoting regional peace to the world,” replied Ma. Both leaders called each other with title of honor.

After decades of adversary, Ma embarked on improving relationship with PRC. Xi recognized that the key element was maintaining of the Consensus 1992 by Ma and common political basis of opposing the independence of Taiwan. Some understood that this abrupt summit meeting was Ma’s legacy making before expiration of his term next May. There remains a strong opinion against one China principle in Taiwan, anyway.

Xi knew well about those public sentiments. “We are willing to make relationship with any political party or organization, regardless assertions in the past, if it keeps meaning of the Consensus 1992,” told Xi, keeping new possible leader of ROC, Tsai Ingwen, in his mind. But, it is obvious that one China means integration of Taiwan within continental China, which is hardly acceptable for ROC.

With embracing different goals, both leaders worked for practical achievement of the historical meeting. Ma required Xi removing missiles deployed on the coast facing Taiwan. Xi answered that the missiles were not aiming the Taiwanese people. Both leaders agreed on establishing a hotline at the minister level.

Xi must have believed that establishing moderate relationship with ROC could work for denying access of United States to continental Chinese coast. Based on the policy of reconstruction of the great China, Xi wants to contain Taiwan within the influential power of PRC. Cooperating with Japan or other allies, U.S. will oppose any action of annexation of Taiwan. In a distant structure between two approaching governments of China and Japan-U.S. alliance, it is possible that problems in the relationship of Japan and China will be more deteriorated, possibly in a manner that PRC and ROC joins in the claim for Senkaku Islands.