In the first meeting between Communists and Nationalists since 1945 Hu Jintao meets with KMT leader Lien Chan meet in Nanjing to discuss Taiwan reunification and isolate Taiwan Independence movement and President Chen Tsui Bien. http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/04/29/taiwan.china.ap/index.html China, Taiwan opposition mend ties Friday, April 29, 2005 Posted: 10:18 AM EDT (1418 GMT) BEIJING, China (AP) -- Taiwan's opposition leader and Chinese President Hu Jintao promised on Friday to work together to end hostilities between Taipei and Beijing, during the highest-level meeting between the two sides since they split amid civil war nearly six decades ago.
This could lead to resolving governmental relations between Taiwan and the PRC but could also lead to a civil war in Taiwan. I would guess that from a Taiwan independence POV this would be like one of the political parties in the US meeting with Osama Bin ladin.
So the PRC one party dictatorship meets with the remnants of the former one party dictatorship of the Mainland and Taiwan. This is supposed to be a big deal? Sorry, but I'm not excited. It sounds like a blow to democracy to me. Keep D&D Civil!!
Regardless of the PRC's intentions, any dialogue to ease tensions is a positive thing. Maybe we should do the same with North Korea.
But you're missing the point. The CCP and the KMT have been blood enemies for almost a 100 years. While both have maintained the belief that Taiwan and the mainland are one in the same they've maintained that with a very different vision. It wasn't that long ago that the KMT legislature still had people representing parts of mainland China. That they are meeting now is a big breakthrough that could have a huge affect on not only the PRC and Taiwan but the rest of Asia and even the US. Of course a reunification would have huge consequences regionally but IMO the more likely and near term scenario is major turmoil in Taiwan and the possiblity of the PRC playing a direct role in Taiwan politics. You may be dismissive of this but its implications are enormous.
Well if civil war did break out amongst the opposing parties in Taiwan, couldn't you see the PRC going to the UN Security Council to deploy a peace keeping force headed up the the Red Army. If the Security Council doesn't go for it, then the Red Army invades to for the benefit of all Taiwanese just like the U.S. invaded Iraq to save the Iraqi people.
A civil war? Politics in Taiwan has always been nasty. Their politicians used to fight during session just to grab attention for their platform. This is the same thing. It sounds risky, but it's just as risky as Chen proposing independence language or renaming the ROC into Taiwan. Most Taiwanese want to preserve the status quo. They see a flagging stock market and economy during the uncertainty of Chen's presidency as a sign that independence isn't realistic for the time being. How would there be a civil war when the public doesn't want either side?
I'll admitto some hyperbole in regards to a civil war in Taiwan over this but I wouldn't put that out of the realm of possibility. Lien Chen is laying the ground work for reunification with the mainland with the PRC still being run by the CCP. This will be totally unacceptable to most Taiwanese of both Chen Tsui Bien's party and many in the KMT who consider the the CCP to be their mortal enemies. If the KMT leadership moves towards reunification with the current PRC leadership you will see huge political, and probably physical conflict in Taiwan. Remember there was sporadic violence in Taiwan during the last election and huge demonstrations against and some for Chen Tsui Bien. Taiwan already is politically very fractious and I don't think that Taiwanese Independence groups or die hard Chinese Nationalists would go along with reunification with the CCP in charge without a fight.
To get a sense of the depth of feeling about the issue I suggest taking a look at the rhetoric thrown aroudn in some of the other China related threads. We mostly hear from pro-Mainland people who don't hesitate to refer to Taiwanese Independence people as "Half-Jap Bastards" and "Traitors to the Chinese" even on threads with topics that don't specifically have to do with Taiwan. From knowing some pro-Independence Taiwanese they feel just as passionately towards the CCP in particular and mainlanders in general.
I do not believe the comment was directed at all pro-independence people in Taiwan. It is pretty sad to watch the former Taiwan president Lee dressed up as a Japanese during the last election, he also wrote his autobiograph in Japansese.
Old foes seek end to conflict Summarized points- The possible rammifications of the trip could be negligable since Lien Chan is considered a part of the old guard and his party base is getting younger. In a speech to Peking university students Lien Chan called for greater freedoms from the Chinese government. President Chen gave his blessing for the trip. The author suggests the trip is a concilliatory gesture by the mainland government after President Chen called off independence rhetoric. Next week, James Soong, leader of the third Taiwan party, will visit China. Lien Chan has emphasized that he still supports the current status quo and does not push for reunification. The article makes it appear that Chen is looking to keep his base, but he isn't spewing divisive rhetoric that leads to a civil war.
I believe eventual reunification with China is good for Taiwan in the long run. China is an up and coming economic powerhouse and taiwan is little more than a watered down Japan. They should just set a date far into the future, but soon enough that China won't mind, kind of like with Hong Kong. Also, make China agree that Taiwan can govern themselves like Hong Kong. Reunification in 2047!!!
