Rebuilding the consensus toward 'one China'
- Source: Global Times
- [01:00 August 02 2010]
- Comments
Missiles deployed along China's southeast coast have long been a sour point in cross-Taiwan Straits relations. The military deployment of missiles is also frequently cited by the US as an excuse for selling arms to Taiwan.
Though they are to deter the seperatists, the missiles are seen by some as a symbolic sign that the two sides remain hostile.
As an important gesture, the mainland's military offered to remove these missiles in negotiation toward building a military trust mechanism under the principle of "one China."
The mainland's apparent act of goodwill only received a muted response from the Taiwan side, which is not completely surprising.
The reality is that a large number of people living on the Taiwan Island remain suspicious that the "one China" principle will bring them lasting peace.
Positive steps were made one month ago when the two sides signed the Economic Coopera-tion Framework Agreement (ECFA), which will further encourage cross-Straits economic and trade exchanges.
However, when it comes to building military trust, the somber reality is that there is still a long way to go. The lukewarm response reflects the hesitation of the Taiwan authorities.
The new proposal to remove the missiles is meant to reassure the people in Taiwan of their growing security, and also to give another push toward warming up cross-Straits relations. It is hoped, of course, to start the long overdue procedure of ending military hostility against each other.
There is a lot of disagreement on what the principle of "one China" means. Previous Taiwan leaders Lee Teng-hui and Chen Shui-bian have twisted the idea toward the independence of the island. The deployment of missiles is to deter those die-hard Taiwan separatists.
Both ECFA and deterring separatists are indispensable elements toward unifying China. The key issue now is how to let the principle of "one China" become more accepted on the island.
To the younger generation in Taiwan, "one China" is an unfamiliar term, but the two sides have to rebuild consensus toward the idea, which is the foundation for the peace and prosperity of the Straits.
The unification of the two sides of the Taiwan Straits is about the unification of their hearts and minds. This is never easy work.
The mainland should have the determination, but also the patience, to push relations forward.
