Historic Handshake: Presidents of Taiwan, China meet for the first time since 1949

        

      The leaders of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the People’s Republic of China met, for the first time since 1949, in Singapore this past Saturday, November 7^th.

        In a huge breakthrough for cross-strait relations, Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeo and Chinese President Xi Jinping met at Singapore’s Shangri-La hotel to discuss the future of cross-strait relations. The meeting began with a historic two minute handshake, followed by a brief five minute opening statement from either sides; the two leaders then proceeded to a closed-door meeting, where they spoke for one hour.

       Based on the two press conferences that were held by either side following themeeting, it seems that there were no true major breakthroughs during the meeting, but rather just a reassurance of agreements that had already been made prior. Zhang Zhijun, head of the Taiwan Affairs Office, gave a 20 minute speech detailing Xi’s – an effectively the PRC’s – view on the “Taiwan Issue”. He reiterated the PRC’s strong stance against “separatism” and their firm belief in the “One China” policy under the 1992 Consensus, though strategically omitting the “Differing Interpretations” part.

        Taiwan’s Ma, on the other hand, gave a brief summary of the meeting and spent most of the time opening up the floor to questions from reporters. When asked what specifics were brought up during the meeting, Ma stated that he had strongly asserted Xi that Taiwan would hold up to the 1992 Consensus, but explicitly emphasizing the “Differing Interpretations” aspect, and that there would be no Taiwan-independence or “Two-Chinas” because it is not permitted under the Constitution of the Republic of China. He also brought up the many concerns of the Taiwanese people, such as the 1500 missiles pointed towards the island, to which Xi responded that it was not “solely against Taiwan”.

        In essence, this meeting did not achieve much substantially, as no major agreements were reached, but it did serve as a symbolic first step towards a new era of cross-strait relationships and negotiations. Mainland China agreed, for example, to set up “hotlines” across the strait for future governmental meetings, as well as being open to Taiwan’s entry to international trade pacts, such as China’s own AIIB (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank,) through “proper methods”. It reassures Taiwan on the Mainland’s commitment in cooperating and respecting the island nation. It also allows Taiwan’s current ruling party, the Kuomintang (KMT) to gain a much needed leverage against the opposition parties in the upcoming presidential elections, as it proves to the people that the KMT is capable of maintaining a sustainable, peaceful, yet still advantageous relationship with the Mainland. As for the PRC, this meeting allows them to offer the carrot to the Taiwanese people while subtly reminding them of the stick, especially for the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that is expected to take power next year following the elections.

        However, this meeting is also a gamble for both the ROC and the PRC; while the meeting was generally well perceived in Taiwan, it also faced protests amongst certain groups of people, especially the youth, who view the meeting as the “selling of Taiwan to China”. The effect of this meeting could thus backfire and cause even more voters to alienate the KMT and opt for the DPP come January. If the KMT were to lose, then the PRC’s plan would also backfire, as they would then have to deal with a new Taiwanese government that is skeptical of the Mainland.

Whatever the results, however, it does not change the fact that this historic meeting will be of great significance to the future development of both sides of the strait. As to how positive of an effect it will have, only time will tell.