Historic meeting between Ma Ying Jeou and Xi Jinping Improves ties between China and Taiwan

Nanyang Siang Pau, Editorial, Nov 9, 2015

The historic meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Taiwan President Mah Ying Jeou has concluded successfully. The handshake of the century which lasted 81 seconds has drawn both sides of the Straits of Taiwan closer. From the choice of Singapore as the venue to the pre-arranged term of addressing of each other as “Mr”, to the absence of any display of official designation as well as the paying the bill for the dinner separately has reflected the overall consideration and cautiousness in the arrangement of the meeting.

It was unavoidable that some awkward moments would appear at the meeting after a lapse of 66 years. However, it is also expected that the blood is thicker than water and very soon the development of relations between the two sides will soar above the level of the 1992 Consensus.

Xi Jinping and Ma Ying Jeou treated each other as equals and it is obvious that they were in a happy mood. Certain media people even said they had rarely seen Xi Jinping smiling so broadly. At the onset of the meeting, Xi Jinping was the first to speak. He made his address from a macro viewpoint and said that leaders of both sides were sitting together in order to prevent a repeat of tragedies. He said history would remember the meeting between him and Mr Ma. Ma Ying Jeou raised his five principles of strengthening the 1992 Consensus, reducing the confrontational stance on both sides, expanding mutual interactions, establishing hotlines between the two sides and initiating efforts for the development of greater China.

The opening addresses of both Xi Jinping and Ma Ying Jeou shared a common point as they both gave recognition that the 1992 Consensus will be the corner-stone for the development of bilateral relations. After the close-door meeting, Ma Yin Jeou told a media conference that even though the 1992 Consensus has certain grey areas; it also has the positive strength of promoting the normal development of bilateral relations.

The meeting has drawn global attention and Chinese all over the world have been excited over a new milestone in the unification process. However, supporters of the Pan-Green Camp were upset and claimed that the meeting was a covert operation and they suggested a conspiracy theory linking the meeting to the 2016 Taiwan presidential election in Taiwan.

The Minister of China’s Taiwan Affairs Zhang Zhijun said in reply to questions after the meeting that his bureau would never interfere in Taiwan’s presidential election as China was more concerned over the future relations between the two sides.

He said that as stated by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the meeting that the two sides needed to make thorough efforts on issues that could improve people’s welfare and peaceful development of the two sides, and also safeguard the interest of the Chinese.

The meeting was held 70 days before the 2016 Taiwan presidential election. There are different interpretations as to whether this was pre-arranged or coincidental. However, from the political point of view, why should Pan-Green supporters be so fearful if the meeting between Xi Jinping and Ma Ying Jeou had not been so widely welcomed? It seems, however, that only squabbling politicians are overly concerned as when the meeting of the century was held and how it would benefit Taiwan.

It was announced before the meeting that no documents would be signed but this had not diluted the importance of the meeting. The greatest achievement of the meeting was that the leaders of both sides were able to meet face-to-face and speak from their hearts. As a Chinese saying goes, meeting makes the heart fonder.

Original Source:
“习马会”提升两岸关系