Xi Jinping says Mainland to expand travel across Taiwan StraitWarm meeting with Ma Ying-jeou underscores Beijing's confidence, patience, and hope for the future of cross-Strait relations.
I have long maintained the danger of war, especially in the immediate future such as 2024, 2025, or 2027, in the Taiwan Strait is overblown. Wednesday’s meeting between Xi Jinping, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, and Ma Ying-jeou, the former leader of Taiwan who is referred to as Mister in Beijing now, sends stabilizing signs to cross-Strait relations. According to Beijing’s readout of the meeting, Xi emphasizes the role of young people in cross-Strait relations, signaling the mainland’s patience for resolving the Taiwan question. Crucially, Xi says the mainland will make it easier for residents across the Strait to travel to each other. He says the mainland welcomes Taiwan residents to visit the mainland, and crucially, the mainland is happy for its residents to go to Taiwan and see around.
It remains unclear what exact steps the mainland will take, and judging from Xi’s statement the measures could go beyond just travel - which in itself should be good news for the tourism industry, given that Beijing suspended individual tourism in 2019 ”in light of current cross-Strait relations.” Xi also mentioned “compatriots from both sides hope for peace and harmony” and that bilateral relations shall be handled from “the perspective of the overall interest of the Chinese nation and its long-term development.” It’s simply infeasible that armed conflicts would serve any of that. Xi’s words also project significant confidence on the side of the mainland, including by saying the Chinese nation - as a people - has realized Dr. Sun Yat-sen's envisioned blueprint but also created many achievements far beyond his imagination. Sun is the “Father of the Nation" in the Republic of China - Taiwan’s constitutional name - and the "Forerunner of the Revolution" in the People's Republic of China. The confidence is, in my opinion, incompatible with some international assessment that Beijing feels time is not on its side and hence would act hastily. Also worth mentioning is that Xi is meeting with Ma as Joe Biden is hosting Fumio Kishida in Washington, DC and that William Ching-te Lai, of the Democratic Progressive Party, is slated to be inaugurated as the next Taiwan leader shortly - on May 20. Last year, when Tsai Ing-wen, who will be leaving the presidential office soon, met with the U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California, Ma was visiting the mainland. Henry Huiyao Wang, the President of the Center for China and Globalization (CCG), has said the arrangements for the mainland-friendly Ma served to hedge unwelcoming news in the Chinese mainland, and I agree with him. Below is my translation of Beijing’s readout of the meeting, carried by Xinhua. All highlights are mine. Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, April 10 - Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with Ma Ying-jeou and his delegation in Beijing this afternoon. Xi Jinping stated that compatriots from both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to the Chinese nation. The Chinese nation, one of the world's greatest, has created a unique and brilliant Chinese civilization with a long and splendid history, a source of pride and glory for every Chinese descendant. The extensive history of over 5,000 years records the ancestors’ migration to Taiwan and their proliferation, as well as the joint efforts of compatriots across the Strait in repelling foreign invasions and recovering Taiwan. Throughout its journey, the Chinese nation has documented the inseparable history of both sides of the Strait, engraving the historical fact that compatriots on both sides are connected by blood. Compatriots from both sides are Chinese; there is no grievance that cannot be resolved, no issue that cannot be discussed, and no force that can separate us. The distance of the Strait does not obstruct the kinship among compatriots. Different systems do not change the objective fact that both sides belong to one country, one nation. External interference cannot block the historical trend towards reunification. Throughout the journey, compatriots from both sides have always been of the same lineage, connected in heart and hand, and supportive of each other. Youth represent the hope of the nation and the future of the nation. The future will be bright for both sides if the youth do well. Youth from both sides should enhance their spirit, backbone, and confidence as Chinese, jointly pursue the long-lasting welfare of the Chinese nation, and continue to write new glories in its history. Xi Jinping emphasized that compatriots from both sides share common blood, culture, and history. More importantly, we have a common responsibility towards our nation and a shared aspiration for the future. We should handle the general situation of cross-strait relations from the perspective of the overall interest of the Chinese nation and its long-term development. First, we must firmly safeguard our common homeland of the Chinese nation. The Chinese nation and civilization have endured thousands of years of vicissitudes and hardships, yet have thrived unceasingly, thanks to the shared belief that our territory is indivisible, our state must not be thrown into chaos, our nation must not be fragmented, and our civilization must not be interrupted. A strong and unified country is always the fate of all Chinese, including Taiwan compatriots. Compatriots from both sides must resolutely oppose "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and external interference, firmly protect our common homeland, and jointly pursue a peaceful and unified future, keeping the fate of the Chinese nation firmly in our own hands. Compatriots from both sides hope for peace and harmony at home, and for this, it is necessary to promote the peaceful development of cross-strait relations. The key lies in adhering to the "1992 Consensus" that embodies the one-China principle, with the core being a shared recognition of the basic fact that both sides belong to one country, one nation. As long as the nation is not divided, and it's acknowledged that both sides are Chinese, part of one family, compatriots from both sides can definitely sit down, start with familial matters through contact and communication, enhance understanding, build trust, resolve contradictions, and seek common ground. Second, we must firmly pursue the long-lasting welfare of the Chinese nation. Seeking welfare for compatriots from both sides is our starting point and foothold in developing cross-strait relations. The goal of pursuing the long-lasting welfare of the Chinese nation is grand yet simple, fundamentally about realizing the aspiration of compatriots from both sides for a better life, allowing all Chinese, including Taiwan compatriots, to live better lives and jointly realize the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. We are capable of leading more than 1.4 billion mainland compatriots to a good life, and we are fully capable of creating a better future together with Taiwan compatriots. We always consider the welfare of Taiwan compatriots, sharing the opportunities of Chinese path to modernization development with Taiwan compatriots first, sharing the achievements of Chinese mainland's development and progress, actively doing practical things for Taiwan compatriots, and ensuring their interests and welfare are more substantial and their future brighter. Third, we must firmly foster a sense of community among the Chinese nation. Throughout its long history, the Chinese nation, including the precious island of Taiwan, has jointly built the territory of our motherland, written the history of China, created Chinese culture, and nurtured the national spirit. Compatriots from both sides have always been one family, should frequently visit each other, and become closer and more affectionate. We will take stronger measures to actively promote exchanges, interactions, and integration between both sides, allowing compatriots to connect in exchanges, build trust in interactions, and foster spiritual unity. We warmly invite our Taiwan compatriots to visit the mainland more often, and are happy to see mainland people visit the motherland’s Treasure Island to see for themselves. Chinese culture is the lifeblood of the Chinese nation and the spiritual home of compatriots from both sides. Compatriots should firmly believe in Chinese culture, consciously act as its guardians, inheritors, and promoters, enhancing the sense of belonging, identification, and pride of the Chinese nation, and forging a strong sense of community among the Chinese nation. Fourth, we must firmly achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. After a century of struggle, we have successfully embarked on a the Chinese path to modernization, ushering in a bright prospect for national rejuvenation, not only realizing Dr. Sun Yat-sen's envisioned blueprint but also creating many achievements far beyond his imagination. The historical wheel of national rejuvenation rolls forward, driven by the efforts and sweat of compatriots from both sides, requiring joint creation and continued struggle. The youth from both sides will play a significant role and achieve great things. We welcome Taiwanese youth to come to mainland China to pursue, build, and realize their dreams, continuing to create better conditions and more opportunities for the growth, talent development, and success of youth from both sides. We hope that youth from both sides will learn from each other, accompany each other, and work together with one heart, running well the historical relay race, and contributing their youthful strength to the realization of national rejuvenation. Xi Jinping mentioned that on April 3, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake occurred in the waters off Hualien County, causing casualties and property losses. He expressed condolences for the victims and sympathy for the people in the affected area. Ma Ying-jeou stated that adhering to the "1992 Consensus" and opposing "Taiwan independence" are the common political foundations for the peaceful development of cross-strait relations. People from both sides of the Strait belong to the Chinese nation and are descendants of Yan and Huang. They should deepen exchanges and cooperation, jointly inherit Chinese culture, enhance the welfare of compatriots from both sides, move forward together, and dedicate themselves to the revitalization of the Chinese nation. Youth representatives from Taiwan also spoke at the meeting. Wang Huning, Cai Qi, and others attended the meeting. |