The outlook for ties between China and Taiwan may not be as rosy as many make it out to be, said a renowned Taiwanese political commentator.

Reading between the lines of what top Chinese and Taiwanese leaders said recently indicates that differences remain, Mr Nan Fangshuo told The Straits Times.

Nan Fangshuo is a pseudonym used by Taiwan-born Dr Wang Hsing-ching, 62, a scholar and columnist who writes for Chinese news weekly Yazhou Zhoukan.

He is in Singapore for the inaugural Eminent Speakers Series held yesterday to mark Lianhe Zaobao’s 85th anniversary.

When Taiwan’s Vice-President Vincent Siew met China’s President Hu Jintao at the Boao Forum in Hainan in April, he relayed President Ma Ying-jeou’s message about “facing up to reality”.

The underlying meaning is a recognition of the current reality, which is one China and one Taiwan, said Mr Nan.

“Ma’s logic is, ‘I don’t need you to recognise me, but don’t deny me.’ It’s a language game which Ma is playing. If you don’t deny, doesn’t it mean recognition?” asked Mr Nan.

It was also telling that Mr Hu stressed “building mutual trust” during his meeting last month with Taiwan’s ruling Kuomintang’s chairman Wu Poh-hsiung.

“Hu’s not stupid. He’s saying ‘I don’t trust you’.”

While China is giving Taiwan “face” with formal talks scheduled this week in Beijing to discuss direct flights, both sides wonder what the other party’s real intentions are.

Mr Nan also said that the expected arrival of planeloads of mainland tourists will not be a panacea for Taiwan’s economic problems – namely inflation and the growing gap between the haves and have-nots – noting that Taiwan currently does not have any long-term economic plan.

During a spirited talk about Taiwan’s democratisation at the Suntec City Convention Centre yesterday, he lamented the rise of politicians who do not lead and are led by public opinion instead.

“Politicians are like movie stars, putting on shows every day,” he said.

However, he pointed out that top leaders were nowhere to be seen when it came to helping those affected by recent floods in southern Taiwan.

“There’s no Hu Jintao or Wen Jiabao to go and show concern,” he noted dryly, referring to top Chinese leaders who had personally visited quake-hit zones in China.

Courtesy of The Straits Times, June 08, 2008

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