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Editorial: Lien visit hype unwarranted

The media coverage and public attention regarding meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) and former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and the economic and trade forum between their parties is unwarranted. It is unlikely these events will produce any significant breakthrough in cross-strait relations. They should be considered primarily as a photo opportunity for the retired Lien.

Lien's first trip to China and meeting with Hu last year garnered much media coverage and public interest, because it did hold some historical significance -- especially in light of the love-hate relationship between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and KMT that goes back decades. The first visit by a KMT chairman to China to meet the leader of the party responsible for driving the KMT out of China more than five decades ago held some symbolic significance, even if the trip and meeting did not achieve anything substantive for cross-strait relations.

But a second trip and meeting with Hu does not merit the same level of attention. This time, it is even less likely that anything substantive will be accomplished.

Lien was still chairman of the KMT when he made his trip last year. This time around, he is merely the "former chairman." As chairman, he controlled the KMT's enormous resources -- which effectively gave him significant control over KMT lawmakers. From this standpoint, Beijing had more reason to hope that a good relationship with him would influence Taiwanese politics. After all, the pan-blues hold the majority of seats in the Legislative Yuan and the KMT is the leader of the pan blue camp.

However, now that Lien has retired and stepped down as KMT chairman, it would be naive to believe that he wields any influence over the pan-blue camp, or even the KMT. It is no secret that Lien and current KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) have their differences. Surely the public has not forgotten that Lien endorsed and supported Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) when Wang and Ma were vying to become his successor. This is not to mention the challenges that Ma faced from Wang's supporters when he first took over as chairman. For a while, many feared they were going to divide the party. This background may explain why Wang saw Lien off at the airport when he left for China, while Ma was nowhere to be seen.

As for the CCP-KMT forum, it is also not likely to lead to anything. Haven't there been enough of these so-called forums, conferences and seminars on topics related to cross-strait relations over the past 10 years? Perhaps they were hosted by private groups, but KMT lawmakers were frequent and enthusiastic participants. If none of these events managed to come up with any innovative ideas to break the current impasse, it is unrealistic to expect the CCP-KMT forum to be any different. Moreover, the government here has already issued reminders that it will have to approve any conclusions reached at the forum that touch on its authority.

Sure, Lien will be given VIP treatment by Beijing. But that probably has more to do with China's intent to make the Democratic Progressive Party government look bad.
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