Third, this year may pass without cross-strait tensions. China has learned to refrain from attacking Taiwan's presidential candidates lest they alienate Taiwanese voters. Moreover, it is fully occupied with preparing for the 17th Party Congress this coming fall, which is more vital to the Chinese leaders than Taiwan.
Chong-Pin Lin, a former deputy defense minister, is president of the Foundation on International and Cross-Strait Studies.
Translated by Perry Svensson, Lin Ya-ti and Marc Langer
RSS