Former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Lien Chan (
Although the high-profile meetings between Lien and Chinese President Hu Jintao (
Early rumors suggested that Lien and Hu might sign a cross-strait peace agreement, but this assumption overlooks several thorny truths. First, the KMT is not the ruling party and can't dictate policy.
Second, Lien is just the honorary chairman of the KMT, and as such, does not directly control party policy. Not only does Lien not represent the KMT, but his influence within the party is greatly diminished.
Third, Lien's credibility as a representative of Taiwan is questionable and voters have repeatedly declined his services as an elected official. Faced with constant criticism for selling out the nation, Lien has had to resort to ploys such as the dubious "forums" in China to satisfy his craving for attention.
Faced with massive public criticism and close scrutiny from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the KMT's director of Mainland Affairs, Chang Jung-kung (
Unlike Lien's previous two trips to China, which were business delegations, this time he is bringing more than 30 academics in hopes of expanding cultural cooperation and commerce.
Lien's thinking seems to be that if he does not meet with Hu and achieve a major breakthrough in cross-strait peace, he can still avoid criticism that his trips are increasingly meaningless by trumpeting cultural and economic accomplishments.
In fact, Lien knows that he faces bleak prospects for opening direct links, relaxing quotas for Chinese tourists visiting Taiwan or expanding Taiwan's financial institutions into the Chinese market.
Beijing will not simply take substantive cross-strait issues and offer them to Lien as a gift of friendship. Even if there is to be a concrete policy breakthrough, China may choose to make a gift of that to another visitor -- Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
Taiwan shouldn't pay much attention to Lien's attempt to play the China card again. That card has lost its luster and the KMT isn't counting on it in the coming elections.
As next year's presidential contest approaches, China has learned from past experience that it is better to appear neutral than interfere on behalf of the KMT.
At home, most Taiwanese realize that the KMT hasn't done anything to help the nation by cozying up to Beijing. Lien's efforts to increase the sales of local agricultural products to China have in fact hurt Taiwanese farmers because their seeds, technology and brand names have been appropriated by Chinese farmers. Instead of garnering political supporters, which was the underlying aim of the agricultural agreements, the KMT's policy stirred up anger among southern voters.
It would be better for the KMT to concentrate on domestic issues such as selling its stolen party assets, cleaning up corruption and evening out the development imbalances between northern and southern Taiwan.
Winning the hearts and minds of Taiwanese will help the KMT, not groveling before high-ranking Chinese officials.
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