Taiwan Commentary: One China and Two Taiwans

Interesting piece that makes a good (if grim and sobering) point:

Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) Chairman Chen Yunlin was wined and dined by former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Lien Chan and People First Party Chairman James Soong, and pro-unification groups and people from the corporate sector also welcomed his visit last week. This is one of the two Taiwans.

On the other hand, Chen could not go to southern Taiwan and was in effect grounded in Taipei. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) staged protests and besieged the hotel where Chen was staying. Demonstrators tied protest ribbons around their heads and carried national flags. This is the other Taiwan. Under the shadow of “one China,” the “two Taiwans” failed to communicate with each other and were wary of each other, as if the real enemy for each of them were not in China, but in Taiwan.

Beijing has remained consistent in its “one China” policy, but has become much more flexible in its application. The Chinese government grasped the strategic advantage of the KMT’s return to power in May to confine the future development of Taiwan through various agreements signed by both sides . . .

Meanwhile, the distance between Taiwan’s ruling and opposition parties seems farther than that between Taipei and Beijing.

The conflict between the pan-green camp and the pan-blue camp did not end after the presidential election, and cross-strait relations are the main focus of contention between the two parties. While welcoming Chen’s visit, the KMT has actually widened the gap between the “two Taiwans.”

Well, OBVIOUSLY. Ma and his KMT have been doing grave damage, and while I'm not willing to call it "irreparable," I am most unhappy and increasingly concerned.

As for the comment that the distance between KMT and DPP is wider than the gap between Taipei and Beijing? Again, this is obvious. Why should there be a gap between Taipei and Beijing if Ma is doing everything in his power to accommodate Beijing? Meanwhile, Ma's plummeting approval rating of some 20% and the increasing public protests indicates a groundswell of dissatisfaction among the ordinary citizens.

Side note: I am sure that I don't have to remind you of my personal opinion of Lien Chan and James Soong.