Can Switchboard Operator James Soong Connect the Cut-Off Communication Line Across the Strait?

   Can Switchboard Operator James Soong Connect the Cut-Off Communication Line Across the Strait?

United Daily News Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan)

November 8, 2017

 Translation of an Excerpt

James Soong departed yesterday from Taipei to represent Tsai Ing-wen at the APEC Summit in Vietnam. Tsai Ing-wen last month appointed James Soong to be the leader’s representative again this year, saying “We are willing to engage in benign interactions and cooperation with Mainland China under the APEC framework”; the outside world interpreted this as a trial balloon for her "new model for cross-Strait interactions." However, since cross-Strait lines of communication have been cut, no messages have been exchanged; can James Soong, the self-styled "switchboard operator," utilize a "natural approach" to exchange views with Xi Jinping so as to connect a cross-Strait hotline of interactions for Tsai Ing-wen?

Tsai Ing-wen is well aware that under the international realpolitik, Taiwan's space for international activities is no longer in many cases set by the US alone, depending more on Beijing’s attitude. The problem is that she has been troubled by the lack of direct cross-Strait channels of communication. As early as May, Tsai had already decided to appoint James Soong as the leader’s representative again; however, it was James Soong who, through his own cross-Strait channels, inquired about Beijing's attitude and learned that the other side had “no objections,” and then Tsai Ing-wen made public the appointment of the leader’s representative. The process was complicated, but Tsai Ing-wen fully understood the crux of the matter.

James Soong said, “The leaders of both sides of the Strait themselves should be holding talks on how the two sides are going to do it.” This after all was not something that could be accomplished by a switchboard operator on behalf of the principal. Even if one asks the operator to connect the line, the other side still needs to be willing to pick up the phone, otherwise, only the phone will be ringing, but nobody answers; it will be an exercise in futility. Only Tsai Ing-wen can expect Xi Jinping to pick up the hotline, and not the switchboard operator James Soong.

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