Cherish the New Building Block Han Kuo-yu Put On in Amending Cross-Strait Relations

 Cherish the New Building Block Han Kuo-yu Put On in Amending Cross-Strait Relations

United Daily News Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan)

April 1, 2019

 Translation of an Excerpt

Following Kaohsiung City Mayor Han Kuo-yu’s tour of Hong Kong, Macao, Shenzhen and Xiamen, rumblings have not stopped in recent days; the ruling party has attempted to seize the opportunity to label him as a fellow traveler, with the factor of presidential nominations of the Blue and Green camps being entangled in them.

The PRC exhibited finesse and sophistication in arranging the reception; while Han Kuo-yu’s itinerary was limited to Hong Kong, Macao, Shenzhen and Xiamen, observing the scale of the reception arranged by the Committee on Taiwan, it shows that he is “a guest who the General Secretary emphasized.” After calling at the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Region Governments and the Liaison Offices of the PRC Central Government there, he met with Liu Jieyi, director of the Taiwan Affairs Office under the State Council, who made a special trip to Shenzhen. The series of high-level meetings had political atmospherics but no political dialogue; we did not see "one China" or "one country, two systems," with both sides focusing on the "1992 Consensus." As for the divergences regarding their contents, they were left untouched, demonstrating the goodwill of the dialogues.

In the Mainland's high-profile reception of Han Kuo-yu, besides looking up to his political influence, affirming his cross-Strait path, more importantly, it aims at seeking goodwill of the greater vox populi behind the "Han Kuo-yu vogue." Currently, cross-Strait relations are at a low point in the last thirty years, with the governments on both sides in a confrontation on the two extremes of reunification and independence. Han Kuo-yu is only a local government chief, and his visit to the Mainland may not be deemed as icebreaking; however, the PRC has reserved room for maneuvering, which may be considered as a turning point for restarting the political dialogue in the future.

Han Kuo-yu has opened a window of opportunity for the cross-Strait relations now in the doldrums, using the strength of one man and one city to push for the amending of mutual trust, challenging the political high mountain. However, whether the new building block he has put on could be the foundation for a new situation, the crux lies in whether, while at the same time insisting on democracy, the people are willing to pursue the positive development of goodwill across the Strait. Only when the people actively take part in rebuilding can cross-Strait issues have the opportunity to march from confrontation to peace.

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