China Update -- Straits Diplomacy

After weeks of threats, bluster, and defiance, Beijing and Taiwan are making nice with each other, at least for the time being.

AFK reports:

Taiwan's Chen urges China's Hu to visit 'independent' Taiwan

TAIPEI (AFX) - President Chen Shui-bian has urged Chinese President Hu Jintao to visit Taiwan so that he could experience an 'independent' state with freedom of expression.

This is an oft-repeated invitation and should not be taken too seriously, especially since it included a pointed reference to "freedom of expression" and "independence". [read the article here]

VOA has more details:

The president of Taiwan has invited China's leaders to visit the island, as Beijing offered economic concessions and a pair of giant pandas as goodwill gestures to its rival. Beijing responded coolly to the offer of direct talks with Taiwan's government.

Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian says a visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao would help clear up misunderstandings between the two rivals. Mr. Chen says he hopes President Hu will come to see for himself and gauge the sentiment of the Taiwan people.

However, China was cool to the idea.

Wang Zaixi is the vice chairman of China's Taiwan Affairs Office.

Mr. Wang says China can not hold talks with Mr. Chen unless his party drops its pro-independence stance.

Mr. Chen's conciliatory moves toward China came as Beijing said it would allow Chinese tourists to visit Taiwan and increase fruit imports from the island.

Beijing also offered to give two giant pandas to Taiwan - a gesture reminiscent of China's gift to the United States after former President Richard Nixon's 1972 trip that led to the normalization of ties between the two countries.

It would be a mistake to see these concessions as a real lessening of tensions. Beijing recently has welcomed President Chen's rivals in hope of undermining his support at home and has also warned that if Taiwan goes through with a planned purchase of arms from the US that tensions would rise again. Basically what is going on here with the alternating threats and concessions is an attempt by Beijing to influence Taiwanese politics and to undermine support for its nationalist agenda.

Read the VOA article here.

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