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           Taiwan's Opposition Leader Seeks Flexible Ties with China

   by Ralph Jennings

   TAIPEI - The new chairman of Taiwan's normally anti-Beijing opposition
   party is urging a flexible working relationship with China. That stance
   by the head of the Democratic Progressive Party could bring a thaw to a
   history of icy relations that had put Taiwan and China at the brink of
   war before 2008.
   Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party chairman Su Tseng-chang said
   shortly after accepting the job on Sunday that he wants to keep the
   door open to China. He described the long-time military and political
   rival of Taiwan as a dynamic place that deserves flexibility from
   Taiwanese policy makers. Su also did not rule out a visit to China, and
   he would be the first Democratic Progressive party chief to make that
   trip.

   Under the former Democratic Progressive president of Taiwan, Chen
   Shui-bian, Beijing and Taipei toyed with armed conflict as Chen pushed
   for the self-ruled island to become an independent nation. Shane Lee, a
   political scientist at Chang Jung Christian University in Taiwan, says
   the new Democratic Progressive chairman stands out by not openly
   advocating that the two sides treat each other as separate countries.

   "He does things as he sees fit, which means he would adjust his sails
   as the wind blows, so to speak, whereas Chen Shui-bian was very clear
   about Taiwan's position as a country that is equal to China," said Lee.

   China has seen Taiwan as part of its territory since the Chinese civil
   war of the 1940s and has threatened the use of force to push for
   eventual reunification. Current Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou of the
   Nationalist Party has improved ties with the mainland. His government
   put political differences aside to discuss trade and investment,
   resulting in 16 deals worth billions of dollars to the island economy.

   A conciliatory view toward China by Taiwan's historically anti-Beijing
   opposition party would help keep relations stable if that party retook
   the presidency. The next election is in 2016.

   Factions of Su's party still believe that Taiwan cannot trust China and
   must seek formal independence despite a sure backlash from Beijing. But
   party moderates, who are backed by Taiwanese entrepreneurs with
   business in China, want to engage Beijing as long as the Communist
   leadership treats Taiwan as an equal at the bargaining table.

   China is Taiwan's top export destination, and two-way trade totals
   about $150 billion per year.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/taiwan-new-opposition-leader-seeks-fl
   exible-ties-with-china/1120634.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/taiwan-new-opposition-leader-seeks-flexible-ties-with-china/1120634.html