Tsai and Ma on Parallel Paths：Taiwan Continue to Walk on a Tightrope？
United Daily News Editorial, April 8, 2023
In late March, former President Ma Ying-jeou visited mainland China to pay respects to his ancestors while President Tsai Ing-wen visited Central America and transited through the United States. Both returned to Taiwan on April 7. The two leaders' overseas trips ran parallel, with one focusing on promoting peace and the other diplomacy. Unfortunately, they were on two separate tracks which never intersected, even clashing over the "One China" principle under the Constitution prior to their return to Taiwan. As a result, it’s domestic and international political effects continue to ferment and expand.
Mr. Ma landed under the guise of ancestral worship, deliberately downplaying politics. In the mainland, he elevated the status of the Republic of China and its Constitution to the highest level. By way of paying respect to his ancestors, Mr. Ma naturally displayed his family ties, expounded the concept of "cross-strait kinship" through history and cultural traditions, proved the existence of the R.O.C. through practice, and once again made the R.O.C. an important link between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. Furthermore, he also used the R.O.C. Constitution to elucidate the fact of "One China," opening up space for both sides to express themselves.
While criticizing Mr. Ma for echoing Communist China’s attempt to annex Taiwan through the "One China" principle, the Mainland Affair Council (MAC) turned a blind eye to his proud proclamation that Taiwan and the mainland belonged to the "Republic of China." Perhaps the MAC’s ideological bias was not the only thing to be blamed, because President Tsai also sarcastically stated that Mr. Ma’s discourse was from the 1970s, out of touch with the current environment. The fact, nevertheless, is that the Constitution and its amendments are still in effect, but President Tsai surreptitiously used her “Four Commitments” to turn the “One China” principle of the Constitution into a “Two-State theory,” claiming that the R.O.C. and the “People’s Republic of China” are not subordinate to each other. No wonder President Tsai needed the president of Guatemala to teach her that Taiwan was the “only and true China.”
Even though Mr. Ma’s visit was trailed by the DPP and its allies’ political mudslinging all the way, he was able to demonstrate his ability to handle cross-strait positioning and related affairs in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of China and the Act Governing Cross-Strait Relations. Tsai, on the contrary, has forgotten her own promise in this regard. In fact, Mr. Ma only spoke in accordance with the Constitution lawfully, but it completely softened the restraints in the mainland, not only bringing forth important enlightenment for the KMT's new discourse on cross-strait relations, but also providing a golden key to restore the peaceful and stable development of cross-strait relations.
As to President Tsai’s transit stop in the United States, the highlight was undoubtedly her breakthrough meeting with the Speaker Kevin McCarthy of the House of Representatives, who was the highest-level political figure that any Taiwan president had ever met within U.S. territory. Nevertheless, the entire transit itinerary seemed cautious, low-key, and restrained. Some good examples would be that when Tsai transited through New York, rumor had it that former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, whom she had been scheduled to meet with, did not show up, and even the meeting with a few members of Congress was not confirmed until four days later. It was quite difficult to imagine that even on American soil, Taiwan’s president had to conduct secret meetings with the Congress members in such a low-profile manner.
In regard to President Tsai’s transit, the United States had been repeatedly communicating with Beijing, emphasizing that it was unofficial and routine, and that she would not meet with American officials. This complied with the “One China” policy, and Beijing should not overreact. Despite the fact that there was a political need to resist China, Mr. McCarthy's high-profile announcement of the Tsai-McCarthy meeting and the invitation of the media for coverage were still moderate in tone. Mr. McCarthy emphasized the bipartisan support for Taiwan in the Congress, but also stated that members of Congress had not attempted to change the customary official relationship with Beijing and the unofficial relationship with Taiwan. There was no need for Beijing to retaliate, and mainland China should engage with the United States continually. With the United States managing all the risks, President Tsai was like walking on a tightrope during her trip.
Regarding Communist China’s reaction, it was generally expected that the response will not be as strong as when then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan. After all, on one hand, President Tsai did advise Mr. McCarthy not to visit Taiwan, the White House had been cautious and restrained, and Mr. McCarthy's remarks had not shown any anti-Communist passion. On the other hand, China was also shaping a new image of peace, and was receiving President Emmanuel Macron of France and President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission while Mr. Ma was visiting the mainland. The strength of China’s countermeasures against the Tsai-McCarthy meeting may require careful consideration. However, if Taiwan wants to get China accustomed to the new norm of Taiwan’s president meeting with the speaker of the U.S. Congress, price may have to be paid.
President Tsai's visit to the United States and Mr. Ma's visit to mainland China have shown a subtle balance. Taiwan needs to deepen its relationship with the United States and, on top of that, stabilize its relationship with China. If Mr. Ma and President Tsai are willing to cooperate, they can strive for the best interests for Taiwan. Unfortunately, the Tsai administration would rather walk a tightrope in the midst of U.S.-China competition by making sarcastic accusations against Mr. Ma's visit to the mainland so as to discredit him in every way. The Tsai administration’s narrow-minded behavior is something the Taiwanese people are used to, but the real crisis lies in Taiwan’s strategic imbalance.