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Chinese leader Xi Jinping held a rare meeting on Wednesday with former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, known for advocating closer ties with China. The meeting, occurring just weeks before Taiwan's new leader takes office, is highly unusual and symbolically significant. It marks the first time a former Taiwanese president has been hosted by China's top leader in Beijing since 1949, when Chiang Kai-shek's Kuomintang (KMT) fled to Taipei.
The meeting highlights the growing political divide between Taiwan and China, with Xi's increasingly aggressive stance toward Taipei driving more Taiwanese away from China. Taiwan's recent election of Lai Ching-te, a strong advocate for Taiwan's sovereignty, further emphasizes this gap.
Beijing's timing of the meeting, coinciding with a significant diplomatic week in Washington, where President Joe Biden hosts the first-ever leaders' summit between the US, Japan, and the Philippines, suggests China's desire to influence Taiwan's incoming administration. Beijing's pressure tactics aim to push Taiwan toward a more accommodating stance, particularly regarding the idea of "one China."
Despite Beijing's efforts, Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) under Lai Ching-te is unlikely to resume official communication with Beijing, as Lai continues Tsai Ing-wen's cross-strait policies. Beijing's focus on Ma, who holds little current political influence, may indicate a struggle to find a Taiwanese political figure willing to align with Beijing's interests.
Ma's visit to China, occurring just before Lai's inauguration as Taiwan's president, serves Beijing's narrative of shared cultural roots and the possibility of peaceful unification, despite tensions. However, this message may not resonate with the majority of Taiwanese people, who increasingly identify as distinctly Taiwanese.
In Taiwan, reactions to Ma's visit vary. The ruling DPP is likely to downplay its significance, portraying it as a private act by a retiree. The opposition KMT, while eager to celebrate Ma's achievements with Beijing, is cautious due to Taiwanese public sentiment. The meeting is unlikely to bring substantial change to cross-strait relations but will cement Ma's legacy on cross-strait policy.
Ma's visit and meeting with Xi highlight the complex dynamics between Taiwan and China, with both sides maneuvering to shape the narrative and protect their interests while fundamental political differences persist.