Taipei Mayor Calls for Peace as Chinese Officials Visit in Rare Trip
In a rare diplomatic gesture, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an called for easing tensions between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait during the Taipei-Shanghai City Forum annual meeting on Tuesday. During his address, Chiang told the visiting Chinese officials, among them Shanghai Vice Mayor Hua Yuan, that instead of confrontation, he hopes to have peace amidst the escalated military activities of China.
A Call for Dialogue Amidst Escalating Tensions
Mayor Chiang, representing Taiwan's capital, used poetic language to press the need for mutual understanding and less hostilities. He said, "More dialogue and less confrontation; more olive branches of peace and less sour grapes of conflict. More lights from fishing boats to adorn the sunset; less of the howls of ships and aircraft.
These statements come at a time when China has been conducting near-daily military activities around Taiwan, which it views as its territory. Just last week, China held large-scale military exercises, and Taiwan's defense ministry reported spotting 10 Chinese military aircraft and seven warships near the island in the past 24 hours, even as the forum took place.
Chiang added weight to that at a tense moment, when he said, "I always say that the more tense and difficult the moment, the more we need to communicate."
A Rare Platform for Dialogue
First launched in 2010, the Taipei-Shanghai City Forum has become one of the last remaining channels for high-level discussions between officials from China and Taiwan. In 2016, official dialogue mechanisms were suspended after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen took office and refused to recognize Beijing's stance that Taiwan and China are part of "one China."
The forum, therefore, carries a lot of weight to promote the limited yet meaningful exchanges between the two sides. Hua Yuan, the Shanghai Vice Mayor, also said, "Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait have always been one family. We often come and go, getting closer and closer to each other."
Chiang's Political Stance and Future Ambitions
Chiang Wan-an is a member of the KMT, which has traditionally favored closer ties with China. The KMT firmly denies being pro-Beijing, but it represents a stark contrast to the ruling DPP, which advocates for Taiwan's sovereignty. Chiang is considered one of the potential future presidential candidates and has positioned himself as an advocate of peace and dialogue.
However, the intricacies of cross-strait relations remain one of the most contentious issues in Taiwanese politics. Tsai Ing-wen, along with her likely successor Lai Ching-te, insists that only the people of Taiwan can decide their future, firmly rejecting Beijing's sovereignty claims.
Navigating Cross-Strait Relations
The comments of Chiang have come when China's military activities around Taiwan have been escalating. Nevertheless, his call for peace and dialogue revealed how delicately Taiwan had to address its relationship with China.
Against a backdrop of ever-growing tension in cross-strait relations, the annual Taipei-Shanghai City Forum reminds both sides that communication is paramount, even in the darkest hour. How these discussions may shape future policy remains to be seen, but the emphasis Chiang has placed on communication does give cause for optimism that the current tensions in the region might be eased.
For Taiwan and China, the path to peace lies in understanding and common ground, to which both sides will have to strive as the region struggles to come to grips with its complex shared history and contested future.