Unity legislation designed to keep strait's status quo
The newly enacted Anti-Secession Law reflects Beijing's desire to preserve the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, according to analysts who note the absence of provocative wording in the text.
They also point out that the legislation serves the purpose of distracting public attention from other social issues and will help rally support for the mainland's leadership.
'Solving the Taiwan issue does not require an anti-secession law. The key to its solution should be strength, which the mainland does not have at the moment,' said Chang Ling-chen of National Taiwan University.
She described the legislation as 'highly symbolic'.
Professor Chang said Beijing lacked the necessary will to seek an immediate solution to the Taiwan issue because it had made domestic issues, such as economic development and social stability, its top priorities.
With the absence of specific punitive measures against secessionists, the law was like a toothless tiger and was unlikely to deter the Taiwanese authorities, she said.
'The law will not affect the status quo. The real detonator lies with Taiwan's pro-independence government,' Professor Chang said.
Timothy Wong Ka-ying, a political analyst at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, noted that while stressing peaceful reunification, President Hu Jintao's latest speech on the Taiwan issue and the Anti-Secession Law had not mentioned the long-held 'one country, two systems' policy.
'It has attempted to create some rather obscure space for discussions on the unification issue,' he said.
'It is obvious that the current leadership is more flexible than its predecessors. They don't have a timetable on Taiwan. They care more about maintaining the status quo.
'They will be more confident about a long-term solution to the issue as long as they are able to maintain such a status quo.'
Another Taiwanese scholar, Yang Kai-huang, of National Dong Hwa University, said Mr Hu would not risk his historical status by taking military action.
'Mr Hu's four-point policy speech on Taiwan, which set the tone for the Anti-Secession Law, shows he does not want a military solution,' said Professor Yang.
He noted the law, which clearly states the State Council and the Central Military Commission will be responsible for waging a war against Taiwan, was in the interests of Mr Hu as well as others in the leadership.
'The law will help Mr Hu avoid having to make the decision about whether, in his capacity as the top leader, to go to war with Taiwan,' he said.
'Unlike Jiang Zemin , Mr Hu has noticed the international community's influence on the Taiwan issue, especially that of the United States.'
