Political foundation laid for dialogue, say analysts
Writing down the '1992 consensus' puts pressure on Taipei to accept it
The consensus reached between Hu Jintao and People First Party (PFP) chairman James Soong Chu-yu has helped lay a political foundation for the two sides of the strait to resume dialogue, say mainland analysts.
Xu Shiquan , senior fellow of the Institute of Taiwan Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the consensus reached earlier between Mr Hu, the president and Communist Party general secretary, and Kuomintang chairman Lien Chan was more about ending the hostility between their two parties and about economic concessions for Taiwan.
However, the communique issued yesterday focused more on politics, as it attempted to clarify the '1992 consensus' and make it a basis for future talks, Professor Xu said.
He said the move to put in writing the '1992 consensus' would put more pressure on Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian and his Democratic Progressive Party to acknowledge that a consensus had, in fact, been reached.
'Both the KMT and PFP do not dispute [the 1992 consensus]. It all depends on the DPP now,' Professor Xu said.
Still, he expects the DPP to continue quibbling about the so-called consensus.
At talks in Hong Kong 13 years ago, representatives of semi-official bodies from both sides are said to have agreed there is only 'one China' but that each side has its own interpretation of what that is.
The professor said the mainland was eager to hold talks with more political parties in Taiwan, including the DPP.
'We want to hold talks with as many political parties as possible, and we are looking forward to the day,' he said, when asked about the prospect of Mr Chen visiting the mainland.
He hinted the mainland was willing to give more concessions - and more room for Taiwan to participate in international organisations in addition to the World Health Organisation - as long as the island's government accepted the '1992 consensus'.
'Under the 'one China' principle, all is possible for negotiation,' he said.
Ruan Zongze , a vice-president of the China Institute of International Studies, said the mainland was hoping to highlight the common ground between the two sides and to put aside their differences by putting the '1992 consensus' in writing.
Winning over the people of Taiwan was also a big consideration for the mainland, he said.
'By presenting it clearly, it is easier to win the support of Taiwanese people.
'It is a move to clarify the political foundation [for the two sides to resume talks] and it makes it more difficult for people to demonise the '1992 consensus'.'
Chen Kongli , from Xiamen University's Taiwan Research Institute, was optimistic the new interpretation of the '1992 consensus' would be accepted by the Taiwanese authorities.
If Mr Chen was sincere about resuming dialogue with Beijing, he should have little difficulty accepting it, he said.
