Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou has rightly sought closer relations with the mainland. But that does not mean his aspirations have the full backing of his island's people. A huge anti-Beijing rally on Saturday and the assault last week of a high-ranking mainland official are reminders that for all the progress, the issue of cross-strait ties remains sensitive.
Mr Ma and his Kuomintang party won the presidency with a clear majority in elections in March, but he was by no means handed an unencumbered mandate. When he took the presidency in May with the forced retirement of his pro-independence predecessor, Chen Shui-bian of the Democratic Progressive Party, the nature of cross-strait ties could not take an immediate 180-degree turn. Yet that is what would appears to have been sought as talks with Beijing took a front seat. Within two months, the first direct passenger flights in six decades were touching down and mainland tourists began pouring into the island. Mr Ma had hoped that the thawing of relations with the mainland would breathe life into the island's moribund economy and boost his standing. Instead, his popularity has since plummeted.
Closer economic and social ties are in the interests of Beijing and Taipei; they will smooth the path to inevitable integration. When that comes about is a matter for negotiations, though. Throughout, those involved have to be mindful of the political climate in Taiwan. Recent developments prove that the process was moving forward too quickly for a substantial number of Taiwanese who are staunch supporters of the pro-independence DPP. Divisions within the party grew amid allegations of money laundering and embezzlement against Mr Chen and his family. But despite his now having left office and the cases moving into high gear, there is still a significant sector of the population that opposes the idea of reunification. Mr Chen was greeted warmly when he joined Saturday's march.
Helping drive the opposition is the finding of the industrial chemical melamine in milk products from the mainland. The scandal has been picked up by some opponents as a good reason for the island to remain separate. Mr Ma sought to allay concerns yesterday, saying in a speech in the Taiwanese dialect that he would 'listen carefully to the voice of the people and put them on top of the government's agenda'. Beijing has to do its part by taking decisive steps to ensure the safety of its goods and not move too forcefully.
Showing just how vehement the opposition is in some quarters, Zhang Mingqing , the vice-chairman of the mainland's quasi-official Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, was chased then pushed to the ground and punched by DPP supporters in the city of Tainan last Tuesday. The outrage has caused safety concerns for a visit expected next week by the association's chairman, Chen Yunlin . Officials called the attack an isolated incident; isolated or not, it highlights the need for caution and care in dealing with cross-strait issues. Without these, bridges that have been so painstakingly built can be easily pulled down.
Strained ties between Beijing and Taipei under eight years of Mr Chen's rule have been replaced by great warmth. Closer business and tourism links will top the agenda at the forthcoming second round of talks. But negotiators must pay heed to the concerns of Taiwanese in making deals. They have to keep to promises that politics be kept out of the discussions and balanced steps be taken with relation to trade and investment. Throughout, time and care is of the essence.
