Speaking across the strait

摘要

Chen Shui-bian, Taiwan's president, had said that his National Day address on October loth would be an "important" overture to China. But although some of it did indeed appear conciliatory, much was not. As Taiwan gears up for yet another round of elections-this time for the legislature in December—neither the president nor the Chinese across the strait are in a mood for big concessions. Mr Chen has many audiences to play to: an angry and anxious China that sees Taiwan drifting towards independence, ardent supporters of his pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) who want nothing to do with the Chinese, others in Taiwan who fear a dangerous conflict is looming and foreign officials who worry that he is a maverick who could drag the United States into war. On the eve of Mr Chen's speech, President Jacques Chirac of France said during a visit to Beijing that tensions in the Taiwan strait were worsening. Any challenge to the balance (ie, moves by Mr Chen to assert formal independence) would be, he said, "very dangerous and detrimental to everyone".