Seize the opportunity to act in light of the circumstance

The visits paid successively by delegations led by Lien Chan and James Soong on invitations to the mainland have become an important event in the history of the development of relations between political parties on both sides of the Straits and of cross-Strait relations. All these have not only won high praises from people of various social circles at home and from abroad and touched off a "mainland heat" on the Island, but also have given great impetus to improvement in the overall atmosphere of cross-Strait relations, and created a historic opportunity signaling a change in the Taiwan Straits situation from previous antagonism and turbulence to reconciliation and cooperation, and peace and stability.

Such a trend of development in cross-Strait relations that all Chinese are glad to see is indeed a historical necessity and the direction of popular feeling. Despite the separation by the Straits, artificial obstruction and political disturbance in recent years, the blood-related affinity between compatriots on the two sides of the Straits has not been severed, mutual understanding is being continuously deepened, common interests are connected even more closely and the desire for mutual benefit, a win-win situation and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through concerted efforts has become ever-stronger. Developing cross-Strait relations and eventually realizing peaceful reunification are a historical tide no one can resist.

In March this year, President Hu Jintao put forth a "four-point opinion" on developing cross-Strait relations under the new circumstance, the Communist Party of China (CPC), standing on the high plane of national interests and the well-being of compatriots on both sides of the Straits, in the spirit of truly doing good and practical things for compatriots across the Straits and helping them solve their difficulties and with the largeness of mind, has continuously enriched and improved its policy toward Taiwan in a manner of keeping pace with the times, and has done its utmost to fuse cross-Strait affinity, and improve and develop cross-Strait ties.

"Taiwan independence" forces are naturally not reconciled to such a development trend and have thus far attempted to obstruct and damage it. In the past few years, "Taiwan independence" countercurrent once ran rampant in Taiwan, the achievement of "speaking hegemony" makes it seem that with the big label of "betraying Taiwan by uniting with the Communist Party" in their own hands, they could suppress any different voices and twist Taiwan consciousness into "Taiwan independence consciousness". However, as the tide cannot be resisted, popular will cannot be cheated. Since last year, people on the Island have been aspiring after stability, demanding the abandonment of the radical "Taiwan independence" line, hoping for an early realization of all-round, direct and two-way "three direct links" (direct mail, trade, and air and shipping services), and there has been ever-louder voice for relaxation and stability in cross-Strait relations, which has converged into a powerful popular-will pressure, forcing the political force on the Island to make corresponding policy adjustment.

The mainland has tightly seized the opportunity and act in light of the circumstance. Since the beginning of the year, it has actively promoted chartered flights for Taiwan businesspeople during the Spring Festival, bringing about a historic progress for the cross-Strait aviation industry to realize "two-way, direct and non-stop" flight for the first time; it has sent people to pay a special trip to Taiwan to condole with former SEF (Straits Exchange Foundation) Chairman Mr. Koo Chen-fu, so as to express mainland compatriots' tribute to Mr. Koo himself and respects for Taiwan compatriots; the mainland has taken the initiative to express that it would adopt active measures to expand the sales of Taiwan agricultural products on the mainland, which was warmly welcomed by fraternal Taiwan farmers. The invitation extended by the mainland to KMT Vice-chairman Chiang Pin-kung for a mainland visit, in particular, aroused very active and positive repercussion in the Island, bringing a spell of springtime warmth to the Taiwan Straits, thus paving the way for Lien-Soong mainland visits.

At present, the development of cross-Strait relations is at a crucial moment. Whether or not cross-Strait exchanges will usher in a new round of upsurge and whether cross-Strait relations can shake off the strange circle of vicious cycle and bring about a situation of lasting peace and stability still depends on the common efforts of all Chinese and various social circles on both sides of the Straits. People are waiting to see where other political forces on the Island and Taiwan authorities will go. While meeting with James Soong, Hu Jintao reiterated: We welcome the leader of Taiwan authorities if he can put in efforts in the direction of accepting the one-China principle. As long as the leader of Taiwan authorities does not stick to the private interests of one single party, but rather sincerely proceed from the vital interests of the Taiwan public, he should get a clear understanding of the situation and promptly grasp the opportunity to make a historic choice.

The above article is printed on the front page of People's Daily Overseas Edition on May 20 and translated by People's Daily Online