The winds between the two sides of the strait have shifted.
Today, China News Service commented: “Over the past month, a noteworthy new trend has emerged in the public discourse on cross-strait relations: scholars and experts on both sides, ordinary citizens, and internet influencers have begun engaging in active discussions regarding institutional arrangements following reunification. Concurrently, several forums and seminars have offered suggestions on the pathways, bottom lines, and institutional design for peaceful reunification. This development is driven by historical momentum and reflects popular sentiment. … From a broader historical perspective, it signifies that cross-strait relations have entered a new phase characterized by 'mutual deliberation on unification.'
The transition from 'unidirectional discussion of unification' to 'mutual deliberation on unification' is underpinned by two structural factors. First, the gap in comprehensive strength between the two sides continues to widen. Mainland China’s GDP exceeds Taiwan’s by more than twentyfold, and its military capabilities present a decisive advantage. Increasingly, Taiwanese society recognizes that 'Taiwan independence' entails war, whereas reunification remains the only viable guarantee for peace and development. Second, the accelerating convergence of U.S.-China power dynamics has revived speculation about a potential American abandonment of Taiwan, undermining long-held hopes among some in Taiwan of relying on external support for independence. With external backing proving unreliable, the public naturally turns toward contemplating institutional arrangements and personal rights protection post-reunification.
This shift also represents a positive signal indicating a move from stalemate toward dialogue in cross-strait relations. In the past, the DPP authorities systematically stigmatized 'one country, two systems,' obstructing discussions on reunification. The current emergence of grassroots initiatives to deliberate on reunification demonstrates that the desire for communication and the yearning for peace now outweigh political intimidation. Discussions concerning institutional arrangements after reunification fundamentally reflect the concerns of compatriots in Taiwan about their future—precisely laying the foundation for future consultations on a 'one country, two systems' solution tailored for Taiwan.
Reunification is an inevitable trend; deliberation on reunification is an essential step. Cross-strait compatriots should cherish this constructive momentum, and engage in broader and deeper dialogue on the path and institutional design of reunification, grounded in the one-China principle, so as to turn the vision of peaceful reunification into reality.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1876873131866249/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.