China-Taiwan cautious detente?

The 15-member Taiwan delegation arrived in Geneva for the World Health Assembly over the weekend, the first time the island has participated in 38 years. This comes just a week after 100,000 Taiwanese protested President Ma Ying-jeou’s China friendly policies. Since the start of his presidency a year ago Ma has made it his priority to ease cross-strait trade relations, encouraging mainland tourism on the island and easing trade barriers for investment. This has not been met well and polls show 85 percent of the Taiwanese population oppose a communist leadership. Democratic Progressive Party official Lai Ching-Te says mainland acceptance of Taiwan’s participation at the WHA is a positive sign, but it has weakened Taiwan’s sovereignty,  because the island is attending as an observer  rather than a sovereign state. This is a view shared by much of the island. Meanwhile, a recent bid by China Mobile for a 12 percent stake of Taiwan’s Far EasTone Telecommunicatons will likely fall through as officials cite security reasons.

A health turn for Taiwan-China ties, Asia Times

Pres. Ma pledges to push for rapprochement with China, The China Post