China-Taiwan Peace Agreement Possible?

A Taiwan commentator has figured out how China and Taiwan can sign a peace agreement without China having to recognize Taiwan as a separate entity. Recognition is a big stumbling block, since China is determined to deny Taiwan any national government status.

It turns out that just as Deng Xiaoping wanted to get back Hong Kong before he died, China’s current leader Hu Jintao wants to solve the Taiwan problem before his term as party boss runs out. The Taiwan commentator, Joe Hung, notes the civil war that drove China’s Nationalists to Taiwan was a fight between two political parties—the Kuomintang (Nationalists) and the Communists—over who should rule China. Now, the solution is for the two feuding parties to sign a document agreeing to settle their differences peacefully (as do most other political parties).

Hu could sign for China in his capacity as party chief. On Taiwan’s side, the Kuomintang—which controls the government—would put the question before Taiwan’s people in a referendum. The referendum would pass, because Taiwan’s people want peace.

Would China go along? Joe points out that Hu met with Kuomintang leader Lien Chan in Beijing in 2005, and both pledged to work toward a peace agreement. The Taiwan peace agreement would trigger further steps toward reunification, steps blocked as long as Taiwan’s population fears China will settle reunification by force, instead of peacefully.

Joe doesn’t mention another point: Hu could tell the Chinese military and hardliners wary of dropping the use-of-force option that no party-to-party agreement carries the weight of an international treaty. In fact, though, easing the Taiwan population’s fear of invasion is the best way for China to move reunification forward.