More than six months have passed since the presidential election in Taiwan. After a hiatus of eight years, the Kuomintang is in power. This actually represents the restoration of the mainland-lineage forces for the first time in 20 years — if you count the Lee Teng-hui era as rule by non-mainland-lineage forces.

As no one can see what lies ahead, we have been keeping a close eye on things with bated breath. In particular, there were worries about what would happen after the summer of 2008 when China's hands, which had been tied by the Olympics, were freed.

Nothing has occurred; nor is there any sign of negotiations for a peace agreement. In fact, the statement by Ma Ying-jeou, the current president, that a condition for a peace agreement is the removal of missiles from the other side of the Taiwan Strait is still being quoted in Taipei. What has led to this?