Saturday was a historic moment in Chinese history. For the first time in that country's long past, the leader of the opposition party took power democratically and peacefully. The inauguration of Mr. Chen Shui-bian as president was celebrated -- and feared. The government in Beijing has made it clear that it expects the new president to explicitly renounce thoughts of independence for the island and to adhere to the "one-China" principle. In his inauguration speech, Mr. Chen went a long way to assuage Beijing's concerns. An opportunity for dialogue exists: Beijing should seize it.
Since emerging as a candidate for the presidency, Mr. Chen has been softening -- if not back-pedaling on -- his party's position on independence. The Democratic Progressive Party originally favored declaring independence. Since then, the party has changed its policy, striking the independence plank from its platform. It now says that it will leave such matters to a popular referendum.
During the campaign, Mr. Chen said that he would continue the status quo. In his inauguration address, he was more explicit still. "As long as the Chinese Communist Party regime has no intention to use military force against Taiwan, I pledge that during my term in office I will not declare independence," said the new president. Moreover, he promised to not change the national title, to not push for the inclusion of the "state-to-state" description in the constitution, and to not promote a referendum to change the status quo on the question of independence or unification. Finally, he said that he would continue to use the National Reunification Guidelines that had been set up by and guided the former Nationalist government.