HONOLULU -- The unprecedented direct flights between Taiwan and China during the Chinese New Year holiday period and Beijing's dispatch of two senior Chinese representatives to Taiwan for the memorial service of Koo Chen-fu -- who conducted breakthrough cross-strait dialogue a decade ago under the now disputed and frequently redefined "1992 consensus" -- finally suggests some progress in cross-strait relations. So why, then, does Beijing feel it necessary to pursue antisecession legislation aimed at Taiwan?
The simple answer seems to be China's continuing deep distrust of Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian. It had its genesis in Chen's surprise re-election in March 2004 and received added impetus last fall when Beijing's experts -- like most Taiwan-watchers, not to mention Chen himself -- were predicting victory for the ruling coalition in the December 2004 Legislative Yuan (LY) elections.
By the time the outcome presented a more pleasant surprise, the new law had already gained too much momentum to be abandoned.