With the escalating hostility between China and the U.S. and Taiwan Strait being in a potential war situation, Kuomintang (KMT), after the closing of its controversial National Congress, suddenly announced that Wang Jin-Pyng, the former President of the Legislative Yuan, will be leading a team to take part in the Straits Forum, organized by the CCP, at the end of September, which has caused an uproar.

It is well known that Straits Forum, entering its 12th year, is the biggest platform of the CCP united front towards Taiwanese grassroots, especially in 2017 when Yu Zhengsheng, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the time, suggested “one generation and one stratum” (the young generation and the grassroots) to replace “three middles and the youth” (residents of central and southern Taiwan, middle- and low-income families and small- and medium-sized enterprises) as the main target of united front towards Taiwan. Straits Forum, under the banner of “communication with grassroots,” claims to have attracted over 10,000 of participants every year, it would seem this is the laboratory for the CCP to test how well the united front is doing towards Taiwanese grassroots.

We won’t talk about the nature of Straits Forum, but what we are curious about is, why do KMT and Wang Jin-Pyng insist on going to this event even though the pandemic has not yet calmed down? And what are the government, that is the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the CCP officials, the Forum organizer, thinking? This Straits Forum is actually a game linked with all red, blue and green which involves their own calculations.

Firstly, with KMT, which has to be separated between the party central led by Johnny Chiang and the Straits Forum team leader Wang Jin-Pyng. In Chiang’s perspective, after him making a discourse about cross-strait policy at the KMT National Congress suggesting “1992 consensus with Republic of China’s Constitution as the core,” if KMT is still able to attend the Straits Forum and meet Wang Yang, the Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee for dialogues, that would imply Beijing “does not object” Chiang’s discourse.

This would make Chiang feeling good about himself, thinking, on one hand, he can compete with the traditional blue camp discourse led by Ma Ying-jeou, on the other hand, he could prove to the Taiwan society, especially the blue camp supporters) that, KMT ruled by Chiang can still converse and communicate with Beijing, which can distinguish the markets of KMT’s cross-strait policy and that of the DPP.

But KMT seems to have completely ignored the fact that, at this stage of international and cross-strait situations, whether one can interact with Beijing or not is no longer important; what important is how to be capable of saying no to Beijing, bravely and with dignity. Therefore, while KMT thinks it is trying to “make peace with China,” it has been labeled red as “pro-China,” which is not surprising at all.

In Wang Jin-Pyng’s perspective, his wanting to use cross-straits affairs to rise again is already an open secret. By leading a team to take part in Straits Forum, ambitiously he could cross both blue and green parties, that’s why he said he is “willing to report to President Tsai Ing-wen before and after the visit,” as if he has been authorized by her and that he is the “cross-strait mediator,” he might even use this as his chips to compete for the prestigious position of the Chairman of Straits Exchange Foundation; passively he could still fight to have the right to speak within KMT on the cross-strait matters and let the battle between Ma and Wang go onto extra time, or even extend his political influence within KMT through working with Chiang.

But Wang’s plan of being the “cross-strait mediator” has gone down the drain after the President Office refuted “no need to report” and CCTV of Beijing set the tone “KMT is coming for peace.” The “mediator” has become the most embarrassed “victim” instead.

In the DPP government’s perspective, Taiwan as one of the stakeholders of China-U.S. hostility, the restrained, disciplined and non-provocative policy characteristics of President Tsai has once again been completely revealed while making a decision on Wang’s participation of the Straits Forum: on one hand, she has to show her stance of protecting the sovereignty and anti-China united front, therefore before Straits Forum was even confirmed to take place, the Mainland Affairs Council has already announced three orders and five declarations this year: ban Straits Forum to organize any related activities in Taiwan; ban any staff from central offices to take part, and ban participating in the Republic of China extinguishing “democratic consultation” and promote “one country two systems Taiwan proposal.” This shows the government has been extremely careful due to China-U.S. hostility and the weird atmosphere cross-strait.

But on the other hand, Tsai has tried to give a “silent goodwill” signal across the Strait, therefore very rarely, the President Office has actively “confirmed” Tsai has seen Wang last month, which allows Beijing to understand Wang’s participation of the Straits Forum.

Lastly, let’s see it from Beijing’s perspective. This year’s Straits Forum actually is much more of propaganda than a united front. Firstly, it is to promote the CCP’s success in fighting the pandemic: not only can it host a grand event “COVID-19 pandemic hero awards ceremony” at the Great Hall of the People, it can also continue to host the cross-strait’s Straits Forum, and has KMT joining the event and helping with the propaganda to prove “fighting the pandemic” has been recognized and supported by “all walks of life in Taiwan.”

Secondly, it is to promote the success of the CCP’s Taiwan policy and that KMT is “standing on the right side,” therefore it will “rise up and return” during the tense China-U.S. hostility, and let others believe there are actually still many people in Taiwan supporting the “peace with China and anti-U.S.” route; thirdly, it is to promote its success on “grassroots communication” towards Taiwan, especially it has invited Wang, believed to be popular and with strong power in the grassroots, which is a stronger proof that Straits Forum has already “successfully moved” the Taiwanese grassroots.

Despite all of that, Beijing knows very well Wang is just a promotion placard of Straits Forum. How can it let Wang call the shots and do what he wants? That’s why when Wang was trying to create the “cross-strait mediator” image, Beijing virtually slapped Wang and KMT across the face through CCTV and to tell him “who is the boss who set the rules of the game.”

This year’s Straits Forum has not even officially started, sparks are already flying among the red, blue and green side. Who will have the upper hand on this game? We will find that out next week.

(Arthur Wang Zhin-sheng, secretary-general of Asia-Pacific Elite Interchange Association.)

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