A Brand New Year, Brand New Cross-Strait Relations
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) released an advertisement film on overcoming cross-strait obstacles, and urged mainland China to seize the opportunity to create a new era of cross-strait harmony in the coming lunar new year.
Favorable interactions have taken place between both sides of the Strait: The smooth implementation of the Lunar New Year charter flights for Taiwanese businessmen; and mainland China’s appointment of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) Vice Chairman, Sun Yafu, and Secretary-General, Li Yafei, to visit Taiwan to pay respect to the late Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman, Koo Chen-fu, on behalf of ARATS Chairman, Wang Daohan. Such interactions have resulted in new-found opportunities for improving cross-strait relations. The international community has also welcomed the signs of improving cross-strait relations. Today, the MAC launched a new advertisement film with the hope that, at the outset of a new year, the mainland Chinese authorities would not pass on this historical opportunity to foster cross-strait peace.
The release of this advertisement film is the firs for MAC since Chairman Jaushieh Joseph Wu assumed his current position. The film recounts a fallen tree in the middle of a road, which blocks two vehicles from passing through. One driver took an initiative to attempt moving the tree to the side of the road; then another driver who came and lent his helping hands. Finally, they were able to remove the obstacle together and continue on toward their intended destinations. The film symbolizes that as long as both sides of the Strait can “lay no preconditions, act pragmatically, set aside disputes, and express mutual respect,” they can solve problems together even in the face of difficulties and obstacles that lie across the Strait, and pave the way to an optimistic future.
The final scene of the film, “A Brand New Year, Brand New Cross-Strait Relations,” echoes the expectations of the public for an entirely new era of cross-strait relations in the coming year. At the same time, the film also conveys the Government’s effort in breaking the current stalemate by pursuing a win-win situation and formation of a new era across the Strait.
In releasing the film, the MAC expressed hope that mainland China will appreciate the current favorable atmosphere and actively resume cross-strait negotiations and dialogues. It also urges mainland China to cease the enactment of the Anti-Separation Law which is specifically targeted at Taiwan. The background music in the film, “Can you feel it coming on,” reflects the Taiwanese people’s optimistic anticipation of a constructive cross-strait relationship.
The advertisement film will be broadcasted on every television channel during periods devoted to public services. It has also been uploaded on the MAC website (http://www.mac.gov.tw/english/0201e.htm) for public viewing, so that the general public can jointly express their concern on cross-strait relations. Also, different sectors can gain a better understanding of the Government’s effort in promoting favorable cross-strait development.