How to reconcile between China and Taiwan

The China-Taiwan situation is a big political mess, based on years of built up emotions and complicated interactions. No Taiwanese or Chinese that I've met, of the few I was able to discuss this with, sees any kind of solution to this difficult problem without some sort of crisis happening sooner or later.

The US has been trying for years to walk the fine line between the two countries. The world's biggest and finest have failed to help ease this situation. Do you think it's hopeless?

No need to worry. Israel is here to solve everything! Israeli hutzpa-cheek breaks another record with one of the Israeli parliament members suggesting that Israel holds the key to a China-Taiwan reconciliation. Here's the piece from Jerusalem Post (bold not in text) :

Can Israel serve as a bridge between Taiwan and China? It certainly has good relations with both, and at least one Knesset member thinks Jerusalem could be the key to peace across the Taiwan Strait.

MK David Tal (Kadima), one of five legislators who visited Taiwan in September at the invitation of the Taiwanese government, said Israel was ready "to host a reconciliation meeting and even act as mediators" between China and Taiwan.

"At the moment, there's a situation in which China is in the United Nations and Taiwan is outside, and one cannot help but feel the tension between them," Tal told The Jerusalem Post. "I think with the correct kind of dialogue, Israel can play a role in reducing this tension. Unfortunately, we have had a lot of experience in such things."

Quite the statement. It's as if Israel has resolved all its regional problems, mastering the art of bridging political gaps and is now aiming to resolve all the other tensions of the world.

Here comes another shocking piece :

ALTHOUGH DIPLOMATIC meetings between Israeli and Taiwanese officials cannot take place in their respective countries, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert - whose paternal grandfather fled Russia to China and is buried in Harbin - is reported to have had at least two meetings with Taiwan's foreign minister, Mark Chen, in the United States last year, when he served as deputy premier under Ariel Sharon.

So that's how! The current Israeli prime minister has a Chinese family background and he's been talking to the Taiwanese president. That's got to be a first step towards something.

To sum it up, here are some more bits about the Taiwan-Israel relations. Seems like someone in Israel, or at least in Jerusalem Post, has an agenda that I totally support to see Taiwan and Israel become closer friends :

According to press reports in Taiwan, Taipei has purchased arms from Israel, despite Israel's military relationship with mainland China.

The reports claimed that Taiwan had bought missile boats and Kfir fighter jets from Israel, and even modeled its Tien Kung surface-to-air missile on Israel's Gabriel missile.  [...]

"We don't want war with China. We really hope that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait can sit down and talk soon," said Chih-Peng Huang, director-general of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, remarking that Taiwan derived inspiration from Israel (fiLi - ?!?).

Huang revealed that a meeting at the vice-ministerial level is to be held between Israel and Taiwan in Tel Aviv in December.

Thousands of Israelis visit Taiwan for business and pleasure every year, and Gamzou hosted a meeting in September with a dozen Israelis studying in the country. He said there was even a minyan at a local hotel every Shabbat and on Jewish holidays (fiLi - Huh?)

Asked for his view on the political situation in Taiwan, Gamzou called the issue of Taiwanese identity "complicated and fascinating."

There's one thing I can full-heartidly agree with:

"The Taiwanese people are lovely people, and very welcoming, especially to foreigners," he said. "They really embrace foreigners. It has to do with the local character. It has to do probably with the fact that due to international isolation, they feel that interaction with foreigners is important. But people are really nice here."

 
tags: China, Israel, Taiwan