By Linda Jakobson, the Washington Quarterly , Summer 2005, pp.27-39

China needs a new approach to its most challenging dilemma: Taiwan’s unresolved future. Tensions across the Taiwan Strait continue to adversely affect China’s domestic and foreign agenda by diverting Beijing’s focus from modernization and impeding China’s aspirations to be viewed as a constructive and responsible world power. Taiwan continues to be the straw that could break the Chinese camel’s back.

Beijing has a golden opportunity to take a first step to fulfill its goal of reunification with Taiwan by utilizing the momentum generated by the historic visits of two Taiwanese opposition leaders to China in April and May 2005.

Linda Jakobson is director of the China Programme at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs and is based in Beijing.