The Dalai Lama is currently visiting Taiwan offering comfort and guidance to victims of the devastating Typhoon Morakot that hit the island earlier this month. He praised Taiwanese democracy and said the island should preserve it. The visit by the Tibetan spiritual leader is highly controversial as it might harm the improving ties between China and Taiwan. The Dalai Lama has visited Taiwan twice, also meeting the then presidents Lee Teng-hui and Chen Shuibian. But this time, incumbent Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou will try to avoid the Dalai Lama as he struggles to stay impartial.

Local leaders from the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) invited the Tibetan spiritual leader to pray for the typhoon victims. The Dalai Lama also visited Hsiaolin village where it is believed a landslide triggered by the typhoon buried more than 500 people.

Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou from the National Party, or KMT, allowed the Dalai Lama to visit Taiwan after coming under political pressure domestically. He was criticized of reacting too slowly and inefficiently after Typhoon Morakot devastated the island’s south.

While the Taiwanese government has kept the visit low key, claiming that it has a non-political character, there are voices who say the Dalai Lama has been used by the DPP.

Dalai Lama "used by opposition"

"He was used as an instrument by the DPP simply because the DPP is in deep trouble in Taiwan. It was to revitalise the DPP", says Tang Shaocheng from National Chengchi University, a political science university based in Taipei. As Beijing is watching Ma Ying-jeou’s policy closely, the DPP has tried to create a dilemma for Taiwan’s president.

Tang thinks that Ma Ying-jeou will not gain from any end. "Vis-à-vis DPP he is a loser, vis-à-vis Beijing he also is a loser. On the political side I don’t think he has gained anything", he says.

The visit to Taiwan by the Dalai Lama brings into sharp focus two of China’s most sensitive claims – Tibet and Taiwan, which China considers as a breakaway province. Therefore the Dalai Lama’s visit has struck a raw nerve.

KMT, Beijing want to maintain good relations

Beijing has protested against the Dalai Lama’s trip, regarding the Dalai Lama as a separatist trying to split China. But Chinese officials have only blamed the pro-independence DPP – and not the ruling KMT – for provoking an escalation in cross-strait relations. Beijing knows that the KMT, which has been working hard to improve relations after coming back to power, is a better partner.

Lin Zhongbin, professor for strategic studies at Tamkang University explains, "the long term interest of Beijing is reunification. If the 2012 elections were held today, Ma would lose it. And if Ma is not re-elected in 2012, the prospect of unification is further postponed into the unknown future."

And Ma Ying-jeou does not want to jeopardize the progress in cross-strait relations either. After decades of a diplomatic ice-age between the two parties both sides have improved their diplomatic relations, after the KMT’s victory of the elections in 2008. Both sides’ economies are deeply interdependent – now more than ever. Lin Zhongbin says that Ma Ying-jeou reacted quickly to calm down the situation.

No long-term damage expected

"The only challenge for Ma is to smooth the relations with Beijing", says Lin. Ma dispatched a special envoy to Beijing prior to the Dalai Lama’s arrival to explain the political situation to Beijing. And he also lined up top political leaders in his party who have not always obeyed his orders. "But this time he said – none of you should receive the Dalai Lama. And they quickly stood in line behind him", says Lin.

Though China has decided not to attend the opening ceremony of a major sports event in Taipei on Saturday, both sides started regular flights on Monday, ending a six-year ban on direct flight connections. Despite China’s protests against the Dalai Lama’s visit, experts do not foresee any long-term damage to cross-strait relations.

Author: Chi Viet Giang
Editor: Grahame Lucas