Moreover, people in Taiwan have responded positively toward the improvement of cross-Straits relations. Opinion polls in Taiwan show the easing of cross-Straits relations has been one of the greatest achievements of Ma Ying-jeou's authorities so far.

Obstacles

Despite the growing momentum for better cross-Straits relations, the realization of lasting peace in the Taiwan Straits still has to face complicated factors.

The United States and Japan haven't abandoned their strategy of "using Taiwan to contain China." The detrimental effects of this are significant. Although the United States has put few barriers to cross-Straits economic and social exchanges in place, it remained active in interfering with cross-Straits dialogues in political, military and security fields. The United States is trying to influence Taiwan's political landscape and Taiwan authorities' policies through upgrading communication levels between itself and Taiwan, continuing its arms sales and supporting Taiwan's bid for greater international space.

The capacity of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to undermine the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations is not to be ignored. During the past year, the DPP has launched several anti-government demonstrations with "safeguarding Taiwan's sovereignty" as their theme. The DPP also condemned the Ma authorities' policies of opening up to the mainland as "selling out Taiwan" and exaggerated the ECFA's negative impacts on the island. The DPP's small-margin victories in local elections at the end of 2009 have added to its strength to challenge the Ma authorities' mainland policies.

Influenced by these factors, the development path of cross-Straits relations is bumpy. The Ma authorities have retreated from its original stance toward cross-Straits political negotiations due to the pressure from the United States and the DPP and its supporters. The mainland and Taiwan haven't opened political dialogue, making the prospects of signing a peaceful agreement complicated. Worse still, the Ma authorities, in concession to "Taiwan independence" forces, approved the Dalai Lama to visit Taiwan in August and September, which, to a certain extent, undermined trust between the mainland and Taiwan.

The author is a researcher at the Institute of Taiwan Studies, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences