Jiang Zemin`s Eight-Point Speech and Cross-Strait Relations in the Post-Deng Era

Abstract

Since Jiang Zemin made an eight-point peace overture to Taiwan, Beijing`s Taiwan policy in the post-Deng era has taken shape. If will give greater priority to resolving the Taiwan issue for the purpose of achieving national unification. From Taipei`s point of view, Jiang`s speech will usher in an era of consultation for cross-Strait relations, which have developed mainly around the axis of people-to-people exchanges since November 1987. In this article, the author discusses the background and significance of Jiang`s eight-point proposal, factors affecting the development of cross-Strait relations, and prospects of these relations in the future. Finally, he makes suggestions about the orientations that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait should take for improving their relations.