ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a critical reading of the cross-Strait rapprochement during the Ma Ying-jiu era. Against the common characterization of the rapprochement as being ‘natural’, ‘normal’ and ‘necessary’, the author argues that it was the result of an organized effort made by capitalist forces in Taiwan to portray the normalization of economic exchanges across the Taiwan Strait as being in Taiwan’s general interest. This hegemonic project behind the rapprochement has been pursued by capitalist forces in conjunction with political elites with the aim of opening up the Chinese market for Taiwan’s enterprises. Rallying around the ‘1992 consensus’ as an ideological narrative that suggested a possible separation between economics and politics, they set up an institutional network of lobbying groups that promoted this narrative in Taiwan’s domestic discourse. To some extent, the hegemonic project was successful, securing the subaltern passivity of Taiwan’s farmers; however, the project failed to convince Taiwan’s youth, who felt that they had been betrayed by Ma Ying-jiu’s promised ‘rapprochement dividend’ and joined forces in the Sunflower Movement. While the Sunflower Movement was able to politicize the particular interests behind the rapprochement, the hegemonic apparatus that has been implemented over the years is now targeting the young Taiwanese.
