As most of the world applauds last week's historic meeting of the leaders of the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, cynical remarks by Tsai Ing-wen, head of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), have exposed her and her party's ideological rigidity and disregard for people's will.
On Nov. 7, Xi Jinping and Ma Ying-jeou met and shook hands in Singapore in the first meeting between leaders of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait since 1949, making it a day to remember for all Chinese.
Yet ever since the meeting was announced, Tsai has been making inconstant and paradoxical remarks out of her selfish intention of serving her and her party's interests in the upcoming leadership election, at the expense of Taiwan's development and people's well-being.
On Nov. 4, Tsai described the planned meeting between Xi and Ma as a "surprise attack" and "damaging to Taiwan's democracy."
However, heeding public opinion on both sides of the Strait and internationally, Tsai then said she would not rule out meeting with the mainland leader herself, if she was elected as leader of Taiwan.
Things changed again after Nov. 7. Tsai claimed the meeting "limited people's choices on future cross-Strait relations" and said she was "disappointed" and "angry."
Have the DPP and Tsai ever really looked forward to peaceful exchanges across the Taiwan Strait? From what they have said and done, the answer starting with the letter N just can't be more obvious.
It has been acknowledged that Xi and Ma's landmark coming-together turned a page in cross-Strait relations, ushering in new space for development. It lifted cross-Strait communication to a new level, paving the way for more dialogue and cooperation to achieve win-win results that benefit the people.
Daring not speak out against the meeting while worrying about its impact on her election campaign, Tsai was only able to repeat her trick of slander, defaming the event as a "black-box operation."
She has done nothing but embarrass herself. All her efforts have been in vain as media worldwide witnessed the moment for what it was and left no space for evil talk.
The DPP claims to be the party representing the island. However, Tsai has turned a deaf year to Taiwanese applause for the Xi-Ma meeting.
Several opinion polls in Taiwan have showed supporters outnumbered critics of the meeting.
Therefore, questions must be and have been raised. Are the DPP and Tsai really capable of representing Taiwanese people? Have they ever tried to listen to the voice of Taiwan's majority? Are they acting in accordance with people's will?
Leaders from both sides have confirmed the 1992 Consensus as the common political ground and vowed to stick to the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, in sharp contrast to Tsai's stance of not acknowledging the consensus and the DPP's principle of "maintaining the status quo" on ties between the mainland and Taiwan.
Public support for the meeting has caught Tsai in an awkward situation. No wonder she reacted to it like it was a thorn in her flesh.
However, Tsai and her party should realize the real thorn has always been, not a meeting boosting stability and development, but their pursuit of Taiwanese independence. No political party can succeed if it keeps running against people's will and historic trends.
Tsai and her fellow DPP members should do themselves a favor and distance themselves from the independence movement for the future of Taiwan and for their own good.
