Shirk stressed that the United States is more than happy to see the recent improvement in the cross-strait relations because it will not only lower the possibility of a cross-strait military confrontation but also contribute to the establishment of a constructive Washington-Beijing-Taipei relationship.

Shirk's comments should be welcomed by all concerned as a refreshing spring breeze.

It is indeed pleasing to see the quick and steady warming up of cross-strait relations recently as demonstrated by Taiwan's participation in the meeting of the World Health Assembly (WHA), an important agency of the United Nations, for the first time in decades, the numerous exchanges of visits made by top leaders from both sides of the Taiwan Straits and the surge of tourists from the...