Xi again demonstrates his shrewdness with historic Taiwan meet

IT was heralded as an historic moment, and we think the description is entirely appropriate. The meeting in Singapore on Saturday between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou was the first time the heads of state of the two countries have ever met, and even though no agreements were made or long-standing political questions resolved, the brief, carefully choreographed encounter will have a profound impact on the region and the rest of the world.

And even though the meeting can be considered a diplomatic victory for Taiwan’s Ma, it was nothing less than a tour de force for his mainland counterpart. In one brief moment, Xi Jinping cemented his place as the most powerful contemporary leader in this hemisphere, and the most influential leader of China since Mao Zedong. While that reality may not be entirely favorable for the Philippines and other countries with relations with China that are to some degree problematic, we cannot help but be impressed by what Xi accomplished.