Just What is the Point?

China is engaged in a charm offensive toward the Taiwanese people. Tourism, sympathy for China's earthquake victims, business ties. Taiwan's Ma Ying-jeou campaigned on better relations with China, but what is the point?

Taiwan's president isn't satisfied with the military and diplomatic status quo despite the Chinese charm offensive:

Ma said China must address the issue of Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the World Health Organisation, and must remove the missiles deployed in recent years on China’s Fujian coast facing Taiwan. “There are more than 1,000 missiles targeting Taiwan. We cannot negotiate with China under military threat,” Ma said.

Ma will find that China is not interested in any steps that imply Chinese recognition of Taiwan or reduce the threat that China's military can pose to Taiwanese independence.

Missiles will remain pointed at Taiwan. And China will constrict Taiwan's international space as much as possible to deny Taiwan any semblance of internaional recognition.

So who exactly is being charmed by the Chinese?

And why are the Chinese bothering to charm the Taiwanese when Peking will not address Ma's concerns?

It is very odd.