Xi Jinping's Career Soared By Attracting Taiwan Investors

In 1985, then 32-year-old Xi Jinping became the vice mayor of Xiamen City, Fujian and gained his political heft there for 17 years by attracting Taiwanese investors, Katsuji Nakazawa wrote for Nikkei Asia.

Photo Insert: It is impossible these days to know where Xi's mind is really at as he continues to drum up domestic propaganda for war against Taiwan while seeking more investments from Taipei.

On the Xiamen side lies a set of massive, red Chinese characters that read, "One Country Two Systems Unite China," in line with a formula advocated by former paramount Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping.

On the island of Dadan, one of the Kinmen islets is a white signboard that calls for "Chinese unification" under "the Three Principles of the People" as advocated by Sun Yat-sen, a Chinese revolutionary often referred to as the "father of modern China."

The Three Principles of the People are nationalism, democracy and people's livelihood.

In 1999, as Fujian's acting governor, Xi said Taiwanese companies' legitimate interests would be guaranteed during a meeting with officials from Taiwanese firms investing in the province who were called "Taishang."

Then Taiwan president Lee Teng- Hui advocated his "two states" theory, describing cross-strait ties as "special state-to-state relations." China threatened military action, but Xi did not, knowing the value of Taishang's investments.

Today, it is impossible to know where Xi's mind is really at as he continues to drum up domestic propaganda for war against Taiwan while seeking more investments from Taipei.

The last time China went to war, Vietnam gave it a bloody nose and Beijing troops withdrew posthaste in 1979.

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