But the slippery slope of cross-strait relations is something even he is finding hard to navigate.
That was basically the consensus that allowed a cross-strait dialogue to proceed from 1992 onward.
And so the cross-strait agreements may prove to be the more far-reaching for Taiwan.
Since taking office in 2008, Mr Ma has worked hard to improve cross-strait ties.
ECONOMIST: America balances old commitments with new priorities
However, the representative of Taiwan, Koo Chen-fu, says he will not discuss cross-strait issues.
In fact, Washington has been trying to nudge Taipei toward cross-strait talks leading eventually to reunification.
He is a liberal in economic reform and a moderate in terms of cross-strait relations.
Missile deployment by Taiwan would ratchet the cross-strait arms race up by several notches.
It was a truly local election in which cross-strait issues hardly rated a mention.
Already, with no direct links yet allowed, cross-strait trade is growing by over 30% a year.
China's measured response seemed to confirm growing expectations that 1998 could see some improvement in cross-strait ties.
His reputation as an international statesman would surely suffer if a cross-strait drama interfered with those plans.
ECONOMIST: Taiwan's flexibility has not been rewarded by China
Public opinion in Taiwan on how the government should approach cross-strait relations has, in fact, remained fairly consistent.
It hopes Mr Zhang will continue his predecessor's initiative on making "fair and reasonable arrangements" for cross-strait political reconciliation.
Anything of that sort would certainly be reported and affect the cross-Strait relations.
Singapore may also be playing the role of conduit between the cross-strait rivals.
The accords on cross-strait transportation give China's leaders a chance to show hardline nationalists that their tactics are working.
Others will allow a sharp expansion in direct cross-strait flights and improve co-operation in fighting crime and repatriating fugitives.
Mr Lee may fear the leverage that Taiwan's economic dependence supposedly gives China, but the cross-strait ties benefit Taiwan greatly.
Trade Minister Wu Yi has called for the expansion of cross-strait commerce.
Meantime, Chen is trying to forge a "cross-party consensus" on cross-strait ties.
And without its long-planned gesture, progress on cross-strait ties would be harder.
They believe that Taiwan has thrived without cross-strait talks, and that the potential pitfalls of negotiating are greater than the possible gains.
He also supports doing away with cross-Strait restrictions on travel and investment.
But the law Mr Hu has crafted should avoid serious harm to cross-strait economic ties, which, after all, are vital to China's coastal regions.
Among other things, Chen promised not to promote Lee Teng-hui's "state-to-state" notion and to retain the National Reunification Guidelines, which call for eventual cross-strait reunion.
Cross-strait relations have improved since Mr Ma assumed office in 2008, but he has come under criticism for getting too close to China, correspondents say.
Knowing that, the main candidates in the election on March 18th have been competing at least until this week to sound conciliatory, promising to expand cross-strait ties.
Soldiers will continue to have an important say in cross-strait matters.
And when the warning was repeated in Hong Kong, it was even more unsettling, since the Chinese seemed to be dragging that territory into cross-strait politics.
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