What does the rest of the world know that our opposition parties don't?
MADIBA'S announcement this week that we would be ending diplomatic relations with Taiwan and embracing the People's Republic of China took me by surprise.
Pleasantly surprised, I must add. I didn't think the ANC would have the guts to go through with it. After their first 1000 days in office spent pussyfooting around the globe, this is a decisive step that needs to be applauded.
Not that I'm a friend of the PRC. The blood that flowed on Tiannemen Square is still too fresh. Their illegal occupation of Tibet still grates.
But the history of Taiwan is no cleaner. It was a state forged in blood with the backing of the western world under the banner of combating communism. It's claim to legitimacy is no more than that of Bophuthatswana during apartheid. And Taiwan was a friend of apartheid.
China's history is closely linked with that of ours and of India. After the British East India Company took possession of India, they moved on to China where they discovered a strong feudal society under Emperor Qianlong.
England bought Chinese silk, tea, porcelain, textiles, and other manufactured goods. But the Chinese were not interested in buying English goods.
The Brits, needing something to trade, did the honourable thing they took to drug smuggling. Opium was produced by the Brits in India and exported to China where it had been banned since 1729.
The first shipment arrived in 1781. By 1838, China was importing 2500 tons of opium per year 57% of all imports.
The Chinese finally retaliated in 1838, seizing and burning 20 000 chests of opium. The Brits responded by declaring war and inflicting a crushing defeat on the Chinese.
Out of this came the treaty of 1842 which called for payment of 21 million silver dollars to the Brits for opium destroyed and war expenses, surrender of Hong Kong to Britain, and British subjects exempt from Chinese law. The Americans followed up with their own treaty in 1844 with similar provisions.
By the end of the 19th Century, foreigners controlled the ports, customs service, postal system, shipping, railroads, and telegraph.
Chinese labourers -- the original "coolies" -- were shipped off in large numbers to work the mines and plantations of Malaysia, New Caledonia, and the United States. Large numbers of Chinese died constructing the great railroads of the US.
The Kuomintang -- that's "National People's Party" to you, Mr Rajbansi -- was founded in 1912 under the leadership of Sun Yatsen. They set up a seat of government in Canton as opposition to the official government in Peking, but did not wield real power.
After World War I, Sun moved to Peking to prepare for democratic elections, but died of cancer leaving the Kuomintang in the hands of Chiang Kaishek.
In 1927, the Chinese Communist Party led a workers' insurrection against rulers in Shanghai and stood by waiting for liberation with help from Chiang.
Instead, Chiang turned against the Communists and a bloody massacre ensued, killing most of the commies. It made him a favourite of the west.
As a result, young Mao Tsetung broke with the labour movement, believing that a military victory could only be driven by peasants. He founded the concept of guerrilla warfare.
By the end of World War 2, Chiang's troops were rearmed by the Americans and airlifted throughout China in a bid to defeat Mao. Some 60 000 US Marines were sent to assist Chiang.
Even so, by 1949, almost all of China -- and the American arms -- were in Mao's hands. Chiang fled to the island of Formosa where he massacred some 20000 natives and established the "Republic of China" which we today know as "Taiwan".
Two undemocratic societies, both forged in blood. The wrinkle is that Taiwan held elections last year for the first time. China is still a one-party state.
But Taiwan's future is that of China. The leaders of modern Taiwan recognise this. Unification must come eventually. The return of Hong Kong to China next year is the first step in this direction.
By continuing trade and cultural links with Taiwan while establishing diplomatic links with China, South Africa can be a constructive part of the dialogue, and a model for reconciliation.