Former Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian was released from prison on Monday on one-month medical parole. But the supporters that gathered outside to welcome him seem to suggest they took the release as an end to Chen's prison time after six years and 40 days. People would barely feel surprised if Chen's parole never ends.

This poses a challenge to Taiwan's rule of law. While Chen had long hoped to leave prison but failed, the situation changed after his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won the elections late last year. The voices calling for his release heightened and formed into tremendous pressure. Then Taiwan's law bowed to politics.

Ma Ying-jeou remains the leader of Taiwan, but he has lost real authority and the DPP acts as if it is already on the path to regaining power. The independence camp seems to be anxious to begin a new chapter in Taiwan's political landscape.

Chen's release does carry a certain significance, which is however bigger to Taiwan itself than its relations with the Chinese mainland.

When in office, Chen's radical advocacy for Taiwan's independence was squeezed by the mainland and led to the DPP's heavy defeat in the following elections. As Taiwan has changed dramatically, he is unable to regain support for his stance.

The mainland has to be politically prepared and meanwhile strategically confident to handle possible changes in the cross-Straits relationship.

We have to stay calm if many efforts from both sides, such as advancing the trade and service pact, slow down or even grind to a halt. We are able to withstand whatever changes happen to cross-Straits relations, including a reverse.

Cross-Straits cooperation is mutually beneficial but means much more to Taiwan than the mainland, given the different economic sizes. When the whole of Asia and even the world are eying the huge mainland market with an increasing number of free trade agreements signed, Taiwan is free to go if it wants to stay away from the mainland. But if Taiwan's independence forces regain momentum, don't forget the anti-secession law. The mainland is more powerful and determined in implementing the law than when Chen was in office.

Cross-Straits relations have much improved under the Kuomintang's leadership after they were severely strained when Chen led Taiwan. But the relationship is yet to be stabilized. It may take further setbacks to make any major consensus between the two sides clear and firm.

The mainland should be at ease to strive for the best but prepare for the worst. The effects of the mainland's favorable policies to appease Taiwan's impulse for independence will be overtaken by the mainland's growing strength. In this sense, pursuing our own development will facilitate our efforts to tackle relations with Taiwan.

In other words, it may not be undesirable if the failure of the service trade agreement widens the strength gap across the Straits. We have nothing to be concerned about.