Yesterday, the Taoiseach Micheál Martin arrived in China for a five day diplomatic mission. The last time a sitting Taoiseach visited China was Enda Kenny’s trip to China in 2012. Though Martin’s stated purpose in China is to encourage further trade between the eastern behemoth and Ireland, his trip comes amidst speculation as to the Taoiseach’s post-Fianna Fáil future.
Since the Jim Gavin fiasco in the Presidential Election last year, Martin has been on thin ice in his own party, particularly with regards to his alleged obfuscation of political responsibility for the debacle alongside Jack Chambers.
The Taoiseach has been criticised for his recent burst of frequent travels, with some commentators suggesting Martin’s absence from the country is being used conveniently to shield him from dissent within his party ranks. However, Micheál’s newfound responsibilities abroad have backfired, as he leaves Jim O’Callaghan as de facto Taoiseach in his stead. This has effectively shown Fianna Fáil a future out of the political quagmire which Martin brought it into.
Regardless, the public cannot confirm whether or not Martin is exercising his duties as Taoiseach or is instead shopping for a new job, but we can certainly suspect the embattled Fianna Fáil leader is searching for an exit strategy given his recent diplomatic globetrotting.
Oddly, in Martin’s meeting with Xi Jinping, the two bonded over their shared love of the novel The Gadfly written by Irish author Ethel Voynich. Published in 1897, the book later became popular with communists in the twentieth century for its depiction and romanticisation of revolution.
Xi’s care for the novel in his youth is unsurprising, as a then-supporter, now leader, of a revolutionary communist state, the book’s message finds a natural home in his socialist ideology. Martin’s interest on the other hand, is frankly strange and out of character for the erstwhile centrist of centrists.
Aside from his foray into literature, Martin’s meeting with Xi Jinping will certainly draw attention, especially given its spontaneity. Its safe to say in the current geopolitical climate, Martin’s mission to the Forbidden City will certainly draw the interest of the Trump administration in Washington.
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