IN TAIPEI
You know how it was very much the fashion for female stars to lock their lips in public a while ago, like Madonna and Britney or Stephanie Sun and Tanya Chua.
In Taiwan’s political circles, it is the fad these days for male politicians to grasp each other’s hands tightly, in what the media describes as "shi zhi jin kou" (ten fingers tightly interlocked).
Previously, the term was used mainly on celebrity couples caught holding hands in public by the paparazzi, such as Taiwan singer Annie Yi who was caught holding hands with actor Huang Weide, behind the back of her husband, singer Harlem Yu.
But Taiwan president Ma Ying-jeou got in on the act when he held the hand of Taipei City mayor Hau Lung-bin a few weeks ago, in a bid to quash rumours that they did not get along.
There has been talk that there is bad blood between the duo, as Mr Ma, who was Mr Hau’s predecessor as Taipei City mayor, had left behind problems for Mr Hau, like the malfunctioning Wen-hu mass rapid transit line and Maokong cable car system.
What did not help was that there was speculation that Mr Hau might be asked to lose the Taipei mayoral elections in December to the Democratic Progressive Party’s Su Tseng-chang in order to nullify the threat Mr Su would pose to Mr Ma’s re-election bid in 2012.
Thus, when both men interlocked their fingers in comradely fashion at a public event, much was made of how both were determined to underline that all was fine between them.
Subsequently, Mr Hau came in for much teasing at a publicity event for the opera Turandot, when he was asked why he did not hold hands with Taichung mayor Jason Hu, who was also present.
Mr Ma, though, did not shy away from locking fingers with another male colleague again, this time with Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng during a party to celebrate Mr Wang’s 70th birthday on Wednesday.
According to media reports, Mr Ma grasped Mr Wang’s hand tightly in a natural manner during the party.
Incidentally, Mr Ma and Mr Wang are said to have a less than amicable relationship dating back to 2006 when both were competing to be elected as Kuomintang chairman. Mr Ma had said some unpleasant things about Mr Wang back then, about how Mr Wang had links to local factions.
By interlocking their fingers, both men were perhaps looking to underline how that was all water under the bridge.
One consequence of all this hand holding is that the media is playing up every little touch. When Kuomintang secretary-general King Pu-tsung momentarily rested his hand on another male politician's thigh recently, this was deemed significant enough to be recorded in a news article.
Whatever one makes of this touchy-feely turn in Taiwan politics, it sure beats the pushing and shoving that goes on in the august chamber of the legislature from time to time!