Published: April 21, 2006
By: Shih Ying-ying
Source: Taiwan Journal
Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said April 16 that under China's continued use of the so-called "1992 consensus," there is no room for "different interpretations" of the meaning of "one China." The Cabinet-level council also accused China of trying to dupe the people of Taiwan as well as the international community with its "one China" principle under the guise of the "1992 consensus." The MAC made the comments in a press release in response to Chinese President Hu Jintao's suggestions for improving relations across the Taiwan Strait put forth during his most recent meeting with former Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan.
Addressing Lien and 100 or so Taiwanese industrialists at a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing April 16, Hu offered to hold political talks with the ROC government on an equal basis, conditional on President Chen Shui-bian's acceptance of the "1992 consensus." The offer followed an economic and trade forum held April 14-15 in Beijing between the leaders of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Taiwan's KMT. In the same speech, Hu claimed that only by insisting on the "1992 consensus" can cross-strait peace and development be realized.
During the one-hour meeting, however, neither Lien nor Hu clarified what the "1992 consensus" really meant, besides stressing its significance. Lien referred to the consensus at a post-meeting press conference as a concept understood by both the KMT and the CCP.
Besides criticizing Hu for sticking to an outdated and obstinate "one China" principle that leaves no room for interpretation, the MAC also blamed Lien for failing to ask Hu to clearly state whether the 1992 consensus means that Beijing recognizes the existence of the Republic of China, or at least does not deny it.
In 1992, negotiators from China and Taiwan's then-ruling KMT met in Hong Kong and reportedly agreed that each side could verbally indicate its acceptance of the "one China" principle while retaining the freedom to interpret said principle as it sees fit.
The ROC president and the ruling DPP have said recently that the "1992 consensus" is a fabricated term, and that such a consensus does not exist. They noted, however, that they would respect the proposition if Beijing will accept that the "1992 consensus" means "one China with different interpretations" instead of just simply "one China." On Hu's proposal to make "peace and development" the foundation of cross-strait exchanges and the common goal for people on the two sides, DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun said April 16 that peace and development will not be possible if they are not built upon a foundation of freedom and democracy.
Yu said Hu should recognize the fact that the ROC exists, and try to co-exist with it democratically. He also urged Hu to make a "concrete commitment" to promote China's democracy and human rights, as he believes that only democracy can serve as a basis for cross-strait exchange, and only democracy will minimize the hidden risks involved in China's economic development.
Aside from avoiding a substantive discussion of the meaning of the "1992 consensus," Lien and Hu also sidestepped mentioning the estimated 800 missiles China has deployed along its coastline when stressing the importance of peaceful development between the two sides.
The MAC said China has also refused to enter into dialogue or negotiations with Taiwan despite its claims that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait should work for peace and development. According to the council, China has instead beefed up its military deployment against Taiwan, which threatens the safety of the people of Taiwan, as well as peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
"This indicates that China has not the slightest sincerity to improve cross-strait ties; it has merely been adopting a two-pronged tactic of saying one thing and doing another toward Taiwan," the MAC said.
The council urged China to give up its political prerequisites for talking with Taiwan and immediately resume talks with ROC leaders on an equal footing in order to solve issues affecting both sides.
As the two-day forum between the Communists and the KMT closed on April 15, China held out a clutch of potential economic benefits intended to court Taiwanese public opinion.
China offered aviation, agricultural and financial deals and pledged to lower tariff and quarantine barriers on Taiwanese fruit, vegetables and other produce. Other proposals included recognizing Taiwan's tertiary education diplomas, allowing ROC citizens to take part in China's customs broker licensing examinations, and sending farm produce procurement missions to Taiwan.
Premier Su Tseng-chang said April 18 that these newly announced measures, especially the ones regarding Taiwanese produce, will not offer any substantial help to Taiwan's economy. He said the government is willing to take into consideration any policy suggestions that benefit the people of Taiwan, but since the measures proposed at the end of the CCP-KMT forum were devised from a Chinese perspective, he does not think they will be of much help to Taiwan.
China also unveiled April 16 a package of rules governing Chinese people's pleasure trips to Taiwan. The MAC said that despite a four-and-half-year delay for China to announce such a relaxation of its rules, it welcomes China's new step to pave the way for its citizens to sightsee in Taiwan.
Given that the opening of Taiwan's market to Chinese tourists is a government policy, MAC Chairman Joseph Wu said April 13 that Taiwan will welcome those holding People's Republic of China passports to visit Taiwan for sightseeing purposes once cross-strait negotiations are completed.
Noting that the KMT-CCP forum was basically a civilian exchange activity, the MAC stressed that Taiwan has been open to exchanges across the Taiwan Strait and that China should not evade talks with Taiwan's democratically elected government.
Hu's meeting with Lien appeared to be timed to strike a conciliatory note just days ahead of his visit to the United States. Washington has consistently urged Beijing to hold talks with the government of Taiwan instead of the opposition party, but China has balked due to Chen's refusal to accept the "one China" principle.
In an interview published by Paris-based daily Le Figaro April 18, Chen warned that the forum between the KMT and the CCP, as well as meetings Hu had with Lien and Taiwan's People First Party Chairman James Soong last year, left a false impression that peace is already prevailing across the Taiwan Strait and has misled some into thinking the country's proposed purchase of arms from the United States is unnecessary.
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