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illustrating KMT's policy (Source: National Policy Foundation, KMT's
think tank)
B. A Brief on the "Confederation" Concept in the
Draft Platform of the Kuomintang Party
July 2001
National Policy Foundation
The draft platform of the Kuomintang Party unveils the following Mainland policy: "Abiding by the 'Guidelines of National Unification,' and based on the consensus of '92 which is 'one China with respective interpretations,' we should pursue a peaceful and stable relationship across the Strait, establish confidence-building measures, and construct the Taiwan Strait Peace Zone. Under the premise of priority for Taiwan, we should promote a 'confederation' as a transitional stage that would lead to unification under the principles of democracy, freedom, and equitable prosperity."
Much attention and discussion have been generated by the fact that it is the first time for the term "confederation" to be included in the draft platform of the Kuomintang Party. Its concept can be amplified as follows.
I. To abide by the "Guidelines of National Unification," and to pursue stability across the Strait
According to the statement given above, the Kuomintang's Mainland policy adopts the "Guidelines of National Unification" as the central axis, and works on the basis of the consensus of '92 which is "one China with respective interpretations." It calls for the resumption of cross-Strait dialogues, and seeks out a mechanism that safeguards peace and stability across the Strait. Once the dialogues and mechanism are in place and regularized, it will promote transitional arrangements such as "confederation." When exchanges and cooperation across the Strait become more frequent and the differences between the two sides are minimized, it will consult the will of the people on both sides, and gradually and steadily pursue democratic unification.
II. "Confederation" is an intermediate stage within the development of the cross-Strait relations
According to the policy concept formulated above, "confederation" is a segment of our medium- and long-term Mainland policy. It is neither an immediate goal, nor the final solution, of the cross-Strait relations. Since the transfer of power, the Chen Shui-bian Administration has remained unclear and wavering in direction about its Mainland policy; in consequence, the cross-Strait relationship as a whole has stagnated since its inauguration. At the same time, the confrontation between unification and independence supporters, as well as the consciousness of provincial heritage, though moderated and alleviated in the past, have been stirred and intensified again and again. All of these make the confidence of the people collapse, and have a direct blow on domestic investment and economic development. We believe that the cross-Strait relations demand a regular and stable framework in order to accommodate its tremendous importance. It is also for the sake of our social structure not to be torn apart by extremist sentiments that the stabilizing and harmonizing power of the middle road within this country calls for immediate consolidation. Therefore, we wish to abide by the "Guidelines of National Unification" and work step by step toward the establishment of a cross-Strait mechanism for peace and stability, incorporating "confederation" as a transitional arrangement.
III. The general principles of "confederation" are conducive to solving cross-Strait problems
There have been a few confederations in history, including the Swiss Confederation (1291-1796), the Confederation of the United States of America (1778-1787), the German Confederation (1815-1866), the United Arab Republic (1958-1961), among others. Their life-spans and results differ greatly: the longest sustained for more than five hundred years, while the shortest lasted only three years; the U.S. and Switzerland made the transition from confederation to federation, while the United Arab Republic dissolved in three years. The rights and duties of the members in the confederations diverge in accordance with their different situations. However, there are general principles shared by all confederations, such as the members of a confederation retaining the powers of foreign affairs and national defense, equality among the members, autonomy in domestic jurisdiction, peaceful resolution of disputes among the members, and coexistence and mutual prosperity under the same roof. Applying these general principles will be conducive to the development of cross-Strait relations. Therefore, it is practical to have "confederation" as a transitional arrangement.
IV. The content of the "confederation" can be negotiated along the particularities of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait
Having considered the discrepancies between the characteristics of the cross-Strait relations and those of the aforementioned precedents, it seems impossible to construct a confederation for the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, with respective rights and duties, by entirely following the established precedents. The task rather requires each of the two sides to formulate its own internal consensus, and then to work through mutual negotiation. The duration of the confederation depends on the conditions of its operation as well as the development of cross-Strait situations. The confederation of the two sides ought to have the following characteristics.
1. It should conform to the principles of parity, separate jurisdiction, peace, and gradual progress. The content of any proposed "confederation" should take good care of the will of the people in Taiwan in being their own masters, as well as the objective of democratic unification.
2. It is neither Taiwan Independence nor precipitous unification. The confederation is not an alternative form of Taiwan Independence because it builds a common roof upon the two sides each with its own separate jurisdiction. Nor does it seek out precipitous unification because the two sides, under the same roof, coexist in peace and parity. Thus the "confederation" is most conducive to maintaining the status quo of the cross-Strait relations.
3. It is neither a commonwealth nor a federation. Commonwealth (of the British style) is a much looser combination that does not aim at unification. The members of a federation, on the other hand, do not enjoy full autonomy and are subordinate to the federal government. Therefore, both of them can hardly be applied to dealing with cross-Strait relations.
V. To reach consensus and break the stalemate
The persistence of the present stalemate across the Strait is not conducive to peace and the development of each. The Kuomintang has always held on to reason and the doctrine of the mean, and is responsive to domestic aspirations and international expectations. We, therefore, propose the concept of "confederation." At the same time, we urge the government to fulfill its commitment that "abolishing the Council of National Unification and the 'Guidelines of National Unification' is not an issue;" we further urge the government to convoke the Council of National Unification, forge internal consensus, reopen cross-Strait dialogue, and free ourselves from the current stalemate.
(National Policy Foundation)
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