Thus runs Beijing's "one China" (一個中國) syllogism: both sides of the Taiwan Strait recognize there is only one China; Taiwan is part of China; the PRC is the sole legitimate government of China. It is relatively easier for the two sides to reach an understanding on the first two premises. But any consensus will not readily come forth on the third premise: "The PRC is the sole legitimate government of China."
This is also the main reason why the two sides cannot sit down and negotiate, even though Beijing's key officials in charge of Taiwan affairs, including Qian Qichen (
Beijing officials like Defense Minister Chi Haotian (遲浩田), Vice Premier Qian and ARATS chairman Wang have recently made some conciliatory remarks on the issue. However, there is no sign whatsoever that Beijing is loosening its grip on the third premise. Taiwan's Premier Tang Fei (唐飛) said recently at the Legislative Yuan that the ROC's sovereignty does not reach China and Outer Mongolia because it has no actual jurisdiction over those regions. Tang did not openly say that there are two Chinas. However, by putting sovereignty and jurisdiction together, he has at least hinted that there is one country with two governments -- a position far from Beijing's syllogism. How to narrow this gap between the two sides has been a burdensome issue. If each side can make a few concessions -- with China letting go of its syllogism and Taiwan separating sovereignty from jurisdiction and maintaining that its sovereignty still covers the Chinese mainland and Mongolia -- then will the two sides come to the negotiation table and talk?
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has announced that he will keep the 1991 Guidelines for National Unification (國統綱領) and the National Unification Council (NUC, 國統會). NUC decisions attached to the Guidelines recognizes "the two sides of the Taiwan Strait maintain the `one China' principle, but that each side interprets it differently. China believes `one China' is the PRC and that it wants Taiwan, after unification, to become a Special Administrative Region under Beijing. Taiwan believes `one China' should mean the ROC, which was established in 1912 and whose sovereignty used to cover the entire China but now only covers Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu (台澎金馬). Taiwan, therefore, is part of China, but so is the mainland."
This viewpoint falls into the scope of "each side expressing its own views." Even though there is currently no consensus between the two sides, they can still set objectives for negotiations, starting from more practical administrative issues. The other issues will naturally solve themselves in the process. Through discussions on cross-strait exchanges, including the three direct links, trade, cross-strait marriages and investment, political issues will be naturally resolved one day.
Chuang Po-lin is a National Policy Advisor.
Translated by Francis Huang
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