In a bid to break the ideological deadlock on cross-strait affairs, 14 national policy advisors to President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) in a joint petition urged him to firmly acknowledge "one China under the ROC Constitution's framework."
"The one China framework under the Constitution is what both sides of the Strait can agree upon," said Hsu Wen-pin (許文彬), one of Chen's policy advisors who took the initiative to file the petition.
"If [both sides] verbally uphold a principle as abstract as one China, concrete goals could still be pursued according to each side's interpretation," Hsu said yesterday, adding that the strategy was to invite future cross-strait dialogues and economic exchanges since political differences have hindered cross-strait developments.
Hsu said that the petition aimed to create flexibility in dealing with cross-strait affairs before the president's Economic Development Advisory Conference (經發會) was to open the door to discussions on cross-strait trade policies.
The petition, which follows similar lines to the so-called "1992 consensus" -- one China, with each side having its own interpretation, (九二共識,一中各表) was co-signed by other influential figures in Taiwan like Ambassador-at-Large Wu Yun-dong (吳運東), Acer Group Chairman Stan Shih (施振榮), human rights activist Bo Yang (柏陽) and lawyer Chuang Po-lin (莊柏林).
Upon receiving the petition, Presidential Office spokeswoman Kuo Yao-chi (郭瑤琪) reportedly said that the president had long looked to the Constitution as a guide to handling cross-strait issues.
She reiterated that Chen had repeatedly extended his goodwill to China in the hope of resuming cross-strait talks and putting political disputes aside.
The concept behind the petition, however, is similar to DPP Chairman Frank Hsieh's (
Hsieh said that "one China" is the basis on which the ROC Constitution is founded. The remark was answered by a strong backlash from within the DPP at the time.
Despite the many ways the "one China principle" can be interpreted, most DPP members believe that, once Taiwan accepts it, Taiwan would then acknowledge Beijing's interpretation that Taiwan is a part of China.
Hsu, however, yesterday argued that, since the Constitution clearly states the nation's territories and jurisdiction, no doubts should be cast on whether Taiwan would surrender itself to China or be annexed by China upon accepting the one China principle.
Expressing his welcome to Hsu's appeal, Chang Jung-kung (
Chang, moreover, said that the petition would further force the president to rule out any possibility of pursuing independence for Taiwan and, therefore, he said that he believed Chen would not accept the petition.
DPP legislator Lee Wen-chung (
Lee, nevertheless, requested that China respond with equal goodwill -- by giving up its interpretation of Taiwan being a part of China, putting down the consensus in written form and withdrawing its boycott against Taiwan's entry to international organizations requiring statehood.
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