It is difficult for Beijing’s unilaterally constructed “one China” principle to win public recognition in Taiwan, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday in response to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) reiteration of Beijing’s determination to quash any Taiwanese pro-independence forces.
The council issued a statement expressing regret over Xi’s report yesterday at the opening ceremony of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 19th National Congress in Beijing, in which he reiterated Beijing’s adherence to its previous cross-strait policy.
“The differences in [political] systems and ideologies across the Taiwan Strait have not created a gulf in interactions over the past three decades. Rather, artificial obstructions and divisions have been the main causes of the worsening deadlock,” the council said.
Photo: AFP
The council urged Beijing to accept that it is unlikely for its unilateral and heavy-handed “one China” principle and “one country, two systems” formulation to gain the support of Taiwanese.
“Respect and communication are the only keys to narrowing the differences between the two sides,” the council said.
In his three-and-a-half-hour report, Xi mentioned the so-called “1992 consensus” four times, saying it embodies the spirit of Beijing’s “one China” principle and clearly defines the nature of cross-strait relations.
The “1992 consensus” — a term former Mainland Affairs Council chairman Su Chi (蘇起) admitted to making up in 2000 — refers to a tacit understanding between the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the CCP that both sides acknowledge there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “China” means.
The “1992 consensus” lies at the center of the cross-strait stalemate. Beijing has been persistent in its stance that it is the prerequisite for exchanges and dialogue, while the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government has refused to accept it, instead calling for a “new pattern of engagement.”
Meanwhile, Xi said that China over the past five years has firmly opposed and prevented Taiwanese independence, and that Beijing has achieved a historical meeting between the two sides’ leaders.
He was referring to his meeting with then-president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) in November 2015, the first meeting between the top leaders of Taiwan and China since the KMT’s retreat to Taiwan in 1949.
China has “the resolve, confidence and ability to defeat separatist attempts for Taiwanese independence in any form,” Xi said.
“We will never allow any person, organization or political party, at any time or in any form, to separate any part of Chinese territory from China,” he said.
The congress is seen as the most significant political gathering in China since Xi came to power in 2012. His remarks on cross-strait relations are to serve as important indicators of Beijing’s policy toward Taiwan.
The council, expressing the hope that China could work to adopt policies that promote “democracy, peace, fairness and justice” as it endeavors to become stronger and carry out systematic reform, called on Beijing to adopt “a new mindset and healthy attitude” toward cross-strait relations.
“When dealing with cross-strait issues, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and her government have a rational and pragmatic attitude, and have refrained from any forms of provocation,” the council said, adding that joint efforts should be made to explore a new model for interactions and to promote pragmatic communication to move cross-strait relations forward.
The Presidential Office issued a mild response compared with that issued by the council.
“The government has endeavored to maintain cross-strait relations based on public opinion and domestic consensus, and has continuously extended a friendly hand in the hope of resolving our divisions and differences through virtuous interactions,” the office said, adding that it believes the international community understands and has noticed those efforts.
The DPP government’s policy to strive for regional peace and stability has always been clear and persistent, the office said.
It also reiterated Tsai’s “new four noes” for cross-strait ties.
“Our goodwill remains unchanged. Our promise [to maintain the ‘status quo’] remains unchanged. We will not return to the old path of conflict and we will not succumb to pressure,” it said.
‘NO SECURITY RISK’: The Railway Bureau reassured the public that the technicians’ activities were limited to technical guidance and did not involve sensitive systems The Railway Bureau yesterday said it had invited eight Chinese technicians to assist with an airport MRT construction project. The bureau issued the confirmation after an Internet user said Chinese nationals had entered the construction zone of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport’s Terminal 3 project. They asked why “individuals from an enemy state” were allowed access to such a major national infrastructure project, which raised serious concerns over Taiwan’s industrial safety, sensitive systems and information security. The bureau’s Northern Region Engineering Branch Office said subcontractor Taiwan Handle Industrial Co (台灣手把工業) of the Taoyuan airport MRT’s “Contract No. CU05 Project A14 Station Civil, MEP &
The National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology yesterday showcased its locally developed variants of the Vision 60 robotic patrol dog, which it plans to deploy on the nation’s outlying territories in the South China Sea. The variants were produced under the Joint Lab project — created by the institute and domestic companies — and assembled with domestically produced motors, lenses and artificial intelligence (AI) systems alongside licensed tech from the US, Missile and Rocket Systems Research Division deputy director Jen Kuo-kang (任國光) told the media event at a military base in Taipei’s Dazhi (大直) area. Taiwan has built up its strengths
NOT IMMEDIATE: Taiwan has a chance to appeal the proposed 10 percent tariff before it starts, while other countries face a 12.5 percent tariff from the trade office Taiwan is among 60 economies determined by the US to have failed to impose or enforce a ban on the importation of goods produced with forced labor, according to a notice released on Tuesday by the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), which proposed imposing an additional 10 percent or more tariff on them. The USTR in a statement said that following an investigation, it had determined under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 that the failure of the 60 economies to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labor is
TIT-FOR-TAT: The US allegedly revoked the visa of a Chinese national working at Xinhua News Agency in the US in response to Beijing’s expulsion of Vivian Wang The Presidential Office yesterday condemned China for expelling a New York Times correspondent from Beijing following the newspaper’s interview with President William Lai (賴清德), saying the move highlighted Beijing’s suppression of press freedom and its threat to international news media. Taiwan has noted a series of recent incidents in which Beijing used similar tactics to “threaten and pressure international media outlets and journalists,” Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) said in a statement. “This concerns not only press freedom and freedom of expression, but also the safety of journalists, and Taiwan and relevant partners are paying close attention to the situation,” she
RSS