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MAC seeks consistency on `one China' principle

The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday called on China to be consistent with its definition of the "one China" principle.

"Both sides of the Taiwan Strait should be consistent in their description and statements," MAC Vice Chairman Jonathon Liu (劉德勳) said at a press conference yesterday.

The MAC does not wish to see Beijing suffocating Taiwan in the international community at a time when the two sides are working to build stable cross-strait relations, Liu said.

According to Liu, at the Chinese Communist Party's 16th National Congress in November, Beijing stated a three-part theory with respect to "one China."

The theory states that "there is only one China in the world, both mainland China and Taiwan belong to this one China, and the sovereignty and territory of China are inalienable," Liu said.

"However, Beijing continues to tell the international community that the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government of China," Liu said.

Liu pointed to a China-Russia joint declaration signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Beijing in December as an example of this practice at work.

The joint declaration, issued after the summit between Chinese President Jiang Zemin (江澤民) and Putin, states that "the Russian side reiterates that the government of the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an integral part of the Chinese territory. Russia will not form any official relations or have official exchanges with Taiwan."

Liu called on China to be consistent with its definition of "one China" as Taiwan wishes to improve cross-strait relations.

In related news, legislative speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) said yesterday that the government should publish its assessments of major issues regarding bilateral exchanges across the Taiwan Strait for comment in the legislature.

Wang said the government should have wrapped up its assessments on whether it should open direct links with China and on whether it should permit Taiwan-based chipmakers to invest in eight-inch wafer plants there. He urged government agencies to publish the results to allow lawmakers to better understand the issues.

According to Wang, the government should provide concrete figures or arguments to help lawmakers formulate good policy. As for the impact of such a move, he said this should be decided by legislators.

The government has come under strong pressure to respond to the issues of direct links and cross-strait investment amid increasing exchanges between the two sides.
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