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Ma silent when told '1992 consensus' is a fabrication, former president says

Former president Lee Teng-hui answers questions at a book launch organized by Academia Historica yesterday. PHOTO: CNA

Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) said at a book launch yesterday that president-elect Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) had remained silent when he told him that there is no such thing as the so-called "1992 consensus."

The “1992 consensus” refers to an agreement that was ostensibly reached during cross-strait talks in October 1992. It postulates that both sides of the strait would adhere to the “one China” principle, but reserved the right to interpret the term “one China” differently.

Lee, who was president at the time, said he told Ma that people involved in the talks didn’t mention the “1992 consensus” and that the term was created by individuals who had nothing to do with the talks.

The conversation took place when Ma visited Lee after he was elected president in March.

Su Chi (蘇起), recently appointed secretary-general of the National Security Council for the incoming administration, admitted in February 2006 he had made up the term in 2000 as the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) was readying to hand over power to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Su, then chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council, said he invented the term to break the cross-strait deadlock and alleviate tensions.

Lee, on the other hand, said the term was invented to confuse the DPP administration.

He made the remarks while attending an event to mark the release of a four-volume oral history of his early life, beliefs and philosophy, political life and ideas about economics and industrial development.

Academia Historica began recording the material in June 2006.
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