The Presidential Office yesterday brushed off the absence of the so-called “1992 consensus” in the recent remarks by Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤), saying cross-strait negotiations were conducted with it in mind.
When asked whether Hu rejected President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) proposal of “mutual non-denial” because he mentioned only “one China” — not “one China with each side having its own interpretation” — in his talk, Presidential Office Spokesman Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) said that all cross-strait negotiations and exchanges have been conducted on the foundation of the “1992 consensus” and “mutual non-denial.”
“The essence of the ‘1992 consensus’ is ‘one China with either side having its own interpretation,’” Wang said during a press conference called to respond to Hu’s recent comments on Taiwan.
In a speech to mark the 30th anniversary of Beijing’s “open letter to Taiwanese compatriots,” Hu on Wednesday called for a pragmatic approach to the political relationship to ease cross-strait tensions.
“As long as the ‘one China’ principle is recognized by both sides ... we can discuss anything,” Hu told a gathering of Chinese Communist Party officials at the Great Hall of the People. “China and Taiwan could at a proper time begin contacts and exchanges on military issues and explore a mechanism to build trust on military matters.”
In addition to vowing to maintain already flourishing business ties, Hu said he understood Taiwan’s desire to take part in “international activities,” but stressed that China would not tolerate any move that suggests independence, “two Chinas,” or “one China, one Taiwan.”
The media yesterday questioned Wang about the ideological interpretations on either side of the Taiwan Strait about the meaning of “one China.” Wang said that differences remained even though both sides denied it, and that it has always been like this. Wang acknowledged Hu’s “new approach” and “practicality,” saying cross-strait ties made headway under his leadership.
Since Ma took office on May 20 last year, Wang said the administration has insisted on protecting the sovereignty of the Republic of China (ROC) and Taiwan’s honor.
“Under the framework of the ROC Constitution, we maintain the status quo of ‘no unification, no independence and no military force,’” he said. “To concertedly pursue peace and prosperity for the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, we resume cross-strait negotiations and exchanges under the principle that ‘Taiwan is always the focus and people’s interest comes first’ and under the foundations of the ‘1992 consensus’ and ‘mutual non-denial.’”
The policy has proven popular, Wang said, and been supported by the Taiwanese public and the international community.
Also See: EDITORIAL: A survey ignored and denied
Taiwan would benefit from more integrated military strategies and deployments if the US and its allies treat the East China Sea, the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea as a “single theater of operations,” a Taiwanese military expert said yesterday. Shen Ming-shih (沈明室), a researcher at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said he made the assessment after two Japanese military experts warned of emerging threats from China based on a drill conducted this month by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Eastern Theater Command. Japan Institute for National Fundamentals researcher Maki Nakagawa said the drill differed from the
‘WORSE THAN COMMUNISTS’: President William Lai has cracked down on his political enemies and has attempted to exterminate all opposition forces, the chairman said The legislature would motion for a presidential recall after May 20, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) said yesterday at a protest themed “against green communists and dictatorship” in Taipei. Taiwan is supposed to be a peaceful homeland where people are united, but President William Lai (賴清德) has been polarizing and tearing apart society since his inauguration, Chu said. Lai must show his commitment to his job, otherwise a referendum could be initiated to recall him, he said. Democracy means the rule of the people, not the rule of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), but Lai has failed to fulfill his
A rally held by opposition parties yesterday demonstrates that Taiwan is a democratic country, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday, adding that if opposition parties really want to fight dictatorship, they should fight it on Tiananmen Square in Beijing. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) held a protest with the theme “against green communists and dictatorship,” and was joined by the Taiwan People’s Party. Lai said the opposition parties are against what they called the “green communists,” but do not fight against the “Chinese communists,” adding that if they really want to fight dictatorship, they should go to the right place and face
A 79-year-old woman died today after being struck by a train at a level crossing in Taoyuan, police said. The woman, identified by her surname Wang (王), crossed the tracks even though the barriers were down in Jhongli District’s (中壢) Neili (內壢) area, the Taoyuan Branch of the Railway Police Bureau said. Surveillance footage showed that the railway barriers were lowered when Wang entered the crossing, but why she ventured onto the track remains under investigation, the police said. Police said they received a report of an incident at 6:41am involving local train No. 2133 that was heading from Keelung to Chiayi City. Investigators
RSS