The so-called “1992 consensus” between Taiwan and China never existed and is nothing but a lie, former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said yesterday.
In an excerpt of an interview published by the Chinese-language Formosa Weekly, which was founded by former vice president Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), Chen described the “one China, different interpretations consensus” President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) has been insisting on as “the biggest lie in history.”
Chen referred to talks between former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), former Mainland Affairs Council chairman Huang Kun-hui (黃昆輝) and late Straits Exchange Foundation chairman Koo Chen-fu (辜振甫) to support his argument, saying it would be impossible for Ma to help Taiwanese reach a consensus regarding cross-strait issues based on the “1992 consensus.”
PHOTO: HOU CHENG-TAN, TAIPEI TIMES
Chen said he did not support the “1992 consensus,” which was based on “Republic of China [ROC]” or “president of the ROC.” The greatest common denominator between pan-blues and pan-green on national identity, Chen said, is “Taiwan,” not the “ROC.”
Chen said Taiwan’s democratization and future referendum proposals should focus on rejecting unification with China and protecting Taiwan.
Chen also accused Ma of lying when he said that it would be easier for Taiwan to sign free-trade agreements (FTA) with other countries after both sides of the Taiwan Strait sign an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA).
As Beijing never saw Taiwan as a country, but rather as a region of China, Chen said China could not agree that Taiwan is eligible to sign FTAs with other countries.
The Ma administration’s proposed ECFA originated from plans for a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (CECA) with China. A CECA is similar to the comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) that was intended to “build closer economic and trade ties between Hong Kong and China,” Chen said.
Given China’s refusal to abandon the military option against Taiwan and the growing number of missiles it aims at it, any negotiations on a cross-strait peace agreement and establishment of cross-strait military security mechanisms would be made under a “one China” precondition, Chen said.
Chen said Ma was unlikely to benefit from his cross-strait policy in his re-election bid.
Chen has been confined at the Taipei Detention House in Tucheng (土城), Taipei County, since December 2008 on charges of corruption, money laundering and embezzlement.
Both Chen and his wife, Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍), were sentenced on Sept. 11 by the Taipei District Court to life in prison on several counts of corruption.
Taiwanese scientists have engineered plants that can capture about 50 percent more carbon dioxide and produce more than twice as many seeds as unmodified plants, a breakthrough they hope could one day help mitigate global warming and grow more food staples such as rice. If applied to major food crops, the new system could cut carbon emissions and raise yields “without additional equipment or labor costs,” Academia Sinica researcher and lead author the study Lu Kuan-jen (呂冠箴) said. Academia Sinica president James Liao (廖俊智) said that as humans emit 9.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide compared with the 220 billion tonnes absorbed
The Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Wanda-Zhonghe Line is 81.7 percent complete, with public opening targeted for the end of 2027, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said today. Surrounding roads are to be open to the public by the end of next year, Hou said during an inspection of construction progress. The 9.5km line, featuring nine underground stations and one depot, is expected to connect Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station to Chukuang Station in New Taipei City’s Jhonghe District (中和). All 18 tunnels for the line are complete, while the main structures of the stations and depot are mostly finished, he
Taipei is to implement widespread road closures around Taipei 101 on Friday to make way for large crowds during the Double Ten National Day celebration, the Taipei Department of Transportation said. A four-minute fireworks display is to be launched from the skyscraper, along with a performance by 500 drones flying in formation above the nearby Nanshan A21 site, starting at 10pm. Vehicle restrictions would occur in phases, they said. From 5pm to 9pm, inner lanes of Songshou Road between Taipei City Hall and Taipei 101 are to be closed, with only the outer lanes remaining open. Between 9pm and 9:40pm, the section is
China’s plan to deploy a new hypersonic ballistic missile at a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) base near Taiwan likely targets US airbases and ships in the western Pacific, but it would also present new threats to Taiwan, defense experts said. The New York Times — citing a US Department of Defense report from last year on China’s military power — on Monday reported in an article titled “The missiles threatening Taiwan” that China has stockpiled 3,500 missiles, 1.5 times more than four years earlier. Although it is unclear how many of those missiles were targeting Taiwan, the newspaper reported
RSS