Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman Chiang Pin-kung (江丙坤) yesterday pledged to continue cross-strait negotiations under the principle of the so-called “1992 consensus” as he was re-elected to serve another three-year term.
Chiang, re-elected by the foundation’s new board of directors, promoted the government’s efforts in resuming cross-strait talks since President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) took office three years ago and said Taiwan and China would continue to work together and seek peace across the Taiwan Strait.
“I had called for the resumption of cross-strait negotiations and the long-term development of peaceful cross-strait relations when I first took over as chairman in 2008 and now I can proudly say we have made great achievements in cross-strait ties,” Chiang said.
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
Since 2008, the foundation and China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits have conducted seven rounds of negotiations and signed 16 agreements, including the -Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement signed last year.
Chiang yesterday said the “1992 consensus,” which refers to what the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) says is a mutual understanding between the two sides of the Strait that there is only one China, with each side free to interpret what that means, has improved cross-strait relations in recent years and would continue to serve as a solid foundation for future cross-strait talks.
Former National Security Council secretary-general Su Chi (蘇起), who came up with the term “1992 consensus” when he served as Mainland Affairs Council minister in 2000, was appointed as a board member yesterday, sparking speculation about his role in leading political negotiations between Taiwan and China in the future.
Su yesterday dismissed the speculation as sheer assumption, saying that he took the position to assist the foundation with related affairs as a scholar.
“It’s over-speculation … My role in the SEF is very simple, and I don’t have any special missions. I think people are over-interpreting the position,” he said.
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