The fact that all presidential candidates in next year’s election have formulated cross-strait policies leaning toward those of President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration is proof that the president’s policies “have not only worked, but worked well,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Andrew Hsia (夏立言) said yesterday.
Hsia made the remarks in a speech at the 40th annual convention of the Chinese American Academic Professional Society in New York on Saturday evening.
“Given that every candidate in the Jan. 16 presidential election has drawn their cross-strait policies close to those of the current government, it indicates the effectiveness and success of Ma’s promotion of the ‘1992 consensus’ and the principle of ‘one China, with each side having its own interpretations of what the term means,’” Hsia said.
The so-called “1992 consensus” refers to a tacit understanding between the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Chinese government that both sides of the Taiwan Strait acknowledge there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “China” means.
Terming the two principles as the “key codes” to what he described as tremendous breakthroughs in cross-strait relations in the past seven years, Hsia said the core of the “1992 consensus” is insistence on Republic of China (ROC) sovereignty.
“The ‘consensus’ has not only provided a vital basis for a systematic cross-strait negotiation mechanism, but also played a key role in cross-strait peace and stability, won the support of the majority of the public, and helped create a benign cycle between cross-strait ties and [Taiwan’s] foreign relations,” he said.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) and People First Party presidential candidate James Soong (宋楚瑜) have vowed to promote cross-strait stability on the basis of the “1992 consensus.”
Hung made the pledge only after her proposed “one China, common interpretation” triggered an outpouring of criticism and led to her being branded as an advocate of unification.
As for Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), she has yet to directly elaborate her views on the concept, but promised to maintain the cross-strait “status quo” if elected.
Ma said during an overseas visit last month that cross-strait relations would remain stable and sound as long as his successor continued to adhere to his oft-stated two principles.
“I dare not to speculate about [the potential consequences] of the next president of Taiwan refusing to do so,” Ma said at the time. His remarks were dismissed as a threat by the DPP.
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