Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) yesterday said that the so-called “1992 consensus” is a term that lacks substance, and that President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) trumpeting of the Beijing-backed “one China” principle in Singapore could indicate that he is suffering from “brain damage.”
Ko made the remarks in response to media queries while accompanying People First Party legislative candidate Liu Wen-hsiung (劉文雄) to pray for good fortune at Keelung’s Shengan Temple.
Despite repeatedly saying that he would refrain from criticizing Ma, Ko could not contain his frustration over Ma’s performance at the Singapore summit.
Photo: Yu Chao-fu, Taipei Times
“How could you have asserted the ‘one China’ principle? Have you suffered brain damage?” Ko said, in response to Ma’s statement that the “1992 consensus” is subject to the “one China” principle, while omitting the “different interpretations” component typically stressed by his administration.
The consensus, a term former Mainland Affairs Council chairman Su Chi (蘇起) admitted that he fabricated in 2000, denotes a tacit understanding that there is only one China, with both sides of the Taiwan Strait having their own interpretations of what that means.
As for Ma’s description of the “1992 consensus” as “ambiguous, but capable of solving problems,” Ko said: “As I see it, it is ambiguous, but it has not solved any problems.”
The “1992 consensus” only matters if its premise is addressed in full, as without that it is nothing more than a “title,” Ko said.
Since Xi did not attend the post-summit press conference arranged by Chinese authorities, instead sending Taiwan Affairs Office Minister Zhang Zhijun (張志軍) instead, Ko said that Ma should not have presided over his own press conference, but assigned the task to Zhang’s counterpart, Mainland Affairs Council Minister Andrew Hsia (夏立言).
“If it was up to me, I would have just asked Hsia to hold the press conference,” Ko said.
Beijing’s handling of its press conference has drawn criticism, with many Taiwanese commentators saying that Ma and Xi reneged on their pledges to ensure that Taiwan and China are treated equally and with mutual respect.
Ko hit back at Ma’s apparent swipe during his press conference of the mayor’s “2015 new standpoint” on cross-strait relations, which he proposed at the annual Taipei-Shanghai forum.
Ma said that the “1992 consensus” should serve as the sole reference in cross-strait relations, as it is “unlike red wine, which has a different year [stamped on every bottle].”
“Is he suggesting that he sells different wine each year in the same package?” Ko said.
Asked if he would follow the “model” on cross-strait exchanges Ma created with the “1992 consensus” when meeting Shanghai officials at future forums Ko said: “As I said, it is nothing more than a title. Ma should explain what its content is.”
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man