Little concrete consensus was reached at the meeting between President Chen Shui-bian (
"Our parties may not see eye to eye on everything, but we must agree on this: the Democratic Progressive Party [DPP] is not your enemy, but the party on the other side of the Taiwan Strait is," Chen said.
"We must find a way to ensure that Taiwan benefits from our actions. This should be the common goal of the public, the ruling and opposition parties, and you [Ma] and me," he said.
Ma agreed that the DPP and the opposition parties should avoid political confrontation and concentrate on improving the economy.
During the two-hour meeting, which was broadcast live on TV, Ma began by reiterating that his party insists on maintaining the "status quo" across the Taiwan Strait. The KMT did not support either independence, nor immediate unification with China, he said.
On cross-strait relations, Ma proposed "five noes" and "five dos" in a bid to seek peace and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and to ensure both democracy and prosperity.
Ma uses the term "five noes" to refer to Chen's "four noes and one without" pledge. According to the pledge, Taiwan will not declare independence, hold referendums on the matter, seek constitutional change or changes to national symbols or seek to abolish the National Unification Council (NUC) and unification guidelines.
Ma's "five dos" propose that Taiwan and China will resume talks based on the "1992 consensus," sign a peace agreement that could last for 30 to 50 years, facilitate economic exchanges with the aim of eventually establishing a common market, adopt a modus vivendi with China to boost Taiwan's presence in international bodies and expand cultural and education exchanges.
Faced with China's military buildup and its efforts to suppress Taiwan, Ma said that he realized his proposals were difficult to achieve. But he said it was necessary to take a pro-active approach in order to turn the tide in Taiwan's favor.
"I hope we can act as a peacemaker rather than as a trouble maker in the Asia-Pacific region and become a responsible stakeholder in maintaining regional peace and stability," he said.
Ma also called on Chen to safeguard the Republic of China (ROC) and the ROC Constitution. He urged Chen to recognize the so-called "1992 consensus," according to which Taiwan and China allegedly agree that there is one "one China," but disagree on what that means.
In response, Chen said that he agreed that the Constitution was the fundamental law of the nation, but that it could be amended if the changes were approved by the legislature and the public.
Regarding the "1992 consensus," Chen said that both former president Lee Teng-hui (李豋輝) and late Straits Exchange Foundation chairman Koo Chen-fu (辜振甫) have told him that there was no such agreement.
"Doesn't it seem odd to use something that has never existed as the foundation for cross-strait talks?" Chen asked.
Chen said that China believed the "1992 consensus" meant that both sides of the Taiwan Strait were in full agreement on the "one China" principle, while the KMT believed that the identity of the "one China" itself was open to interpretation.
Chen also challenged former KMT chairman Lien Chan (連戰), who is set to visit China next Friday, to ask Beijing to say publicly whether or not it endorsed the KMT's definition of the "1992 consensus."
Regarding the 30-to-50-year peace agreement, Chen said it was an old idea that had failed to win US support, and questioned whether China would keep its promise if such an accord were signed.
Although the "four nos and one not" pledge was not part of his election platform, Chen said that the promises he made during his first inaugural address still stood. However, he stressed that that there was a precondition for the four nos and one not, and said that he could not turn a blind eye to China's missile buildup against Taiwan.
"The core value of the pledge is maintaining the status quo," he said.
As for cross-strait direct transportation links and the question of opening Taiwan up to Chinese tourists, Chen said the problem was Beijing's reluctance to talk.
The pair were also divided over the unification council, with Ma saying that Chen's decision on the matter was a waste of time that had sabotaged Taiwan-US relations.
Chen, however, said that the move was aimed at deepening Taiwan's democracy and that the wording was unimportant because it was clear that the council had been scrapped.
Chen and Ma go head-to-head
1. "1992 consensus"
Chen: No consensus was reached in 1992. China only accepts "one China" as the "People's Republic of China."
Ma: Both sides agree that there is "one China," but differ on what that means, with the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) defining "one China" as "the Republic of China."
2. "Four nos and one not" pledge
Chen: The pledge was not an election platform, but still stands if China does not use military force against Taiwan.
Ma: Refers to it as the "five nos." The pledge helps to stabilize cross-strait relations.
3. "Five Do's"
Chen: The adoption of a modus vivendi is to the disadvantage of Taiwan and cannot be relied upon. Cross-strait exchanges must be prudent and progressive. "Mini three links" must precede "direct three links, see links should precede air links and cargo should precede passengers.
Ma: China and Taiwan should resume talks based on the "1992 consensus," sign a peace agreement that could last for 30 to 50 years, facilitate cross-strait economic exchanges and cooperation (including direct and round-trip transportation links, liberation of the financial and service industries and establishment of a common market), adopt a modus vivendi or a temporary settlement with China in a bid to encourage dialogue and reduce mutual hostility, and establish cultural and education exchanges.
4. National Unification Council (NUC) and unification guidelines
Chen: It is meaningless to focus on the wording. The page on the NUC controversy is closed and it is clear that the unification council and guidelines have been scrapped.
Ma: The attempt to scrap the unification council was not only a failure, but also seriously sabotaged US-Taiwan relations.
5. Arms procurement package
Chen: The arms procurement package is not his responsibility alone. Ma and the KMT are partially responsible for the fact that the bill has not been passed. The KMT should allow the arms bill and budget to proceed to the legislative committee for debate.
Ma: The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration must not blame the opposition parties for the delay of the arms bill and budget because the administration waited four years before sending them to the legislature. The KMT supports "reasonable" arms procurement budget.
6. Constitutional reform
Chen: Constitutional reform must proceed through the process of constitutional amendment.
Ma: The government should focus on improving the economy, rather than amending the Constitution.
also see story:
Editorial: Chen-Ma talks a positive start
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