President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) held a historic meeting in Singapore yesterday, the first time the leaders from both sides of the Taiwan Strait have met since 1949 after the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) was defeated by the Chinese Communist Party in the Chinese Civil War.
The summit, which began with the two exchanging an extended handshake before going behind closed doors, was trumpeted by Ma and Xi as a milestone in cross-strait relations.
“Today is a special day where leaders from two sides of the Strait meet,” said Xi, who was on a state visit to Singapore to celebrate the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and the Southeast Asian city-state.
Photo: AP
“Both sides of the Strait are brothers, a family of blood that is thicker than water,” Xi said in his opening remarks of the meeting at the Shangri-La Hotel.
Xi said: “We should let the world know with actions that Chinese on the two sides of the Strait are completely capable of solving our own problem with wisdom,” adding that both sides of the Strait have since 2008 moved toward a path of peaceful development and that people of the two sides have made great efforts to keep the cross-strait situation stable and harmonic over the past seven years.
“I hope that compatriots on both sides of the Strait can jointly uphold the [so-called] ‘1992 consensus,’ consolidate common political foundations, maintain the correct cross-strait development direction and jointly seek great invigoration of the Zhonghua minzu [Chinese ethnic group, 中華民族],” Xi added.
Photo: Taipei Times
The “1992 consensus” refers to a supposed understanding reached during cross-strait talks in 1992 that both Taiwan and China acknowledge that there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what that means. Former Mainland Affairs Council chairman Su Chi (蘇起) in 2000 admitted that he had made up the term “1992 consensus.”
Ma said that Taiwan would continue to consolidate the “1992 consensus,” maintaining the peaceful “status quo.”
He also called for lowering the state of hostility across the Strait and expanding cross-strait exchanges.
Ma said the “1992 consensus” was subject to the “one China” principle, neglecting to mention the “different interpretations” component that the KMT administration typically stresses.
During the meeting, Ma and Xi addressed each other as “mister,” rather than “president.”
While no agreements were signed and no joint statements were issued following the summit, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office Minister Zhang Zhijun (張志軍) told a post-meeting press conference that both Ma and Xi believe the “1992 consensus” should be upheld, as it “has great significance in promoting the long-term development of cross-strait relations.”
China and Taiwan both belong to “one China,” and dealings between the two sides are not “country-to-country” relations, nor a matter of “one China, one Taiwan,” Zhang cited Xi as saying.
Zhang said China welcomes Taiwan’s participation in the China-initiated Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and its “One Belt, One Road” policy, adding that China is willing to consider and discuss the issue of Taiwan’s international space as long as Taiwan’s participation in regional economic integration and international activities “does not create the perception of ‘one China, one Taiwan,’ or ‘two Chinas.’”
Zhang quoted Xi as saying that “the forces seeking Taiwanese independence are the most real threat to cross-strait peace.”
Zhang said Xi agreed with Ma’s proposal to set up a cross-strait hotline, as it could help improve exchanges and dialogue.
Ma later told a separate press conference that he found Xi “pragmatic, flexible and frank.”
Ma said he hopes such a spirit could be reflected in the future handling of cross-strait matters.
During the meeting, Ma raised the issue of Taiwanese concern over China’s military deployment against Taiwan, he said.
According to Ma, Xi said that “the deployments do not target Taiwan.”
With regard to the “1992 consensus,” in response to reporters’ questions over Taiwan insisting that “one China” means the Republic of China, while Beijing emphasizes its “one China” principle, but intentionally ignores the latter part of the “consensus,” Ma said each side is free to interpret what “one China” means.
“That’s why some have said that [the ‘1992 consensus’] is a masterpiece of ambiguity,” Ma said.
Ma, who attended the closed-door meeting in the company of six other officials, said he found the summit helpful and positive, and reiterated that the purpose of the meeting with Xi was to take a first step toward paving a foundation so that a mechanism of institutionalized meetings between leaders from both sides of the Taiwan Strait could be established
From there, it can allow for the possibility of “super stable” cross-strait relations, he said.
Ma departed Singapore for Taiwan at 9pm on a charter flight after a dinner with Xi.
Later last night, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (李顯龍) posted a picture on Facebook of him having tea with Ma, adding: “Glad his meeting here went well. Hope this will lead to greater stability and prosperity for the region.”
Additional reporting by CNA
RETHINK? The defense ministry and Navy Command Headquarters could take over the indigenous submarine project and change its production timeline, a source said Admiral Huang Shu-kuang’s (黃曙光) resignation as head of the Indigenous Submarine Program and as a member of the National Security Council could affect the production of submarines, a source said yesterday. Huang in a statement last night said he had decided to resign due to national security concerns while expressing the hope that it would put a stop to political wrangling that only undermines the advancement of the nation’s defense capabilities. Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) yesterday said that the admiral, her older brother, felt it was time for him to step down and that he had completed what he
Taiwan has experienced its most significant improvement in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, data provided on Sunday by international higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) showed. Compared with last year’s edition of the rankings, which measure academic excellence and influence, Taiwanese universities made great improvements in the H Index metric, which evaluates research productivity and its impact, with a notable 30 percent increase overall, QS said. Taiwanese universities also made notable progress in the Citations per Paper metric, which measures the impact of research, achieving a 13 percent increase. Taiwanese universities gained 10 percent in Academic Reputation, but declined 18 percent
BULLY TACTICS: Beijing has continued its incursions into Taiwan’s airspace even as Xi Jinping talked about Taiwan being part of the Chinese family and nation China should stop its coercion of Taiwan and respect mainstream public opinion in Taiwan about sovereignty if its expression of goodwill is genuine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said yesterday. Ministry spokesman Jeff Liu (劉永健) made the comment in response to media queries about a meeting between former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) the previous day. Ma voiced support for the so-called “1992 consensus,” while Xi said that although the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have “different systems,” this does not change the fact that they are “part of the same country,” and that “external
UNDER DISCUSSION: The combatant command would integrate fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups to defend waters closest to the coastline, a source said The military could establish a new combatant command as early as 2026, which would be tasked with defending Taiwan’s territorial waters 24 nautical miles (44.4km) from the nation’s coastline, a source familiar with the matter said yesterday. The new command, which would fall under the Naval Command Headquarters, would be led by a vice admiral and integrate existing fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups, along with the Naval Maritime Surveillance and Reconnaissance Command, said the source, who asked to remain anonymous. It could be launched by 2026, but details are being discussed and no final timetable has been announced, the source