Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Vice Chairman Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) yesterday urged KMT members to present a united front on the so-called “1992 consensus,” and cease the internecine conflicts that have driven a wedge between the camps of KMT Chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) and former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).
“In the past, the KMT’s cross-strait policy, which centers on adherence to the ‘1992 consensus’ and the ‘one China, with different interpretations’ framework, had only been challenged by the Democratic Progressive Party [DPP] and former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝). Never before has it be a subject of contention within the KMT,” Hau said on Facebook.
With the approach of the Cross-Strait Peaceful Development Forum — which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday and Thursday next week in Beijing — it is critical that KMT members put forward a clear policy position and stop quarreling, the former Taipei mayor said.
Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei Times
The DPP’s difficulties over its stance on cross-strait relations demonstrate that the KMT’s cross-strait policy has been correct all along and that the “1992 consensus” and “one China, different interpretations” are vital to maintaining stable cross-strait development, Hau said.
“If even our own people reject that policy, we could lose the possibility of proving ourselves right through the failure of the DPP’s governance,” he said.
The “1992 consensus” refers to a tacit understanding between the KMT and Beijing that both sides of the Taiwan Strait acknowledge there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “China” means. Former Mainland Affairs Council chairman Su Chi (蘇起) in 2006 said that he had made up the term in 2000.
At the center of the altercation between Hung’s and Ma’s camps is the policy platform passed by the party’s national congress early last month that aims to “further” the “1992 consensus” and explore the possibility of signing a cross-strait peace accord.
Critics have said the new platform is an attempt by Hung to move the KMT closer to the concept of “one China, same interpretation,” as it only mentions the “different interpretations” aspect of the “consensus” once in the introduction as part of the party’s history and omits the term in the latter part of the platform, which sets out the party’s main policy.
Hau said that without having a united front on the “1992 consensus” and “one China, different interpretations” the KMT would be in no position to question the DPP’s cross-strait policy or promote interactions across the Taiwan Strait.
“Also, how can we discuss a peace accord [with Beijing] if there is no consensus among Taiwanese and our position is not based on the foundation of ‘one China, different interpretations?’” Hau said.
Despite Hau’s calls for party solidarity, KMT Central Policy Committee director Alex Tsai (蔡正元) later yesterday took aim at Ma’s office, which issued a statement on Tuesday urging Tsai to study history more closely to gain a “more accurate understanding” of the content of the “1992 consensus.”
“Who is ‘Ma Ying-jeou’s office’ anyway? It published a weird news release without leaving the name of its spokesperson. It is no different from a fake Facebook account,” Tsai said on Facebook, urging the office to look at itself in the mirror before giving him directions.
TAIWAN PROTECTION MEASURE: US Army General Charles Flynn would not say where in the Asia-Pacific the missiles would be sent, but only that they would arrive in 2024 The US is to send medium-range missiles including the Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) and Tomahawk to the Asia-Pacific next year to deter a Chinese attack on Taiwan, US military news Web site Defense One reported. The report cited comments US Army General Charles Flynn made during the annual Halifax International Security Forum on Nov. 19. “We have tested them and we have a battery or two of them today,” Flynn was quoted as saying. “In [20]24. We intend to deploy that system in your region. I’m not going to say where and when. But I will just say that we will
UNUSUAL UPTICK: There are more flu-like illnesses in northern China than in the past 3 years, but data from Beijing showed that known pathogens are responsible Responding to an uptick in respiratory illnesses in China, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday said it has instructed international airport and port quarantine centers to raise their alert levels, and plans to issue an alert to healthcare practitioners. The number of flu-like illnesses reported in northern China has been increasing for five consecutive weeks, and is higher than the same period in the past three years, CDC Deputy Director-General Philip Lo (羅一鈞) said. “According to the WHO’s latest statement, issued yesterday, information provided by Chinese government showed that the illnesses were mainly reported among children, and the illnesses were attributed
LOYALTY: The 10 active and retired soldiers betrayed the nation and its people by leaking and passing on military secrets to China, the High Prosecutors’ Office said Ten former and current military officers were yesterday indicted on charges of spying for China, including two who allegedly filmed themselves pledging loyalty to Beijing. The High Prosecutors’ Office requested life imprisonment for the suspects in light of the severity of the crime. The 10 active-duty and retired officers included members of the 601st Brigade of the Aviation Special Forces comprising attack helicopter squadrons and elite combat units in charge of defending northern Taiwan, including Taipei. The other suspects came from Huadong Defense Command, in charge of defending the eastern coast; Kinmen Defense Command, in charge of defending Kinmen and Matsu; and one
‘OPEN TO DIALOGUE’: Her alliance with Vice President William Lai is based on their commitment to preserve the nation’s freedom and democracy, Hsiao Bi-khim said Taiwan should “trust, but verify” reports that Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) denied that Beijing plans to invade Taiwan in 2027, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) vice presidential candidate Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) told reporters yesterday. “We anticipate and we hope that Chairman Xi Jinping was sincere when he said there was no timetable” for bringing Taiwan under control by force, said Hsiao, who earlier this week resigned as the representative to the US to join the ticket of DPP nominee, Vice President William Lai (賴清德). Borrowing a phrase from former US president Ronald Reagan — which US President Joe Biden also used after