The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday urged Beijing to accept the “four commitments” touted by President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), and give up its military coercion and trying to force Taiwan into a political framework, so that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait can resume friendly, healthy and orderly interactions.
The council issued the remarks in response to a New Year’s message by China’s Taiwan Affairs Office Director Song Tao (宋濤), in which he was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying that he would have “wide and in-depth negotiations with people of vision in Taiwan on cross-strait relations and unification with China.”
Song said that this year would be the start of “thoroughly implementing the spirit of the Chinese Communist Party’s [CCP] 20th National Congress,” and that the CCP would persist in taking Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) “Thought on Socialism With Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” as guidance.
Photo: Chung Li-hua, Taipei Times
On the foundation of the “one China” principle and “the 1992 consensus,” the CCP would have “wide and in-depth negotiations with people of vision from different fields in Taiwan,” he said.
The so-called “1992 consensus” — a term that former MAC chairman Su Chi (蘇起) in 2006 admitted making up in 2000 — refers to a tacit understanding between the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the CCP that both sides of the Taiwan Strait acknowledge that there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “China” means.
In response, the MAC yesterday said that the government’s cross-strait policy remains unchanged, as mentioned in Tsai’s New Year’s address on Sunday.
Tsai said that all stakeholders in the region bear a shared responsibility for “peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” which is what everyone hopes for, and that “war has never been a way to solve problems, and only through dialogue, cooperation, and joint efforts toward the goals of regional stability and development can we help more people enjoy security and happiness,” the MAC said.
It hopes Beijing would first improve its domestic economy, as well as the health and safety for its people, the MAC said, adding that Taiwan is willing to offer disease prevention and humanitarian assistance.
It urged Beijing to practically accept Taiwan’s “four commitments,” which are the Taiwanese commitment to defend the nation’s sovereignty and democracy, as well as to enhance the “resilience of four key areas” and achieve the “four major goals.”
The “four commitments” were mentioned by Tsai in her Double Ten National Day speech in 2021, in which she said that Taiwan’s government and its people “are committed to maintaining a free and democratic constitutional system, ensuring that the Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China will not be subordinate to each other, resisting annexation or encroachment upon Taiwan’s sovereignty, and guaranteeing that the future of the Republic of China is decided by the will of Taiwanese.”
Meanwhile, Cross-Strait Policy Association researcher Wu Se-chih (吳瑟致) yesterday said that according to the constitution of the People’s Republic of China, the CCP is the only legitimate political party, so China-friendly political parties or groups in Taiwan would be forced to accept the “one China” principle and the so-called “1992 consensus” if they want to negotiate with the CCP.
However, it would be inappropriate if Taiwan’s opposition parties negotiated with the CCP, as issues concerning cross-strait relations should be led by the president, he said.
The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) is to tighten rules for candidates running for public office, requiring them to declare that they do not hold a Chinese household registration or passport, and that they possess no other foreign citizenship. The requirement was set out in a draft amendment to the Enforcement Rules of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法 ) released by the ministry on Thursday. Under the proposal, candidates would need to make the declaration when submitting their registration forms, which would be published in the official election bulletin. The move follows the removal of several elected officials who were
The Republic of China (ROC) is celebrating its 114th Double Ten National Day today, featuring military parades and a variety of performances and speeches in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei. The Taiwan Taiko Association opened the celebrations with a 100-drummer performance, including young percussionists. As per tradition, an air force Mirage 2000 fighter jet flew over the Presidential Office as a part of the performance. The Honor Guards of the ROC and its marching band also heralded in a military parade. Students from Taichung's Shin Min High School then followed with a colorful performance using floral imagery to represent Taiwan's alternate name
FOUR DESIGNATED AREAS: Notices were issued for live-fire exercises in waters south and northwest of Penghu, northeast of Keelung and west of Kaohsiung, they said The military is planning three major annual exercises across the army, navy and air force this month, with the navy’s “Hai Chiang” (海強, “Sea Strong”) drills running from today through Thursday, the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday. The Hai Chiang exercise, which is to take place in waters surrounding Taiwan, would feature P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and S-70C anti-submarine helicopters, the ministry said, adding that the drills aim to bolster the nation’s offshore defensive capabilities. China has intensified military and psychological pressure against Taiwan, repeatedly sending warplanes and vessels into areas near the nation’s air defense identification zone and across
A Chinese takeover of Taiwan would severely threaten the national security of the US, Japan, the Philippines and other nations, while global economic losses could reach US$10 trillion, National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Lin Fei-fan (林飛帆) wrote in an article published yesterday in Foreign Affairs. “The future of Taiwan is not merely a regional concern; it is a test of whether the international order can withstand the pressure of authoritarian expansionism,” Lin wrote in the article titled “Taiwan’s Plan for Peace Through Strength — How Investments in Resilience Can Deter Beijing.” Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) intent to take Taiwan by force