The Presidential Office yesterday brushed off the absence of the so-called “1992 consensus” in the recent remarks by Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤), saying cross-strait negotiations were conducted with it in mind.
When asked whether Hu rejected President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) proposal of “mutual non-denial” because he mentioned only “one China” — not “one China with each side having its own interpretation” — in his talk, Presidential Office Spokesman Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) said that all cross-strait negotiations and exchanges have been conducted on the foundation of the “1992 consensus” and “mutual non-denial.”
“The essence of the ‘1992 consensus’ is ‘one China with either side having its own interpretation,’” Wang said during a press conference called to respond to Hu’s recent comments on Taiwan.
In a speech to mark the 30th anniversary of Beijing’s “open letter to Taiwanese compatriots,” Hu on Wednesday called for a pragmatic approach to the political relationship to ease cross-strait tensions.
“As long as the ‘one China’ principle is recognized by both sides ... we can discuss anything,” Hu told a gathering of Chinese Communist Party officials at the Great Hall of the People. “China and Taiwan could at a proper time begin contacts and exchanges on military issues and explore a mechanism to build trust on military matters.”
In addition to vowing to maintain already flourishing business ties, Hu said he understood Taiwan’s desire to take part in “international activities,” but stressed that China would not tolerate any move that suggests independence, “two Chinas,” or “one China, one Taiwan.”
The media yesterday questioned Wang about the ideological interpretations on either side of the Taiwan Strait about the meaning of “one China.” Wang said that differences remained even though both sides denied it, and that it has always been like this. Wang acknowledged Hu’s “new approach” and “practicality,” saying cross-strait ties made headway under his leadership.
Since Ma took office on May 20 last year, Wang said the administration has insisted on protecting the sovereignty of the Republic of China (ROC) and Taiwan’s honor.
“Under the framework of the ROC Constitution, we maintain the status quo of ‘no unification, no independence and no military force,’” he said. “To concertedly pursue peace and prosperity for the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, we resume cross-strait negotiations and exchanges under the principle that ‘Taiwan is always the focus and people’s interest comes first’ and under the foundations of the ‘1992 consensus’ and ‘mutual non-denial.’”
The policy has proven popular, Wang said, and been supported by the Taiwanese public and the international community.
Also See: EDITORIAL: A survey ignored and denied
The US plans to deploy thousands of drones in the Taiwan Strait in an operation called “Hellscape” to ensure that any attempt by China to invade Taiwan does not succeed, US Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo told the Washington Post. In an article published on Monday, columnist Josh Rogin quoted Paparo as saying from the sidelines of the recent Shangri-La Dialogue defense forum in Singapore that the “Hellscape” strategy would involve deploying thousands of uncrewed submarines, surface vessels and aerial vehicles around Taiwan to buy the nation, Washington and its partners time to assemble a response. The plan was devised to deter
INSECURITY: The Financial Times yesterday reported that in a EU-China meeting Xi said he would not ‘take the bait’ from the US Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) told European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that the US is luring China into a military conflict over Taiwan, the Financial Times cited a source as saying. Xi told Von der Leyen that the US was “trying to provoke Beijing by providing weapons to Taiwan,” but he would “not take the bait,” the Financial Times reported yesterday, The remarks were made during a meeting between Xi and Von der Leyen in April last year, it said. The report also quoted Center for Strategic and International Studies Freeman Chair in China Studies Jude Blanchette as
CHINESE THREAT: Twenty-two military aircraft and vessels were detected around Taiwan over 24 hours, including a drone that flew as close as 80km to Oluanpi China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) yesterday said that the Chinese man who drove a motorboat into a strategic river mouth in Taiwan on Sunday was acting on his own and would be punished upon his return to China. However, the National Security Bureau said it would not exclude any possibilities regarding the man’s motivations, including the Chinese government’s involvement. The man has been identified as a 60-year-old former Chinese navy captain surnamed Ruan (阮). Coast guard personnel on Sunday arrested Ruan in New Taipei City’s Tamsui District (淡水) after his boat entered Tamsui River (淡水河). The boat was detected off the coast of
SHIN KONG SHENANIGANS: Eugene Wu is the father of Cynthia Wu, who was the TPP’s vice presidential candidate alongside Chairman Ko-Wen-je in January’s election Former Shin Kong Life Insurance Co chairman Eugene Wu (吳東進) and several other company executives are being investigated for alleged embezzlement and fraud resulting in corporate financial losses of about NT$150 million (US$4.63 million), New Taipei City prosecutors said yesterday. After being summoned to the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office for questioning, Wu was listed as among 17 suspects facing charges of aggravated breach of trust, embezzlement and breaches of the Insurance Act (保險法). Wu was released on bail of NT$100 million yesterday. The case has received much attention with Eugene Wu being the eldest son of Wu Ho-su (吳火獅), who founded Shin