The greatest threat to Taiwan’s sovereignty is blindly following the so-called “1992 consensus,” President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said following her New Year’s Day speech on Monday.
Tsai made the comments to reporters after making her last New Year’s address as president.
“The Republic of China Constitution is not a risk. Linking it with the ‘1992 consensus’ is a risk,” she said.
Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times
The “1992 consensus” — a term that former Mainland Affairs Council 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 Chinese Communist Party that both sides of the Taiwan Strait acknowledge that there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “China” means.
The Constitution and supporting the “1992 consensus” as the basis of cross-strait engagement are two separate things, Tsai said, adding that conflating the two would put the Constitution at risk.
Blindly following the “consensus” would only entrap Taiwan by China’s definition, posing the greatest risk to the nation’s sovereignty, she added.
Her comments also come the day after Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) in his New Year’s said that “reunification” is inevitable.
Tsai earlier in her address touted Taiwan’s rising global status and her government’s achievements over the past eight years, and called for the resumption of “healthy and orderly” cross-strait exchanges.
“In these eight years, the world has changed... Taiwan has also changed. More than before, Taiwan is no longer forgotten. Its 23.5 million people are taking part in the world’s changes, and are taking part in changing the world,” she said.
At the same time, Taiwan also hopes to “work together to find a path to long-term, stable and peaceful coexistence” with China, she added.
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