Former Legislative speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) unveiled a new cross-strait narrative yesterday, advocating for “separate governance without division” between Taiwan and China.
“The two sides of the Taiwan Strait are not subordinate to each other in terms of governance but share sovereignty without division (兩岸治權互不隸屬,主權同而不分),” Wang said at the launch of the “Middle Way Peace Alliance” (中道和平聯盟), a cross- strait think tank.
Wang explained that his proposal acknowledges the reality that the two sides across the Taiwan Strait are governed separately while keeping avenues open for fostering peaceful relations.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
Both sides should aim to ensure the safety and well-being of their people while respecting each other’s political systems and ways of life, he said, calling for a pragmatic approach that acknowledges both history and current realities.
It was not clear whether Wang’s formula was meant to replace the KMT’s existing stance or the so-called”1992 consensus.”
The “1992 consensus” refers to a tacit understanding between the KMT and the Chinese Communist Party that both sides of the Strait acknowledge there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “China” means.
Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party has never accepted the “1992 consensus.”
Wang said that cross-strait relations, which once seemed to hold the promise of peace, have encountered many uncertainties in recent years and are now considered by international experts as a potential flashpoint for military conflict.
He attributed this to not only rapid global changes and ideological constraints, but also misunderstandings caused by the stagnation of cross-strait exchanges, adding that his proposal could help facilitate dialogue.
Taipei has once again made it to the top 100 in Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index 2025 report, moving up five places from last year to 60. The annual index, which was published last month, evaluated 1,000 of the most populated metropolises based on five indices — economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. New York maintained its top spot this year, placing first in the economics index thanks to the strength of its vibrant financial industry and economic stability. Taipei ranked 263rd in economics, 44th in human capital, 15th in quality of life, 284th for environment and 75th in governance,
Greenpeace yesterday said that it is to appeal a decision last month by the Taipei High Administrative Court to dismiss its 2021 lawsuit against the Ministry of Economic Affairs over “loose” regulations governing major corporate electricity consumers. The climate-related lawsuit — the first of its kind in Taiwan — sought to require the government to enforce higher green energy thresholds on major corporations to reduce emissions in light of climate change and an uptick in extreme weather. The suit, filed by Greenpeace East Asia, the Environmental Jurists Association and four individual plaintiffs, was dismissed on May 8 following four years of litigation. The
A former officer in China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) who witnessed the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre has warned that Taiwan could face a similar fate if China attempts to unify the country by force. Li Xiaoming (李曉明), who was deployed to Beijing as a junior officer during the crackdown, said Taiwanese people should study the massacre carefully, because it offers a glimpse of what Beijing is willing to do to suppress dissent. “What happened in Tiananmen Square could happen in Taiwan too,” Li told CNA in a May 22 interview, ahead of the massacre’s 36th anniversary. “If Taiwanese students or
The New Taipei City Government would assist relatives of those killed or injured in last month’s car-ramming incident in Sansia District (三峽) to secure compensation, Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said yesterday, two days after the driver died in a hospital. “The city government will do its best to help the relatives of the car crash incident seek compensation,” Hou said. The mayor also said that the city’s Legal Affairs, Education and Social Welfare departments have established a joint mechanism to “provide coordinated assistance” to victims and their families. Three people were killed and 12 injured when a car plowed into schoolchildren and their
RSS