Former Taipei mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌), a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chair candidate, yesterday said he would call on Beijing to acknowledge the existence of the Republic of China (ROC) and pledge not to use force against Taiwan so long as it does not declare independence.
At a news conference outlining his proposed cross-strait policy, Hau detailed how he would guide the KMT’s approach to China if elected chairman.
Hau called for an internal party debate on cross-strait policy, the establishment of KMT liaison offices in Beijing and Shanghai, the expansion of the Taipei-Shanghai Twin City Forum into a broader cross-strait platform and ensuring that the party’s policy adheres to the Constitution.
Photo: Lo Pei-de, Taipei Times
Good cross-strait relations require effort from both sides, Hau said.
The biggest obstacle to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is China’s repeated military drills and continuous air and naval incursions near Taiwan, Hau said, adding that if elected, he would call on Beijing to commit to a “no independence, no force” framework — refraining from military action as long as Taiwan does not seek formal independence.
Although Hau did not specify how such a commitment could be secured, he emphasized that his conversations with Chinese officials have always been sincere efforts to promote exchanges and peace, rather than simply flattering them.
The KMT’s cross-strait policy should return to the framework of the ROC Constitution, Hau said, describing it as Taiwan’s best safeguard and the strongest legal link between the two sides.
He said that President William Lai (賴清德) was “hollowing out” the ROC and deliberately distorting the Constitution.
Beijing must acknowledge the reality of the ROC’s existence, he said, adding that if it does not, the legal and historical connection between the two sides would continue to wither.
“The two sides are not in a state-to-state relationship,” Hau said. “For me, cross-strait relations are relations between the Taiwan area and the Mainland area; and China is the Republic of China.”
The people of Taiwan can only feel protected if the ROC is acknowledged and respected, and only then can they rationally work toward goals beneficial to people on both sides of the Strait, while continuing to preserve their democratic way of life, he said.
Hau said that the “one China” mentioned in the so-called “1992 consensus” refers to the ROC.
The “1992 consensus” refers to a tacit understanding between the 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.
If China wishes for dialogue and exchanges to proceed on that basis, it must first respect the ROC’s existence, Hau said.
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