People united over China’s Taiwan
Print Edition
THE Chinese mainland’s 1.37 billion people are united in their determination not to allow Taiwan to become independent, the official in charge of the mainland’s ties with the island said yesterday.
The mainland has repeatedly warned Taiwan’s new leader, Tsai Ing-wen, of negative consequences if her pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party fails to recognize Taiwan is a part of China under the “one China” principle.
Meeting a group of Taiwan business representatives in Beijing, Zhang Zhijun, head of the Taiwan Affairs Office, said anything that went against the “one China” principle would only bring tension and upheaval.
The past 20 years had shown that the “one China” principle has facilitated the steady development of cross-Strait relations and benefited people from both sides, he said.
Tsai had neither clarified her attitude toward the nature of cross-Strait relations nor answered explicitly when pressed about her stance on this important matter of principle, he said. “There is no future in Taiwan independence, and this cannot become an option for Taiwan’s future. This is the conclusion of history,” Zhang said.
“Some people say you must pay attention to broad public opinion in Taiwan, and that one can understand the attitude and feelings of Taiwan’s people formed by its special historical experiences and social environment.
“But Taiwan society ought to understand and attach importance to the feelings of the 1.37 billion residents of the mainland,” he said.
Referring to the late 19th and early 20th century when foreign powers were striving to carve off bits of a declining Chinese empire for themselves, Zhang said China’s people had long memories of that period of weakness and humiliation.
“They have a rock-solid will that has remained consistent toward protecting national unity and not allowing the country to be split,” he said.
Zhang called on people on both sides of the Strait, including industry and commerce groups in Taiwan, to work together to maintain hard-won progress in cross-Strait ties.
The Mainland Affairs Council, Taiwan’s agency in charge of ties, responded to Zhang’s comments saying that Tsai had said she is committed to ensuring the status quo in relations with the mainland and to maintaining peace and stability.
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