Taiwan warned over ‘one China’
Print Edition
THE Chinese mainland warned Taiwan yesterday that a number of achievements made during the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations would suffer if the political basis of the 1992 Consensus was undermined.
“The 1992 Consensus is the political basis for the peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Strait,” said An Fengshan, spokesman for the State Council’s Taiwan Affairs Office, at a press conference.
Only by accepting the historical fact of the 1992 Consensus and recognizing its core implication that both sides belong to one China can the peaceful and stable development of cross-Strait ties be maintained, he said.
An made the remarks when he was asked to comment on the stance on the 1992 Consensus by Taiwan’s incoming leader Tsai Ing-wen.
The mainland’s Taiwan affairs chief Zhang Zhijun made it clear during a recent interview with Taiwan reporters that the mainland’s adherence to the 1992 Consensus is “both our principle and a gesture of goodwill,” An said.
Holding what kind of stance on the 1992 Consensus and how to define the nature of cross-Strait ties are the touchstones and criteria for a genuine gesture of goodwill, An added.
“Only by clarifying the nature of cross-Strait ties can one see clearly the future of cross-Strait ties,” An said.
He noted, however, that no matter what a political party or group in Taiwan had advocated before, as long as it accepts the 1992 Consensus and recognizes its core implication, the mainland is willing to conduct exchanges with it.
An also warned Taiwan that the passage of a proposed new law governing relations between the two sides could seriously damage the basis for cross-Strait negotiations, and that the mainland opposed any obstacles to developing ties.
The Democratic Progressive Party is proposing Taiwan’s legislature first pass a cross-Strait supervision law before it will consider agreeing to the 2013 Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement, which aimed to open up investment from both sides in industries such as banking, health care, and tourism.
Asked about the law, An said: “Anything that damages the basis for consultations and negotiations between the two sides of the strait, interferes in or impedes relevant progress or puts up man-made blocks on the development of ties, we will resolutely oppose.
“The foundation of cross-Strait negotiations should not be undermined, and the authority of agreements reached by the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation must be maintained,” he said.
In Taipei, Taiwan’s outgoing leader Ma Ying-jeou met his successor yesterday and emphasized the need for a smooth transition of power amid a slowdown in the island’s high-tech economy and uncertainty over relations with the mainland, The Associated Press reported.
Tsai, who takes office on May 20, has declined to explicitly endorse that Taiwan and the mainland are part of a single Chinese nation. She has stated that reviving economic growth and improving social welfare will be the main focuses of her administration, placing relatively little emphasis on relations with the mainland.
Without mentioning specific issues, Ma said Taiwan “faces many challenges from within and without,” which call for cooperation between the ruling and opposition parties.
Tsai thanked Ma for his work as Taiwan’s leader and for agreeing to the meeting, which she said came at a time of concern over the transition.
Ma said he appreciated the Taiwan people giving him the opportunity over the past eight years to work toward “a free, just and prosperous Taiwan and a peaceful Taiwan Strait,” AP reported.
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