Statement on Mainland China's "White Paper"
25 February 2000
The mainland policy of the ROC
government has consistently been based on the respect for separate rule of the two sides
of the Taiwan Strait. Through dialogues and exchanges, the ROC government has gradually
promoted the normalization of cross-Strait relations in order to maintain the peace and
stability of the Taiwan Strait and enhance the cross-Strait reconciliation step by
step.
In April 1993, the Koo-Wang Talks in Singapore reached four historical
agreements on the basis of respecting the reality of separate rule across the Taiwan
Strait. At that time, the international community had high expectation on the positive
progress of the peace in the Taiwan Strait and cross-Strait relations. However, the PRC
authority released the so-called "Taiwan Question and China's Unification" white
paper in eight languages to the international community in August 1993. It tried to
distort the international community's recognition of the "negotiation on equal
footing" and place the cross-Strait relations again into its consistent framework of
"the relationship between the principal and the subordinate".
During the official campaign activities of the ROC's 10th presidential
election, the PRC authority again released a white paper of "the One China Principle
and Taiwan Question" on February 21, 2000. It is quite obvious that the PRC intends
to influence the ROC's presidential election and mislead the international community.
Judging from the contents of the white paper, the PRC unilaterally narrows the definition
of "one China", trying to impose it on us and the international community,
meanwhile, over-expands the definition of "Taiwan's independence". As a result,
the room for "one China respectively interpreted by each side" is intentionally
squeezed.
We must solemnly point out that the ROC government will by no means
agree with the PRC's unilateral definition of "one China". The ROC has always
been an independent sovereign state. This fact will not be changed by the issuing of a
mere "white paper". If China is unified, why does the unification issue still
exist? If China is one, why bother to mention "one China"? In the white paper,
the PRC mentions "the ROC has terminated its historical status", "The PRC
has its sovereignty over Taiwan" and " Taiwan is in fact only a local government
on Chinese soil". All of these statements not only seriously run counter to the fact,
but also arouse the aversion of the people in Taiwan, hurting the sentiments of people
across the Strait, intensifying the tension of two sides of the Strait and making the
existing numerous problems more difficult to be solved.
While we uphold the position of the ROC's existence, we are willing to
face the reality that two sides of the Taiwan Strait are ruled by separate governments and
are not subordinate to each other. We pragmatically identify the current cross-Strait
relations as "special state-to-state relationship". Based on that, we will
negotiate with the PRC on parity basis, intensify exchanges, find similarities while
overcoming differences and strive for a win-win situation. It is our hope that both sides
can gradually move toward a new China with democracy, freedom and equitable prosperity
according to the short, middle and long term phases of the Guidelines for National
Unification.
Over the past decade or more, private cross-Strait exchanges have
continued to expand with our active promotion. The quality of exchanges, however, has
deteriorated due to Beijing's practice of "politics takes command." Exchange
activities were often called off abruptly because of Beijing's excuse of
"inharmonious atmosphere." In the area of cross-Strait negotiations, we took the
initiative to begin semi-official talks with Beijing in 1991, and our attitudes toward
such talks have become more and more open ever since. Beijing, on the contrary, has fallen
back from its previous stance and even interrupted cross-Strait negotiations twice with
excuses. Until today, Beijing has not followed the terms of our agreements to meet with
each other once every season, to proceed with the second Koo-Wang Talks, and to fulfill
the promise of Mr. Wang Daohan's visit to Taiwan for a constructive dialogue. These facts
proved that it was Beijing that undermined exchanges; it was Beijing that turned down
negotiations; and it was Beijing that sabotaged the process of peaceful unification.
Beijing has never reflected upon itself. Instead, it continues to
threaten us with military bluff and squeeze our space in the diplomatic field. These moves
have greatly affected the normal development of cross-Strait relations as well as peace
and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Beijing's statement in the "white paper"
clearly exposes its aggressive nature and hegemonic mindset. We must solemnly point out
that the Republic of China does not succumb to military threat of any kind. Armed forces
or military threat cannot solve any problem; rather, it creates more problems. At the turn
of this century, Beijing should, in response to the voice of the people and recognition of
global trends, actively seek ways to resolve disputes and make peace.
Beijing has repeatedly escalated its military threat targeted at Taiwan
during the critical moments when the ROC implements democracy. On the one hand, this shows
Beijing's rejection and fear of democracy. On the other hand, it is a stark contrast
between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait: democracy and totalitarianism; peace and
violence. We must point out solemnly that the Republic of China's mainland policy is built
on a solid foundation with strong popular support. The government and people of the
Republic of China will never change their determination to defend democracy and
sovereignty, to prohibit outside forces from interfering with our democratic election, and
to seek peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
We have always maintained that the similarities and differences in the
two systems are the core issues of cross-Strait relations. Therefore, we will be glad to
see the mainland system be integrated with the international free economic system at an
early date. We also hope the mainland will soon begin reforms on its political system and
social structure, which will not only benefit its social stability but also promote its
long-term democratization. Such transitions will be critical to the development of
cross-Strait relations and national unification in the future.
We would like to reiterate that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait
should, under the consensus of "one China respectively interpreted by each
side", restore bilateral talks as soon as possible and strengthen exchanges to
develop constructive cross-Strait relations with joint efforts.
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