The two opposition parties in Taiwan, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the People First Party (PFP), have recently expressed their intentions to visit China, which have resulted in concerns from people of all backgrounds. In addition, this issue has also created much skepticism and many discussions in the public. With regard to this issue, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) indicated that the Taiwanese government’s position is very clear and firm. The government has established policies to promote the normalization of cross-strait exchanges, enhance mutual understanding, and reduce conflicts. The Taiwanese government has not been opposing civilian exchanges of any form which are conducted in accordance with the law. Instead, the government has provided various forms of assistances to activities that are carried out in line with its policies’ goals. However, the MAC needs to remind these two political parties that they are not ordinary civilian organizations. Political parties should strictly abide by political propriety and take responsibility for the country and its people.
The MAC stated that political parties are different from ordinary civilian organizations. Therefore, classifying visits to China by political parties as ordinary civilian exchanges cannot be justified. Moreover, political party leaders are not only responsible for their personal status in history and their party members. They have to be responsible for the country, society, and people. Especially China’s vicious enacted the “anti-separation law” (so-called “anti-secession law”), which downgraded Taiwan as a local government under China’s jurisdiction and also codified the use of non-peaceful measures against Taiwan and the 23 million Taiwanese people. Any political party supported by the Taiwanese electorates must firmly and explicitly express to the Chinese leaders the mainstream opinions regarding the Taiwanese people’s strong opposition against China’s enactment of the “anti-separation law.” In order to accomplish a political party’s basic responsibility, any political party should emphasize Taiwan’s basic position to China. The facts are:
- The Republic of China is a sovereign independent country.
- The status quo across the Strait is that both sides are governed separately and have no jurisdiction over each other.
- Any changes with regard to the future of the Republic of China can only be made with the consent of the 23 million Taiwanese people.
The MAC once again reminds the political parties and their leaders intending to visit China that they are to refrain from negotiating with the Chinese authorities on any issue that involves the exercise of government authority without the government’s authorization and the permission of the responsible authorities. Moreover, without the permission of the responsible authorities, any political party in Taiwan risks violating the law if they sign any form of agreement or reach verbal agreement with the Chinese government.