Government’s Formal Statement on the KMT-CPC “Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum”
The Mainland Affairs Council issued the following formal statement on April 27, 2007 regarding the “Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum” held by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Communist Party of China (CPC) in Beijing:
1. The “Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum” held by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) in Beijing is part of exchange activities between civilian organizations across the Strait. The Taiwanese government especially emphasizes that cross-strait civilian exchanges must be conducted according to relevant laws and regulations in Taiwan. Issues involving the exercise of government authority are the responsibility of the government and must be handled with the government taking initiative. According to the results of public opinion surveys, the majority of the Taiwanese people support the government's position in this regard. The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) indicates that with regard to the results of the KMT-CPC forum, if we examine them based on the results of several similar forums held in the past, the so-called results become merely empty promises and propagandas without any substantial benefits in terms of their conceptual substance, since these results were not obtained through direct dialogue and negotiations between the two governments across the Strait. Nevertheless, the Chinese authorities have repeatedly used these forums to declare their position toward Taiwan and employ their divisive strategy against Taiwan.
2. In formulating its policy on cross-strait exchanges, the Taiwanese government has not only set priorities in consideration of the overall cross-strait, international, and domestic situation, but has also promoted and implemented its policy in a sequential and orderly manner with the government taking initiative. At present, a number of issues are being negotiated through the channels respectively authorized by the two governments across the Strait, and a certain degree of consensus has been reached in this regard. As long as both sides across the Strait continue engaging in negotiations, it will be natural for them to achieve agreement on related issues and implement the agreed conclusions. If the Chinese authorities intend to engage in political manipulation of the relevant issues under negotiation by taking advantage of Taiwan's opposition parties, then their attempts will complicate the cross-strait negotiations as well as delay the timetable for promoting related issues; in the end, it will not be of any help to normalized interactions between both sides of the Strait. The Taiwanese government urges the Chinese authorities to face up to the issues, eliminate the manmade interference, actively and pragmatically handle the issues of concern to each side of the Strait, and complete negotiations with Taiwan as soon as possible through the regular channels.
3. We have not changed our insistence on maintaining the cross-strait status quo and the democratic system in Taiwan. Maintaining peace across the Strait has also been the common expectation of the people on both sides of the Strait. In 2004, President Chen Shui-bian proposed that both sides must work together to make it their concrete objective to seek peace and stability through dialogue. There is a need for both sides to maintain an interactive framework for long-term stability and sign an agreement for establishing a framework for peaceful and stable interaction. However, the Chinese authorities have continued to use force to intimidate and threaten democratic deepening in Taiwan, which becomes a severe challenge to regional peace and the democratic values of the international community; they have sabotaged peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. It can be foreseen that at the KMT-CPC forum being conducted this time, the participants will again make high-sounding statements about cross-strait peace, in an attempt to shift the responsibility for the worsening cross-strait relations on to the Taiwan side. We would like to sternly warn the Chinese authorities not to hide their intentions toward Taiwan under the pretense of "peace." They must face the reality of cross-strait relations as early as possible and resume dialogue with Taiwan on the maintenance of long-term stability across the Taiwan Strait. At the same time, they must take up their responsibility, which is the only way to develop peaceful cross-strait relations.