Consensus Formed at the
National Development Conference
on
Gross-Strait Relations
December 28, 1996
Policies and Principles for Cross-Strait Interactions
■ The government should strengthen the mechanisms by which opposition political parties and representative figures from all sectors of society can fully participate in major policy decisions regarding relations with the Chinese mainland.
■ The Republic of China has been a sovereign state since 1912. Following the establishment of the Chinese communist regime in 1949, both sides of the Taiwan Straits became co-egual political entities. However, given the intricate complexities of cross-strait relations, and the differing views regarding their development held by each political party, great patience and wisdom must be used to reach consensus.
■ The development of relations with the mainland must be based on safeguarding the survival and development of the Republic of China. Cross-strait relations must be handled according to the principles of reason, peace, equality, reciprocity and respect, in order to establish a stable framework for their development.
■ Under the principle of giving Taiwan priority, the security and welfare of the 21 million-plus people of the Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu areas must be resolutely safeguarded.
■ Policy regarding the mainland must be backed up with an integrated national power; national defense must be strengthehed and psychological warfare force prepared.
■ Caution must be exercised in the course of cross-strait exchanges to guard against damages to national security caused by smuggling, illegal entry, drug trafficking, infiltration, and the like.
■ Our mainland policy and foreign policy shall be mutually reinforcing and complementary.
Basic Problems in Cross-Strait Negotiations
■ The Republic of China government officially announced in 1991 the end of the National Mobilization for Suppression of the Communist Rebellion, fully expressing its sincere hope to resolve the problem peacefully. We believe that in dealing with the disputes between the two sides, there must be complete respect for the pre-existing political and historical reality.
Any attempt to change this reality by the use of non-peaceful means will inflict a great calamity upon the people of both sides. thus, the two sides should at the appropriate juncture carry out negotiations for the purpose of signing a peace accord.
■ At the present stage, private-sector promotion of a "cross-strait forum" is permissible, wherein a wide array of representative figures from various sectors of each side are invited to exchange general views in a personal capacity on how to peacefully solve cross-strait issues, without pre-set positions.
■ In response to the the new circumstance regarding negotiations with the mainland regime, the ROC should step up its study of the mainland situation and the strategic mentality of the Chinese communists; and should actively cultivate skilled negotiating talent.
■ Cross-strait negotiations should be based on internal consensus, and should be conducted under the authority of the competent agencies and the supervision of the parliament.
■ Resumption of the Koo-Wang talks should be actively promoted to build a new relationship with Hong Kong and solve problems related to the accession of both Taiwan and the mainland to the World Trade Organizaiton. Hopefully, it will also create a climate of peaceful cross-strait interaction.
■ Efforts should be made to facilitate the opportune moment for the leaders of both sides to meet and create a new era of cross-Strait cooperation.
Building Cross-Strait Investment and Trade Relations Principles
■ Since the Chinese mainland still demonstrates enmity toward the Republic of China, development of investment and trade relations with the Chinese mainland should involve exceptional consideration of political risks. Accordingly, the pertinent policies must be gradually pursued in proper sequence under the premise of safeguarding ROC security and peace on both sides.
■ Trade and investment relations with the mainland should accord with the trends of Asia-Pacific economic integration and international industrial division of labor, and should develop stably, based on the win-win principles of mutual benefit and reciprocity.
■ The ROC's economic development should have a diverse global strategy wherein trade and investment relations with the mainland are a part of Taiwan's overall external trade and investment relations.
Directions
■ The domestic investment climate should be actively improved, and liberalization and globalization should be hastened to enhance overall national competitiveness.
■ The issue of establishing postal, transportation and commercial links with the mainland should be resolved through negotiation at an opportune time according to the principles of security and reciprocity. Prior to that time, implemenntation of an off-shore transshipment center should be continued to improve maritime transportation relations between the two sides and establish a foundation for the further development of such relations in the future.
■ The ROC government should map out policies at an early date in response to the new situation where both Taiwan and the mainland are about to accede to the World Trade Organization.
Strategies
Investment:
■ The government should conduct strategic planning with respect to investment in the mainland by Taiwan businesses and proceed gradually in proper sequence. Prudent assessment of investment on the mainland by large-scale Taiwan businesses should be made and reasonable standards set.
■ The government should utilize effective investment guarantee channels and provide the pertinent information and consultation services to step up communication with and assist Taiwan businesses.
■ In line with its diverse global strategy, the government should actively develop a range of external trade and investment relations, including the Southward Investment Strategy.
Trade:
■ Equal consideration should be given to pursuing stable growth of trade with the mainland and to spreading risk.
■ The current stage of implementing economic exchange and cooperation with the mainland may, in principle, be carried out by private-sector agencies jointly funding and establishing foundations at a site other than Taiwan or the mainland.
Interactions between Foreign and Cross-Strait Relations
■ The Republic of China is a sovereign state that must actively promote foreign relations and raise its profile at international activities in its pursuit of national survival and development. Taiwan is not a part of the "People's Republic of China," and the ROC government opposes dealing with the cross-strait issue through the "one country, two systems" scheme.
■ The government should reduce the possibility of confrontation with the mainland by establishing sounld mainland policies, and shoud actively make use of regional and global security and cooperation mechanisms to assure the security of Taiwan.
■ At this point, ROC accession to such international bodies as the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank should continue to be actively pursued.
■ ROC admission to the United Nations should be actively pursued as a long-term objective through flexible responses to changes in the international situation.
Implementing Hong Kong and Macau Policy to Protect the Rights and Interests of our Nationals
■ Under the premise that post-1997 Hong Kong and post-1999 Macau are able to maintain their status as areas with free economic systems and high degrees of autonomy, the ROC should regard these territories as separate areas distinct from the mainland.
■ Once Hong Kong and Macau come under the jurisdiction of the mainland regime, the ROC government should announce its concern at an appropriate time for freedom, human rights, prosperity, and stability in these two areas. The government should also regularly report to the parliament on the situation in Hong Kong and Macau.
■ The ROC government should, at an opportune time, discuss pertinent aspects of guarantees for the rights and interests of our nationals in Hong Kong and Macau with mainland authorities.
■ The ROC should maintain and step up its services in post-1997 Hong Kong and post-1999 Macau; and in response to the situation, should reconfigure or establish the pertinent agencies.
■ Government-commissioned private groups should receive authorization from the competent government agencies before signing accords with the governments of Hong Kong or Macau or with their authorized private groups.
■ Norms and regulations regarding entry and exit of pertinent personnel, and contacts between ROC national and residents of post-1997 Hong Kong and post-1999 Macau should be based on the principles of reciprocity and security.
■ In principle, direct shipping links should be maintained between Taiwan and post-1997 Hong Kong, with such shipping routes designated as "Special Shipping Routes" and treated as international shipping.
Decision-making and Supervisory Mechanism for Mainland Policy It is suggested that the President separately establish a consultative body for making policy decisions regarding relations with the mainland, the membership of which should include opposition parties and representative figures from all sectors of society.
While every effort has been made to provide an accurate English version, reference should be made to the original Chines text for complete accuracy.