| |
Consensus Formed at the
National Development Conference
on
Gross-Strait Relations |
| Appendix I |
Views Expressed at the
National Development
Conference
on Cross-Strait Relations
December 28, 1996 |
Policies and Principles for Cross-Strait Interactions
Regarding future cross-strait relations, the one-China principle, and the Guidelines for National Unification, the three major
political parties each presented their views as follows:
The Kuomintang
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1. The government should continue to abide by the framework of "one China, two separate and equal political entities" in defining cross-strait relations. This framework can accommodate the one-China principle as well as the political reality that each of the two sides has its own separate jurisdiction.
2. The ultimate goal of mainland policy is to pursue unification under a democratic system. The people of the Republic of China can not accept the communist system and lifestyle. Only when the gap in political and social institutions, economic development, and lifestyles of the two sides is narrowed through cross-strait exchanges on the basis of mutual respect toward the goal for unification under democracy, liberty, and equitable distribution of income, can the interests of the people of the two sides be best served.
3. Cross-strait relations have progressed rapidly in recent years in line with the Guidelines for National Unification, which have been instrumental in the flow across the Taiwan Strait of capital and goods, and in cultural, academic, and personnel exchanges. So, the Guidelines should be strictly adhered to as long as possible. In case of necessity for coping with changes in cross-strait relations, the government could call on the National Unification Council for reinterpretation of the relevant provisions of the Guidelines.
Furthermore, there is no time schedule provided in the Guidelines. The progress from the short-term stage to the mid-term stage and then to the long-term stage depends entirely on the scope and pace of peaceful interaction between the two sides. There is no need to set a fixed timetable for progress.
Democratic Progressive Party
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1. Taiwan is an independent sovereign nation.
2. The relationship between Taiwan and China is basically one between nations. Such bilateral relations should be normalized.
3. The nation's interests should be clearly spelled out. "Priority for Taiwan" should serve as the supreme guiding principle.
4. The nation's policy agenda should take national security as a matter of foremost importance.
5. To ensure Taiwan's security and enhance its national interests, the government should direct its efforts towards Taiwan's internationalization as a basic policy.
6. Due to limited budget allocations for national defense, the development of mid-range guided missiles should be given priority as a deterrent strategy.
7. In coordination with Taiwan's internationalization, the government should actively seek to join the United Nations. It should also promote political party-to-party diplomacy, people-to-people diplomacy, city-to-city diplomacy and other nonconventional diplomatic channels.
The New Party
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1. The New Party insists on the principle of "one China, two separate and equal political entities." However, the governments on either side of the Taiwan Strait should respect each other's interpretation of "one China." Mainland China insists that "one China" is the People's Republic of China; our side insists that "one China" is the Republic of China.
2. The two sides should resolve their differences peacefully with the greatest patience and wisdom. The ROC government should be guided by the principle of "separation of economics and politics" and assist Taiwan businessmen in developing the mainland market. The active promotion of economic, cultural, and academic exchanges can help stabilize cross-strait relations, ensure peace in the Taiwan Strait, and encourage the mainland to gradually discard totalitarianism in favor of democracy.
3. Although the Guidelines for National Unification are the guiding principles for policy formulation, they should be revised by the ruling party in consideration of the positions of opposition parties and changing situation. When promoting cross-strait relations, the government should not insist on progression from the short-term to the mid-term stage and then to the long-term stage. It can pursue short-term and mid-term goals simultaneously by actively promoting the three direct links, negotiating a peace accord and exchanging visits of senior leaders.
4. The unification of the two sides should be based on three fundamental principles:
a. Mainland China must abandon its dictatorial communist system;
b. Unification should be based on agreement between the people of the two sides;
c. Unification should be accomplished in a peaceful manner.
5. Membership of the National Unification Council should be based on recommendations made by political parties and major social groups. To allow the Democratic Progressive Party to take part in the policy-making process for mainland policy, the New Party is not opposed to the establishment of an advisory body separate from the National Unification Council in order to build consensus among political parties. The advisory body should be composed of members recommended by the different political parties and social groups.