The Abolishment of the National Unification Council (NUC) and the Guidelines for National Unification (GNU) will be Evaluated by the National Security Council (NSC). China’s Threats and Suppression are the Reasons for Unstable Cross-Strait Relations
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) indicates today (February 2, 2006) that the government’s China policy has always placed a priority on the maintenance of Taiwan’s national security and the people’s welfare. Since President Chen Shui-bian’s inauguration in 2000, the ultimate goal of the government’s China policy has always been to pursue cross-strait peace and stability. When facing China’s relentless military threats and diplomatic suppression, the Taiwanese government has not eschewed its responsibility to protect Taiwan. The president has also indicated several times that he will guarantee his “Five Noes” pledge only under the premise that China abandons its intention to attack Taiwan by force. Although this pledge remains good as before, it is unfortunate that China’s threats and suppression have steadily intensified. This asymmetrical mode of interaction has resulted in instability in cross-strait relations. The experts must also gain a clear understanding of the reasons behind the situation.
The MAC indicates that President Chen Shui-bian has recently proposed to consider the abolishment of the NUC and the GNU. This proposal, which does not need to be implemented immediately, is currently under review and assessment of the NSC. The president’s proposal helps to remind the Taiwanese people that some circumstances have gone through major changes and therefore must be reviewed. The NUC and the GNU have predetermined that unification with China is the only and ultimate goal. This is a remaining vestige of the previous administration that blinds the distinctions between the government and political party. Not only is it entirely inconsistent with rational and democratic expectations of the people, but it also violates the mainstream opinion that, “Taiwan’s future must be decided through the free will of the 23 million Taiwanese people.” This issue indeed requires further discussion, assessment, and study. Since this matter is still under the review and assessment of the NSC, whether or not President Chen’s statement has violated the “Five Noes” is certainly not an issue.
The president’s proposal to consider carefully the abolishment of the NUC is raised in light of a resolution on the budget of the Presidential Office, which was passed during the 19th legislative conference of the second session of the Sixth Legislative Yuan on January 12, 2006. The resolution indicates that the agencies under the Presidential Office, which lack legal basis such as the “Preparatory Office of the National Human Rights Museum,” “Advisory Panel on Gender Mainstreaming,” “Science and Technology Consultation Council,” “Constitutional Reform Office,” and the “Youth Corps of the Presidential Office,” should be entirely abolished. The Legislative Yuan demanded the abolishment of the said agencies because of the “lack of a legal basis.” Therefore, based on the spirit of the same legislative resolution, all other agencies without any legal basis like the NUC must naturally be abolished. Moreover, the 2003 NUC budget was submitted to the Legislative Yuan by the Presidential Office in accordance with the amount of previous years at the end of 2002. However, the Legislative Yuan cut down the budget to only NT$1,000. Since 2004, the annual budget appropriated for the NUC has been set to NT$1,000. This was done out of respect for the Legislative Yuan’s resolution. The legislative resolution on the 2003 NUC budget was oriented toward substantive abolishment of the NUC. Furthermore, the 2006 resolution was intended to terminate the NUC’s nominal existence. Since the resolution has been decided by the Legislative Yuan, how it will be applied is also an issue that is worthy of further discussion.