The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) solemnly indicates today (February 22, 2006) that Taiwan’s future must be jointly decided by the 23 million Taiwanese people, as this is the mainstream public opinion in Taiwan. China has repeatedly claimed that it respects the Taiwanese people’s desire to manage their own affairs, and that it places hopes on the Taiwanese people. However, China has attempted to impose its unilateral views on the Taiwanese people through various actions, including the enactment of the "anti-separation law." It has also repeatedly resorted to hostile legal means and military intimidation to dictate its unilateral position of unification as the Taiwanese people’s only option. These methods of provoking the Taiwanese people’s feelings have not only obstructed the normalization of cross-strait relations, but have also completely violated the Chinese leadership’s pledge. That is, China should respect the Taiwanese people’s desire to manage their own affairs. In reality, the facts have proved that China has always been the provoker and saboteur of peace in the Taiwan Strait.
The MAC also indicates that it is the Taiwanese government’s established policy to implement passenger and cargo charter flights and open up the visits to Taiwan by Chinese tourists through cross-strait negotiations. Two years ago, Taiwan not only completed relevant plans on the visits to Taiwan by Chinese tourists, but also promulgated its permit regulations. Moreover, Taiwan has repeatedly urged China to negotiate with Taiwan as soon as possible. All these gestures have more than highlighted Taiwan's consistent and basic position. However, China has never made a positive reply to Taiwan's appeals and demands. A Taiwan Affairs Office official declares today that China will soon announce its management regulations governing the visits to Taiwan by Chinese tourists. But in reality, China has consistently delayed the process of this issue. We will continue to monitor whether China will act on its words and has the sincerity to negotiate with Taiwan.
The MAC expresses that both sides across the Strait have existing mechanisms to handle consultations and arrangements on relevant issues. Under such mechanisms, both sides can discuss and arrange related details. The MAC also urges China not to set frameworks to obstruct consultations with Taiwan and not to intentionally use channels other than the existing mechanisms to make improper statements. Such actions will not display sincerity and only complicate cross-strait negotiations. The MAC indicates that if China is truly sincere, it should make a substantive response to Taiwan's proposals through the contact windows authorized by both sides respectively as soon as possible. China is urged to positively make arrangements for negotiations on related cross-strait issues.