Date: October 10, 2016
MAC Press Release No. 70
1. Since May 20, the government has respected the historical fact of a certain joint acknowledgement and understanding achieved during the meeting between the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) and the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) in 1992. Conducting cross-Strait affairs and promoting the peaceful and stable development of cross-Strait relations on the existing political foundation of the Constitution of the Republic of China (R.O.C.), the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, and other relevant legislation is the government's consistent view and stance, as well as the most flexible and pragmatic action. President Tsai reiterated in today’s National Day Address that the immovable position of the new government is to maintain both Taiwan's democracy and the status quo of peace across the Taiwan Strait. She also reiterated that the pledges and goodwill in Taiwan's cross-Strait policy will not change. But Taiwan will not bow to pressure and will not revert to the old path of confrontation. This is another expression of Taiwan's goodwill.
2. The two sides have made different choices in their institutional development. The R.O.C. is a sovereign state in which any policy promoted must respect the functioning of democratic mechanisms. Taiwan calls upon the authorities of mainland China to pragmatically face this reality and the people of Taiwan's unshakable faith in democratic system, as well as to actively regard Taiwan's serious attitude toward "maintaining the status quo." This is part of the joint duty of the authorities on both sides to protect the rights and well-being of the people. It is also a common aspiration of the two sides for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Sound and patient interaction and mutual goodwill between the two sides is the only way to calmly and rationally handle current cross-Strait problems, to narrow the cognitive gap between the two sides, and to build mutually beneficial cross-Strait relations in the future.
3. President Tsai also emphasized that anything can be included for discussion, as long as it is conducive to the development of cross-Strait peace and the welfare of people on both sides. The MAC expressed the firm belief that the two sides should jointly cherish the accumulated results of past exchanges and consultations between the two sides and promptly resume communication and dialogue. Constructive, non-conditional, and benign communication and dialogue is the key to resolving differences and all problems. It also offers an opportunity to create the well-being of the people and to find a way for joint development between the two sides. It is believed that mutually beneficial cross-Strait relations play an important role in building regional peace, security, harmony and prosperity. It is hoped that mainland China will again seriously consider that there is no need for unnecessary doubts and suspicions and not misjudge the situation.