The Chinese authorities are harping on the same old tune of “one China” in an attempt to interfere with Taiwan’s election
Chinese President Hu Jintao made remarks on cross-strait relations today (March 4, 2008). In response, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) reiterates that Taiwan is an independent sovereign country, its national moniker is the Republic of China, and its sovereignty rests in its 23 million people. China should pragmatically face up to the fact and reality that Taiwan and China have no jurisdiction over each other. The Chinese leader, however, still stubbornly insists on harping on the same old tune of the “one China” principle as a precondition for cross-strait negotiations and interactions. This kind of unrealistic political slogan is fundamentally ignorant of reality, devoid of new ideas, and is not beneficial to resolving political antagonism across the Strait.
The MAC emphasizes that the Beijing authorities have set the “one China principle” as the strategic framework employed by China in its Taiwan policy and have fully applied this framework in all aspects of cross-strait exchanges and international activities. China’s ultimate goal remains to dwarf and annihilate the Republic of China. The MAC insists that the Taiwanese government will never accept China’s unilateral proposal to define the status of cross-strait relations and to establish a political framework under the “one China” principle, nor will it accept the development of cross-strait relations in an unequal manner under such a preset framework. The remarks made today by the Chinese leader will inevitably have a negative impact on the development of cross-strait relations and interactions.
The MAC indicates that China is using the holding of the First Session of China’s 11th National People’s Congress (NPC) and the First Session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) to wantonly criticize Taiwan’s upcoming presidential election and the two scheduled referendums on joining and returning to the United Nations, in order to have an intimidating effect on Taiwanese voters. This has again demonstrated Beijing's lack of understanding of the cross-strait reality and the reaction of the public opinion in Taiwan. China’s attempts are aimed at confusing and misleading the international community about the internal developments in Taiwan. The MAC sternly and solemnly calls on China to immediately stop military intimidation and international suppression against Taiwan and to pragmatically face up to the existence of the Republic of China. It also urges that the Beijing authorities should resume negotiations and communication with Taiwan as soon as possible. China should not misjudge public opinion in Taiwan and the development of cross-strait situations, nor should it vainly attempt to undermine and interfere with Taiwan’s democratic process. Otherwise, it is inevitable that China will have to bear serious consequences resulting from its own erroneous policies and measures.