Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairperson Jaushieh Joseph Wu today (8th) pointed out that the Mainland has developed a capability for enforcing the so-called “China’s peaceful rise” and has actively promoted “peace” diplomacy within the international community. However, it is very regrettable that it has continued to reinforce its military deployment against Taiwan, create obstacles blocking Taiwan’s diplomatic activities, and view Taiwan’s democratic development in a negative light. Chairperson Wu also said that “empathy” is the basic conviction behind the Government’s Mainland policy after May 20. That is, Taiwan understands the Mainland’s insistence on the principle of “One China” due to historical factors; nevertheless, the Mainland side must, based on empathy, treat in earnest the fact that the Republic of China is a sovereign and independent country. Peace should be the central axis by which differences are solved and by which cross-Strait relations are jointly handled.
Upon the invitation of the National Taipei University of Technology, Chairperson Wu gave a one-hour lecture on “Creating a New Win-win Situation for Both Sides of the Strait Through Equality and Reciprocity” today (8th) at 10 o’clock in the morning to more than 2,000 students of the university’s College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. Chairperson Wu stated that the Government’s Mainland policy can be viewed from four levels, namely, the Mainland’s military deployment against Taiwan, the Mainland’s foreign policies on Taiwan, Taiwan’s democratic process, and the current situation of cross-Strait exchanges. Along with its economic prosperity, the Mainland has continued to expand its military forces, which have formed a threat against Taiwan’s security. Moreover, the Mainland side has been oppressing the Taiwan Government in the field of diplomacy, causing tensed cross-Strait relations. During the SARS epidemic last year, the Mainland’s unyielding attitude and its indifference toward the protection of human rights have been deeply felt by the Taiwanese people.
Chairperson Wu also stated that the various proposals advocated by the 1990 student movement, including the convocation of a conference on national affairs, the abolition of the “Temporary Provisions Effective During the Period of National Mobilization for the Suppression of the Communist Rebellion," the overall re-election of the National Assembly, and the holding of direct presidential elections, have established the foundation for democratization in Taiwan. The first direct presidential elections in 1996; the first transfer of power between political parties in 2000; the public referendum in 2004; these were all democratic ways that pool the consensus of the entire people and respect the people’s choice. The Mainland should properly understand the efforts exerted by Taiwan in deepening the roots of democracy.
Finally, Chairperson Wu stated that since cross-Strait trade and economic exchanges have become more frequent, the MAC should coordinate with other Government agencies in the future in developing cross-Strait economic and other relations under a peace and stability framework for cross-Strait interaction, including the establishment of a mechanism for mutual trust in military affairs, to create cross-Strait peace and harmony and to allow both sides to move toward a win-win situation that is based on equality and reciprocity.