| Subjects: |
- MAC's Response to the PRC's White Paper; "one China": respective interpretations; Business Leaders' Visits to Mainland China.
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MAC Vice Chairman Chong-Pin Lin
at the February 25, 2000 Press Conference
His Report:
MAC Chairman Su Chi will formally respond to the PRC's White Paper, "One-China Principle and the Taiwan Issue," at 4 p.m. today.
Questions and Answers:
Beijing Should Be Open-minded Toward Taiwan
Q. Can you reveal the main points of the Chairman's statement?
A. In the post-Cold War era, an increasing number of disputes around the world have been resolved through talks and negotiations. As the world is a global village, the slightest move in one part may affect the entire situation, and economies have shown greater interdependence. Therefore, any move detrimental to others may backfire, and violence is increasingly useless. The PRC's military threats against Taiwan will only jeopardize regional peace and stability and push Taiwan people further away from the Mainland. Beijing leaders should ask themselves: do they want unification of only the land, or together with the Taiwan people? We hope that Beijing will not be afraid of the tide of democracy, have confidence in the Mainland's political and economic reforms, and have an open mind in handling cross-strait relations.
We Never Retreat From Our Basic Position
Q. Chen Shui-bian, presidential candidate of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and his camp questioned MAC for repeating that "one China should be subject to interpreted respectively by each side" as a betrayal of President Lee Teng-hui's statement on the "special state-to-state relationship." Does this mean that the government's Mainland policy will take a step back?
A. The president introduced the "special state-to-state relationship" on July 9 last year. Three days later, Chairman Su gave a press conference. However, in the story by the United Daily News reporter Ho Ming-kuo, Su was quoted as saying that "the government will no longer mention the ‘one China' policy as in Beijing's version." But the headline of the story said, "The government will no longer mention ‘one China'." Consequently, Taiwan people as well as foreigners have been mistaken that the government has departing from the "one China" concept. Simply having its own view on "one China," the ROC government has not betray the principle of "one China" or reject that "one China should be subject to interpreted respectively by each side." The agreement reached in November 1992 appeared in the People's Daily (of the PRC) on Nov. 6, 1992, which clearly printed that "the two sides reached a consensus that "one China should be subject to interpreted respectively by each side.'" Based on this, both sides have had many meetings and negotiations and, most importantly, the Koo-Wang Talks in Singapore in April 1993. The ROC government has never betrayed the scope of "one China should be subject to interpreted respectively by each side." However, Beijing has set aside this agreement in three steps. First, it restricted the agreement for only cross-strait relations, not foreign affairs. Second, the agreement, at the PRC's insistence, should be limited to cross-strait practical issues, not political talks. Third, the PRC categorically denied the agreement.
Q. If the media misunderstood Su at that time, why did MAC not clarify immediately? Were you trying to create an ambiguous space as well?
A. I think the media are too busy to handle every news report in detail. We might have to learn from each other in the future. Under democracy, there are certain rules of the game. Taiwan's democracy is still nascent; I hope democracy can have its full-fledge play in the future.
"Special State-to-State Relationship" Has Triple Meanings ：For the Past, the Present and the Future
Q. Is "one China should be subject to interpreted respectively by each side" more or less equivalent to Lee's "special state-to-state relationship?"
A. "One China should be subject to interpreted respectively by each side" means that Beijing is entitled to have its own interpretation (on one China), and so can we. The ROC government's interpretation of "one China" is "special state-to-state relationship." The word "special" carries three meanings: the past, the present, and the future. For the past, the two sides share the same historic and cultural origins, so the two harbor "special" feelings. For the present, there are unusual cross-strait economic and social exchanges (increasing correspondences, telephone calls, visits, trade, and investment). For the future, both sides share the same hope for unification. The ROC government hopes that unification can be achieved under democracy, liberty, and equal prosperity.
Q. Should the USS Kitty Hawk pass through the Taiwan Straits, the PRC is expected to react strongly. What is the government's view?
A. This should be explained by the Ministry of National Defense (MOND) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). MAC respects these two government agencies in their respective authorities.
Beijing Has Betrayed the "Respective Interpretation" Consensus
Q. Did Beijing deny the agreement that " one China should be subject to interpreted respectively by each side" due to the introduction of the "special state-to-state relationship?"
A. Beijing had departed from that "one China should be subject to interpreted respectively by each side" before July 9 last year. Its departure in three steps took place long before then. That is why the ROC government considers it imperative to make a clarification. The president's introduction of the "special state-to-state relationship" last year was against Beijing's departure from that "one China should be subject to interpreted respectively by each side." In 1991, our government renounced the use of force against the PRC and treated both sides as political entities in a friendly gesture. However, Beijing has not renounced the use of force against Taiwan, but made it clear that the PRC is obviously a sovereign state and Taiwan, only a political entity with an ambiguous status. So, when the two parties are moving to sit across the negotiation table, one is an obvious sovereign state and the other is a political entity with ambiguous status, the latter could be annexed. So, the government decided last year to clearly state its principles on cross-strait relations and "one China."
Q. The PRC accused Taiwan of having departed from that "one China should be subject to interpreted respectively by each side" since Lee's visit to the United States (in 1995). When did Beijing start to depart from the consensus?
A. Detailed information will be compiled by my colleagues and furnished to you later.
"Patience without Haste" Policy Can Adjusted, If Beijing Shows Goodwill
Q. (Formosa Plastics Corp. Chairman) Wang Yung-ching may inspect his "Haicang Project" (in Fujian) during his Mainland trip. Also, Kao Chin-yen, chairman of Chinese National Federation of Industries, will visit Mainland China after the presidential election. Are these Mainland trips by Taiwan's business leaders an indication of the government's future relaxation of the Mainland policy? What is MAC's position on their Mainland visits?
A. When the president introduced the policy "no haste, be patient; advance steadfastly to reach far," the policy was not "inscribed on granite" but could change as situation dictates, especially when the PRC expresses goodwill. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), Wang's Mainland visit will focus on Chinese medical research sectors with a hope to introduce the Mainland's medical and biological technology to his Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. His trip aims at promoting cross-strait exchanges on Chinese medicine, not at doing investment. Should Formosa Plastics desire to invest in Mainland China on herb cultivation or plastics manufacturing, it must adhere to the government's policy and regulations. High-level officials at Formosa Plastics were said to tell MOEA and the Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD) that Wang's Mainland trip at the time of the presidential election is a pure coincidence without any political implication.
As for Mr. Kao's plan to lead a delegation to visit Mainland China after the presidential election, MAC has two positions as follows. First, the federation always has close cooperation with the government, so certainly it will give thorough consideration to its Mainland visit. Second, it has played an important role as a bridge between the government and business community. In choosing the timing of its Mainland trip, the federation is believed to have taken into close consideration national interests and dignity.
| The MAC News Briefing is an English transcript of the weekly news conference held by the Mainland Affairs Council. We try our best to provide an accurate English translation. In case of discrepancy, the Chinese text rules. |