As for cross-strait relations, President Ma stressed that since he took office, the ROC government has consistently sought, under the framework of the ROC Constitution, to maintain the status quo of "no unification, no independence, no use of force" in the Taiwan Strait. It has also sought to promote the peaceful development of cross-strait ties under the "1992 Consensus," whereby each side acknowledges the existence of "one China" but maintains its own interpretation of what that means. These important declarations have both helped to stabilize cross-strait relations, and at the same time promoted stability in ROC-US ties, he said.
The president mentioned that 36 years ago when the United States and mainland China established diplomatic relations, US politicians and academics analyzed the situation and felt that simultaneous trilateral relations among the United States, Japan, and mainland China in the 20th century would be untenable. They felt that way because prior to the 1950s, the United States and China of that era worked together in repelling the Japanese invasion, and later on the United States and Japan cooperated to resist Communist China. It was only after the United States and mainland China established ties that America was able to forge contact with Communist China and Japan at the same time. And with respect to the trilateral relationship involving the United States, Taiwan, and mainland China, the president said it was only after he took office and strived to improve cross-strait and ROC-US relations that the American government was able to engage the ROC and the mainland at the same time.
President Ma stressed that in the past the agenda involving cross-strait relations and the ROC's international relations created conflict, resulting in a vicious cycle. The efforts of the government over the past six years, however, have transformed this into a "virtuous cycle." The United States has even stated that it is optimistic about the future development of cross-strait relations. In addition, the president said that the government has not only sought to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait, but also in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, reaching consensuses with Japan and the Philippines, respectively, on the issues of fisheries and the enforcement of laws. This fully shows the ROC's determination and success in playing the role of "regional peacemaker," he said. The ROC, the president stated, will in the future continue to assist in promoting regional peace.
【Source: Office of the President】