What is the present state of the Taiwan question?
What is the crux of the problem? What are the position and views of the
Chinese Government regarding the settlement of this issue? In order to
facilitate a better understanding by the international community, it is
necessary to elucidate the following points.
I. Taiwan -- an Inalienable Part of
China
Lying off the southeastern coast of the
China mainland, Taiwan is China's largest island and forms an integral
whole with the mainland.
Taiwan has belonged to China since ancient times. It was known as
Yizhou or Liuqiu in antiquities. Many historical records and annals
documented the development of Taiwan by the Chinese people in earlier
periods. References to this effect were to be found, among others, in
Seaboard Geographic Gazetteer compiled more than 1,700 years ago by Shen
Ying of the State of Wu during the period of the Three Kingdoms. This was
the world's earliest written account of Taiwan. Several expeditions, each
numbering over ten thousand men, had been sent to Taiwan by the State of
Wu (third century A.D.) and the Sui Dynasty (seventh century A.D.)
respectively. Since early seventeenth century the Chinese people began to
step up the development of Taiwan. Their numbers topped one hundred
thousand at the end of the century. By 1893 (19th year of the reign of
Qing Emperor Guangxu) their population exceeded 2.54 million people in
507,000 or more households. That was a 25-fold increase in 200 years. They
brought in a more advanced mode of production and settled the whole length
and breadth of Taiwan. Thanks to the determined efforts and hard toil of
the pioneers, the development of the island as a whole greatly
accelerated. This was the historical fact of how Taiwan, like the other
parts of China, came to be opened up and settled by the Chinese people of
various nationalities. From the very beginning the Taiwan society derived
from the source of the Chinese cultural tradition. This basic fact had not
changed even during the half century of Japanese occupation. The history
of Taiwan's development is imbued with the blood, sweat, and ingenuity of
the Chinese people including the local ethnic minorities.
Chinese governments of different periods set up administrative bodies
to exercise jurisdiction over Taiwan. As early as in the mid-12th century
the Song Dynasty set up a garrison in Penghu, putting the territory under
the jurisdiction of Jinjiang County of Fujian's Quanzhou Prefecture. The
Yuan Dynasty installed an agency of patrol and inspection in Penghu to
administer the territory. During the mid- and late 16th century the Ming
Dynasty reinstated the once abolished agency and sent reinforcements to
Penghu in order to ward off foreign invaders. In 1662 (first year of the
reign of Qing Emperor Kangxi) General Zheng Chenggong (known in the West
as Koxinga) instituted Chengtian Prefecture on Taiwan. Subsequently, the
Qing government expanded the administrative structure in Taiwan, thereby
strengthening its rule over the territory. In 1684 (23rd year of the reign
of Emperor Kangxi) a Taiwan-Xiamen Patrol Command and a Taiwan Prefecture
Administration were set up under the jurisdiction of Fujian Province.
These in turn exercised jurisdiction over three counties on the island:
Taiwan (present-day Tainan), Fengshan (present-day Gaoxiong) and Zhuluo
(present-day Jiayi). In 1714 (53rd year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi)
the Qing government ordered the mapping of Taiwan to determine its size.
In 1721 (60th year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi) an office of imperial
supervisor of inspecting Taiwan was created and the Taiwan-Xiamen Patrol
Command was renamed Prefecture Administration of Taiwan and Xiamen,
incorporating the subsequently-created Zhanghua County and Danshui Canton.
In 1727 (5th year of the reign of Emperor Yongzheng) the administration on
the island was reconstituted as the Prefecture Administration of Taiwan
(which was later renamed Prefecture Command for Patrol of Taiwan) and
incorporated the new Penghu Canton. The territory then became officially
known as Taiwan. In order to upgrade the administration of Taiwan, the
Qing government created Taibei Prefecture, Jilong Canton and three
counties of Danshui, Xinzhu and Yilan in 1875 (1st year of the reign of
Emperor Guangxu). In 1885 (11th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu), the
government formally made Taiwan a full province covering three prefectures
and one subprefecture and incorporating 11 counties and 5 cantons. Liu
Mingchuan was appointed first Governor of Taiwan. During his tenure of
office, railways were laid, mines opened, telegraph service installed,
merchant ships built, industries started and new-style schools set up.
Considerable social, economic and cultural advancement in Taiwan was
achieved as a result.
After the Chinese people's victory in the war against Japanese
aggression in 1945, the Chinese government reinstated its administrative
authority in Taiwan Province.
Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Straits carried out a prolonged,
unremitting struggle against foreign invasion and occupation of Taiwan.
Since the late 15th century Western colonialists started to grab and
conquer colonies in a big way. In 1624 (4th year of the reign of Ming
Emperor Tianqi) Dutch colonialists invaded and occupied the southern part
of Taiwan. Two years later Spanish colonialists seized the northern part
of Taiwan. In 1642 (15th year of the reign of Ming Emperor Chongzhen) the
Dutch evicted the Spaniards and took over north Taiwan. The Chinese people
on both sides of the Straits waged various forms of struggle including
armed insurrections against the invasion and occupation of Taiwan by
foreign colonialists. In 1661 (18th year of the reign of Qing Emperor
Shunzhi) General Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga) led an expedition to Taiwan and
expelled the Dutch colonialists from the island in the following year.
Japan launched a war of aggression against China in 1894 (20th year of
the reign of Qing Emperor Guangxu). In the ensuing year, as a result of
defeat the Qing government was forced to sign the Treaty of Shimonoseki,
ceding Taiwan to Japan. This wanton betrayal and humiliation shocked the
whole nation and touched off a storm of protests. A thousand or more
candidates from all 18 provinces including Taiwan who had assembled in
Beijing for the Imperial Examination signed a strongly-worded petition
opposing the ceding of Taiwan. In Taiwan itself, people wailed and
bemoaned the betrayal and went on general strikes. General Liu Yongfu and
others of the garrison command stood with Taiwan compatriots and put up a
fierce fight against the Japanese landing forces. To support this
struggle, people on the mainland, particularly in the southeastern region,
showed their solidarity by generous donations or organizing volunteers to
Taiwan to fight the Japanese forces. Taiwan compatriots never ceased their
dauntless struggle throughout the Japanese occupation. Initially, they
formed insurgent groups to wage guerrilla warfare for as long as seven
years. When the Revolution of 1911 overthrew the Qing monarchy they in
turn lent support to their mainland compatriots by staging more than a
dozen armed insurrections. The 1920s and 1930s witnessed surging waves of
mass action sweeping across the island against Japanese colonial rule.
In 1937 the Chinese people threw themselves into an all-out war of
resistance against Japanese aggression. In its declaration of war against
Japan, the Chinese Government proclaimed that all treaties, conventions,
agreements, and contracts regarding relations between China and Japan,
including the Treaty of Shimonoseki, had been abrogated. The declaration
stressed that China would recover Taiwan, Penghu and the four northeastern
provinces. After eight years of grueling war against Japanese aggression
the Chinese people won final victory and recovered the lost territory of
Taiwan in 1945. Taiwan compatriots displayed an outburst of passion and
celebrated the great triumph of their return to the fold of the motherland
by setting off big bangs of fireworks and performing rites to communicate
the event to their ancestors.
The international community has acknowledged the fact that Taiwan
belongs to China. The Chinese people's war of resistance against Japanese
aggression, being part of the world-wide struggle against Fascism,
received extensive support from people all over the world. During the
Second World War China, the United States, the Soviet Union, Great
Britain, France and others formed an alliance to oppose the Axis of
Germany, Japan and Italy. The Cairo Declaration issued by China, the
United States and Great Britain on 1 December 1943 stated: "It is the
purpose of the three great Allies that Japan shall be stripped of all the
islands in the Pacific which she has seized or occupied since the
beginning of the First World War in 1914, and that all the territories
Japan has stolen from the Chinese, such as Manchuria, Formosa [Taiwan] and
the Pescadores [Penghu], shall be restored to China." The Potsdam
Proclamation signed by China, the United States and Great Britain on 26
July 1945 (subsequently adhered to by the Soviet Union) reiterated: "The
terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out." On 15 August of the
same year, Japan declared surrender. The instrument of Japan's surrender
stipulated that "Japan hereby accepts the provisions in the declaration
issued by the heads of the Governments of the United States, China and
Great Britain on July 26, 1945 at Potsdam, and subsequently adhered to by
the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics." On 25 October the ceremony for
accepting Japan's surrender in Taiwan Province of the China war theater of
the Allied powers was held in Taibei. On the occasion the chief officer
for accepting the surrender proclaimed on behalf of the Chinese government
that from that day forward Taiwan and the Penghu Archipelago had again
been incorporated formally into the territory of China and that the
territory, people, and administration had now been placed under the
sovereignty of China. From that point in time forward, Taiwan and Penghu
had been put back under the jurisdiction of Chinese sovereignty.
Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, 157 countries
have established diplomatic relations with China. All these countries
recognize that there is only one China and that the Government of the
People's Republic of China is the sole legal government of China and
Taiwan is part of China.
II. Origin of the Taiwan Question
Taiwan was returned to China de jure and de
facto at the end of the Second World War. It became an issue only as an
aftermath of the ensuing anti-popular civil war started by Kuomintang, and
more especially because of intervention by foreign forces.
Taiwan question and civil war launched by Kuomintang. During the war of
resistance against Japanese aggression the Chinese Communist Party and
other patriotic groups pressed Kuomintang into a national united front
with the Communist Party to fight Japanese imperialist aggression. After
victory of the war the two Parties should have joined hands to work for
the resurgence of China. But the Kuomintang clique headed by Chiang
Kaishek flouted the people's fervent aspirations for peace and for
building an independent, democratic and prosperous new China. Relying on
U.S. support, this clique tore up the 10 October 1945 agreement between
the two Parties and launched an all-out anti-popular civil war. The
Chinese people were compelled to respond with a people's liberation war
which was to last more than three years under the leadership of the
Communist Party. Since the Kuomintang clique had already been spurned by
the people of all nationalities for its reign of terror, the government of
the "Republic of China" in Nanjing was finally overthrown by the Chinese
people. The People's Republic of China was proclaimed on 1 October 1949
and the Government of the new People's Republic became the sole legal
government of China. A group of military and political officials of the
Kuomintang clique took refuge in Taiwan and, with the support of the then
U.S. administration, created the division between the two sides of the
Straits.
Taiwan question and responsibility of the United States. Against the
backdrop of East-West confrontation in the wake of the Second World War
and guided by its conceived global strategy and national interest
considerations, the U.S. government gave full support to the Kuomintang,
providing it with money, weapons and advisors to carry on the civil war
and block the advance of the Chinese people's revolution. However, the
U.S. government never achieved its objective. The White Paper on United
States Relations with China released by the Department of State in 1949
and Secretary of State Dean Acheson's letter of transmittal to President
Harry S. Truman had to admit this. Dean Acheson lamented in his letter:
"The unfortunate but inescapable fact is that the ominous result of the
civil war in China was beyond the control of the government of the United
States. ... Nothing that was left undone by this country has contributed
to it. It was the product of internal Chinese forces, forces which this
country tried to influence but could not."
At the time of the founding of the People's Republic of China the then
U.S. administration could have pulled itself from the quagmire of China's
civil war. But it failed to do so. Instead, it adopted a policy of
isolation and containment of New China. When the Korean War broke out, it
started armed intervention in the inter-Taiwan Straits relations which
were entirely China's internal affairs. On 27 June 1950 President Truman
announced: "I have ordered the Seventh Fleet to prevent any attack on
Formosa." Thus the Seventh Fleet invaded the Taiwan Straits and the U.S.
13th Air Force set up base in Taiwan. In December 1954 the U.S. concluded
with the Taiwan authorities a so-called mutual defense treaty placing
China's Taiwan Province under U.S. "protection". The erroneous policy of
the U.S. government of continued interference in China's internal affairs
led to prolonged and intense confrontation in the Taiwan Straits area and
henceforth the Taiwan question became a major dispute between China and
the United States.
In order to ease tension in the Taiwan Straits area and seek ways of
solving the dispute between the two countries, the Chinese Government
started dialogues with the United States from the mid-1950s onwards. The
two countries held 136 sessions of talks at ambassadorial level from
August 1955 to February 1970. However, no progress had been made in that
period on the key issue of easing and removing tension in the Taiwan
Straits area. It was not until late 1960s and early 1970s when the
international situation had undergone changes and as New China had gained
in strength that the U.S. began to readjust its China policy and the
relations between the two countries started a thawing. In October 1971 the
United Nations General Assembly adopted at its 26th session Resolution
2758 which restored all the lawful rights of the People's Republic of
China in the United Nations and expelled the "representatives" of the
Taiwan authorities from the U.N. U.S. President Richard Nixon visited
China in February 1972 in the course of which the two countries issued a
joint communiqu'e?? in Shanghai stating that: "The U.S. side declared: the
United States acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan
Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China.
The United States Government does not challenge that position."
In December 1978 the U.S. Government accepted the three principles
proposed by the Chinese Government for the establishment of diplomatic
relations between the two countries, namely, the United States should
sever "diplomatic relations" and abrogate the "mutual defense treaty" with
the Taiwan authorities and withdraw U.S. military forces from Taiwan. On 1
January 1979 China and the United States formally established diplomatic
relations. The Communiqu'e on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations
said that: "The United States of America recognizes the Government of the
People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China. Within
this context, the people of the United States will maintain cultural,
commercial and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan ...
... The Government of the United States of America acknowledges the
Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China."
Normalization of Sino-U.S. relations was thus achieved.
Regrettably, however, scarcely three months after the event, a
so-called Taiwan Relations Act was passed by the U.S. Congress and signed
into law by the President. A domestic legislation of the U.S. as it was,
this Act contained many clauses that contravened the communiqu'e? on the
establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the U.S. and the
principles of international law, and seriously prejudiced the rights and
interests of the Chinese people. Invoking this legislation, the U.S.
Government has continued its arms sales to Taiwan, interference in China's
internal affairs and obstruction to Taiwan's reunification with the
mainland.
In order to resolve the issue of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, the Chinese
and the U.S. governments negotiated and reached an agreement on 17 August
1982. A communique? bearing the same date became the third joint
communique? governing Sino-U.S. relations. In that communique? the U.S.
Government stated that: "It does not seek to carry out a long-term policy
of arms sales to Taiwan, that its arms sales to Taiwan will not exceed,
either in qualitative or in quantitative terms, the level of those
supplied in recent years since the establishment of diplomatic relations
between the United States and China and that it intends gradually to
reduce its sale of arms to Taiwan, leading, over a period of time, to a
final resolution." Yet in the past dozen or more years the U.S. Government
has not only failed to implement the communiqu'e? in earnest, but has
repeatedly contravened it. In September 1992 the U.S. Government even
decided to sell 150 F-16 high-performance fighter aircraft to Taiwan. This
action of the U.S. Government has added a new stumbling block in the way
of the development of Sino-U.S. relations and settlement of the Taiwan
question.
It is clear from the foregoing that the U.S. Government is responsible
for holding up the settlement of the Taiwan question. Since the 1970s many
Americans of vision and goodwill in or outside the administration have
contributed much by way of helping to resolve the differences between
China and the U.S. on the Taiwan question. The aforesaid three joint
communiqu'e?s testify to their effort and contribution of which the
Chinese Government and people are highly appreciative. On the other hand,
one cannot fail to note that there are people in the U.S. who still do not
want to see a reunified China. They have cooked up various pretexts and
exerted influence to obstruct the settlement of the Taiwan question.
The Chinese Government is convinced that the American and the Chinese
peoples are friendly to each other and that the normal development of the
relations between the two countries accords with the long-term interests
and common aspiration of both peoples. Both countries should cherish the
three hard-won joint communiqu'e?s guiding the development of bilateral
relations. As long as both sides abide by the principles enshrined in
those communique?s, respect each other and set store by their overall
common interests, it will not be difficult to settle the Taiwan question
that has been left over from history and Sino-U.S. relations will surely
see steady improvement and development ahead.
III. The Chinese Government's Basic Position
Regarding Settlement of the Taiwan Question
To
settle the Taiwan question and achieve national reunification -- this is a
sacrosanct mission of the entire Chinese people. The Chinese Government
has persistently worked towards this end since the founding of the
People's Republic. Its basic position on this question is: peaceful
reunification; one country, two systems.
Peaceful reunification; one country, two systems -- how has this
position been formulated? The Chinese Government conceived a peaceful
settlement of the Taiwan question as early as in the 1950s. In May 1955
the late Premier Zhou Enlai said at a NPC Standing Committee meeting that
two alternatives were open to the Chinese people for the solution of the
Taiwan question -- by resort to war or by peaceful means. The Chinese
people would strive for a peaceful solution wherever possible, he
affirmed. In April 1956 the late Chairman Mao Zedong put forward thoughts
for policymaking such as "peace is the best option", "all patriots are of
one family" and "it is never too late to join the ranks of patriots".
However, those wishes have not come to fruition for reasons such as
interference by foreign forces.
Major changes took place in and outside China in the 1970s. Diplomatic
ties were established and relations normalized between China and the
United States. The Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee
of the Communist Party of China decided to shift the focus of the work of
the Party and the State to the economic modernization programme. In the
meantime, people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, compatriots of Hong
Kong and Macao as well as overseas Chinese and people of Chinese descent
all expressed their fervent hope that the two sides of the Straits would
join hands to work for a resurgence of China. It was against this
historical background that the Chinese Government formulated the position
of "peaceful reunification; one country, two systems". The position takes
the overall national interests and the future of the country into
consideration. It respects history as well as the prevailing situation. It
is realistic and takes care of the interests of all.
On 1 January 1979 the Standing Committee of the National People's
Congress of the People's Republic of China issued a message to compatriots
in Taiwan, pronouncing the Chinese Government's basic position regarding
peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question. It called for the holding of
talks between the two sides of the Straits to seek an end to the military
confrontation. It pledged that in the pursuit of national reunification,
the Government "will respect the status quo on Taiwan and the views of
people of all walks of life there and adopt reasonable policies and
measures".
In a statement on 30 September 1981 the late Chairman Ye Jianying of
the NPC Standing Committee further elaborated the policy and principles
for the settlement of the Taiwan question. He affirmed that "after the
country is reunified, Taiwan can enjoy a high degree of autonomy as a
special administrative region" and proposed that talks be held on an equal
footing between the ruling Parties on each side of the Straits, namely,
the Chinese Communist Party and the Kuomintang.
Referring to Ye Jianying's remarks, Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping
pointed out on 11 January 1982 that this in effect meant "one country, two
systems", i.e., on the premise of national reunification, the main body of
the nation would continue with its socialist system while Taiwan could
maintain capitalism.
On 26 June 1983 Deng Xiaoping further enunciated the concept of
peaceful reunification, stressing that the crucial point was national
reunification. He went on to expound the Government's policy on
reunification and on the creation of a Taiwan special administrative
region.
On 12 October 1992 General Secretary Jiang Zemin of the CPC Central
Committee pointed out: "We shall work steadfastly for the great cause,
adhering to the principles of peaceful reunification and 'one country, two
systems' ... ... We reiterate that the Chinese Communist Party is ready to
establish contact with the Chinese Kuomintang at the earliest possible
date to create conditions for talks on officially ending the state of
hostility between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits and gradually
realizing peaceful reunification. Representatives from other parties, mass
organizations and all circles on both sides of the Taiwan Straits could be
invited to join in such talks."
Basic Contents of "peaceful reunification; one country, two systems".
This position is an important component of the theory and practice of
building socialism with Chinese characteristics and a fundamental state
policy of the Chinese Government which will not change for a long time to
come. Its basic contents are as follows:
1. Only one China. There is only one China in the world, Taiwan is an
inalienable part of China and the seat of China's central government is in
Beijing. This is a universally recognized fact as well as the premise for
a peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question.
The Chinese Government is firmly against any words or deeds designed to
split China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It opposes "two
Chinas", "one China, one Taiwan", "one country, two governments" or any
attempt or act that could lead to "independence of Taiwan". The Chinese
people on both sides of the Straits all believe that there is only one
China and espouse national reunification. Taiwan's status as an
inalienable part of China has been determined and cannot be changed.
"Self- determination" for Taiwan is out of the question.
2. Coexistence of two systems. On the premise of one China, socialism
on the mainland and capitalism on Taiwan can coexist and develop side by
side for a long time without one swallowing up the other. This concept has
largely taken account of the actual situation in Taiwan and practical
interests of our compatriots there. It will be a unique feature and
important innovation in the state system of a reunified China.
After reunification, Taiwan's current socio-economic system, its way of
life as well as economic and cultural ties with foreign countries can
remain unchanged. Private property, including houses and land, as well as
business ownership, legal inheritance and overseas Chinese and foreign
investments on the island will all be protected by law.
3. A high degree of autonomy. After reunification, Taiwan will become a
special administrative region. It will be distinguished from the other
provinces or regions of China by its high degree of autonomy. It will have
its own administrative and legislative powers, an independent judiciary
and the right of adjudication on the island. It will run its own party,
political, military, economic and financial affairs. It may conclude
commercial and cultural agreements with foreign countries and enjoy
certain rights in foreign affairs. It may keep its military forces and the
mainland will not dispatch troops or administrative personnel to the
island. On the other hand, representatives of the government of the
special administrative region and those from different circles of Taiwan
may be appointed to senior posts in the central government and participate
in the running of national affairs.
4. Peace negotiations. It is the common aspiration of the entire
Chinese people to achieve reunification of the country by peaceful means
through contacts and negotiations. People on both sides of the Straits are
all Chinese. It would be a great tragedy for all if China's territorial
integrity and sovereignty were to be split and its people were to be drawn
into a fratricide. Peaceful reunification will greatly enhance the
cohesion of the Chinese nation. It will facilitate Taiwan's socio-economic
stability and development and promote the resurgence and prosperity of
China as a whole.
In order to put an end to hostility and achieve peaceful reunification,
the two sides should enter into contacts and negotiations at the earliest
possible date. On the premise of one China, both sides can discuss any
subject, including the modality of negotiations, the question of what
Parties, groups and personalities may participate as well as any other
matters of concern to the Taiwan side. So long as the two sides sit down
and talk, they will always be able to find a mutually acceptable solution.
Taking into account the prevailing situation on both sides of the
Straits, the Chinese Government has proposed that pending reunification
the two sides should, according to the principle of mutual respect,
complementarity and mutual benefit, actively promote economic cooperation
and other exchanges. Direct trade, postal, air and shipping services and
two-way visits should be started in order to pave the way for the peaceful
reunification of the country.
Peaceful reunification is a set policy of the Chinese Government.
However, any sovereign state is entitled to use any means it deems
necessary, including military ones, to uphold its sovereignty and
territorial integrity. The Chinese Government is under no obligation to
undertake any commitment to any foreign power or people intending to split
China as to what means it might use to handle its own domestic affairs.
It should be pointed out that the Taiwan question is purely an internal
affair of China and bears no analogy to the cases of Germany and Korea
which were brought about as a result of international accords at the end
of the Second World War. Therefore, the Taiwan question should not be
placed on a par with the situation of Germany or Korea. The Chinese
Government has always opposed applying the German or Korean formulas to
Taiwan. The Taiwan question should and entirely can be resolved
judiciously through bilateral consultations and within the framework of
one China.
IV. Relations
Across Taiwan Straits: Evolution and Stumbling Blocks
The present division between the two sides of
the Taiwan Straits is a misfortune for the Chinese nation. All the Chinese
people are yearning for an early end to this agonizing situation.
In order to enable normal movement of people across the Straits and to
achieve reunification of the country, the Chinese Government has made
proposals towards this end and, at the same time, adopted measures to step
up the development of inter-Straits relations.
On the political plane, policy adjustments have been made with a view
to breaking down the mentality of hostility. The Supreme People's Court
and the Supreme People's Procuratorate have decided respectively that
people who had gone to Taiwan would no longer be prosecuted for offenses
prior to the founding of the People's Republic of China.
On the military plane, initiatives have been taken to ease military
confrontation across the Straits. Shelling of Jinmen and other islands
have been discontinued. Some forward defense positions and observation
posts along the Fujian coast have been transformed into economic
development zones or tourist attractions.
On the economic plane, doors have been flung open to facilitate the
flow of goods and people. Businessmen from Taiwan are welcome to invest or
trade on the mainland. They are accorded preferential treatment and legal
safeguards.
The Chinese Government has also adopted a positive attitude and taken
measures to encourage bilateral exchanges and cooperation in areas such as
two-way travels, post and communications as well as scientific, cultural,
sports, academic and journalistic activities. A non-governmental
Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits has been set up and
authorized by the Government to liaise with the Straits Exchange
Foundation and other relevant non-governmental bodies in Taiwan for the
purpose of upholding the legitimate rights and interests of people on both
sides and promoting inter-Straits relations.
Such policies and measures of the Chinese Government have won the
understanding and support of more and more Taiwan compatriots, compatriots
in Hong Kong and Macao as well as overseas Chinese and people of Chinese
descent. On their part, Taiwan compatriots have contributed tremendously
to the development of inter-Straits relations. In recent years the Taiwan
authorities have in turn made readjustments in their policy regarding the
mainland. They have taken steps to ease the situation, such as allowing
people to visit relatives on the mainland, gradually reducing the
restrictions on people-to-people exchanges and contact, expanding indirect
trade, permitting indirect investment and cutting red tape in
inter-Straits post, telecommunications and bank remittance services. All
these are conducive to better interchanges. The past few years have
witnessed rapid growth of economic relations and trade as well as
increasing mutual visits and sundry exchanges across the Straits. The Wang
Daohan--Koo Chen-fu Talks in April 1993 resulted in four agreements,
marking a step forward of historic significance in inter-Straits
relations. Thus an atmosphere of relaxation prevails in the Taiwan Straits
for the first time in the past four decades. This is auspicious to
peaceful reunification.
It should be pointed out that notwithstanding a certain measure of
easing up by the Taiwan authorities, their current policy vis-a-vis the
mainland still seriously impedes the development of relations across the
Straits as well as the reunification of the country. They talk about the
necessity of a reunified China, but their deeds are always a far cry from
the principle of one China. They try to prolong Taiwan's separation from
the mainland and refuse to hold talks on peaceful reunification. They have
even set up barriers to curb the further development of the interchanges
across the Straits.
In recent years the clamours for "Taiwan independence" on the island
have become shriller, casting a shadow over the course of relations across
the Straits and the prospect of peaceful reunification of the country. The
"Taiwan independence" fallacy has a complex social-historical root and
international background. But the Taiwan authorities have, in effect,
abetted this fallacy by its own policy of rejecting peace negotiations,
restricting interchanges across the Straits and lobbying for "dual
recognition" or "two Chinas" in the international arena. It should be
affirmed that the desire of Taiwan compatriots to run the affairs of the
island as masters of their own house is reasonable and justified. This
should by no means be construed as advocating "Taiwan independence". They
are radically distinct from those handful of "Taiwan independence"
protagonists who trumpet "independence" but vilely rely on foreign
patronage in a vain attempt to detach Taiwan from China, which runs
against the fundamental interests of the entire Chinese people including
Taiwan compatriots. The Chinese Government is closely following the course
of events and will never condone any manoeuvre for "Taiwan independence".
Certain foreign forces who do not want to see a reunified China have
gone out of their way to meddle in China's internal affairs. They support
the anti-Communist stance of the Taiwan authorities of rejecting peace
talks and abet the secessionists on the island, thereby erecting barriers
to China's peaceful reunification and seriously wounding the national
feelings of the Chinese people.
The Chinese Government is convinced that Taiwan compatriots want
national reunification and that this is also true with most of the
political forces in or out of office in Taiwan. The people on both sides
of the Straits will overcome all the barriers and stumbling blocks by
their joint efforts and ensure a better development of relations across
the Straits.
V.
Several Questions Involving Taiwan in International Relations
As has been elucidated in the
foregoing, there is only one China in the world, of which Taiwan is an
inalienable part. The Government of the People's Republic of China has
been recognized by the United Nations and throughout the world as the sole
legal government representing the entire Chinese people. In the interest
of safeguarding state sovereignty and realizing national reunification the
Chinese Government has always stood firm on the principle of one China and
ensured the interests of Taiwan compatriots in international relations
involving Taiwan. The Chinese Government has no doubt that its position
will be respected by all other governments and people.
The Chinese Government deems it necessary to reiterate its position and
policy on the following matters.
(1) Relations between Taiwan and countries maintaining diplomatic ties
with China
All countries maintaining diplomatic relations with China have, in
conformity with international law and the principle of one China,
undertaken in formal agreement or understanding with the Chinese
Government not to establish any ties of an official nature with Taiwan.
According to international law, a sovereign state can only be represented
by a single central government. As a part of China, Taiwan has no right to
represent China in the international community, nor can it establish
diplomatic ties or enter into relations of an official nature with foreign
countries. Nevertheless, considering the needs of Taiwan's economic
development and the practical interests of Taiwan compatriots, the Chinese
Government has not objected to non-governmental economic or cultural
exchanges between Taiwan and foreign countries.
In recent years the Taiwan authorities have vigorously launched a
campaign of "pragmatic diplomacy" to cultivate official ties with
countries having diplomatic relations with China in an attempt to push
"dual recognition" and achieve the objective of creating a situation of
"two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan". The Chinese Government is firmly
against this scheme.
It is noted that the overwhelming majority of the countries of the
world cherish friendly relations with China and abide by their agreement
or understanding with China on the issue of Taiwan. The Chinese Government
appreciates this. On the other hand, it should be pointed out that, in
disregard of their international credibility, certain countries have
breached the undertaking made at the time of the establishment of
diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China by evolving official
relations with Taiwan, thereby putting a spoke in the wheel of China's
reunification. The Chinese Government sincerely hopes that the governments
in question will take measures to rectify the situation.
(2) Relations between international organizations and Taiwan
The sovereignty of each State is an integral whole which is indivisible
and unsharable. The Government of the People's Republic of China, as the
sole legal government of China, has the right and obligation to exercise
state sovereignty and represent the whole of China in international
organizations. The Taiwan authorities' lobbying for a formula of "one
country, two seats" in international organizations whose membership is
confined to sovereign states is a manoeuvre to create "two Chinas". The
Chinese Government is firmly opposed to such an attempt. Its principled
position fully conforms to the fundamental interests of the entire Chinese
people including Taiwan compatriots and overseas Chinese. Only on the
premise of adhering to the principle of one China and in the light of the
nature and statutes of the international organizations concerned as well
as the specific circumstances, can the Chinese Government consider the
question of Taiwan's participation in the activities of such organizations
and in a manner agreeable and acceptable to the Chinese Government.
All the specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations
system are inter-governmental organizations composed of sovereign states.
After the restoration of the lawful rights of the People's Republic of
China in the United Nations, all the specialized agencies and
organizations of the U.N. system have formally adopted resolutions
restoring to the People's Republic of China its lawful seat and expelling
the "representatives" of the Taiwan authorities. Since then the issue of
China's representation in the U.N. system has been resolved once and for
all and Taiwan's re-entry is out of the question. However, it should be
pointed out that recently some elements of the Taiwan authorities have
been clamouring for "returning to the United Nations". Apparently, this is
an attempt to split state sovereignty, which is devoid of any legal or
practical basis. The Chinese Government is convinced that all governments
and organizations of the U.N. system will be alert to this scheme and
refrain from doing anything prejudicial to China's sovereignty.
In principle, Taiwan is also ineligible for membership in other
categories of inter-governmental organizations. As to regional economic
organizations such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Taiwan's participation is
subject to the terms of agreement or understanding reached between the
Chinese Government and the parties concerned which explicitly prescribe
that the People's Republic of China is a full member as a sovereign state
whereas Taiwan may participate in the activities of those organizations
only as a region of China under the designation of Taipei, China (in ADB)
or Chinese Taipei (in APEC). This is only an ad hoc arrangement and cannot
constitute a "model" applicable to other inter-governmental organizations
or international gatherings.
As regards participation in non-governmental international
organizations, the relevant bodies of the People's Republic of China may
reach an agreement or understanding with the parties concerned so that
China's national organizations would use the designation of China, while
Taiwan's organizations may participate under the designation of Taipei,
China or Taiwan, China.
(3) Aviation services between Taiwan and countries having diplomatic
relations with China
Airspace is an inalienable part of a country's territory. The 1919
Paris Aviation Convention and the 1944 Chicago Convention affirm the
principle of complete and exclusive sovereignty of each country over its
airspace. Therefore, the opening of aviation services with Taiwan by any
airlines, including privately-operated ones, of countries having
diplomatic relations with China is a political issue affecting China's
sovereignty and cannot be regarded as a non-political transaction.
State-run airlines of countries having diplomatic relations with China
certainly must not operate air services to Taiwan. Privately-operated
airlines must seek China's consent through consultations between their
government and the Chinese Government before they can start reciprocal air
services with privately-operated airlines of Taiwan. As a matter of fact,
according to the afore-said principle the Chinese Government has consented
to such services between privately-operated airlines of Britain, Germany,
Canada, etc. and their counterparts in Taiwan.
As for countries which already had aviation services with Taiwan before
the establishment of diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of
China, they can negotiate with the Chinese Government to change the
official nature of such services so as to be able to continue the
operations as privately-run commercial transportation undertakings.
(4) Arms sales to Taiwan by countries having diplomatic relations with
China
The Chinese Government has always firmly opposed any country selling
any type of arms or transferring production technology of the same to
Taiwan. All countries maintaining diplomatic relations with China should
abide by the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial
integrity and non-interference in each other's internal affairs, and
refrain from providing arms to Taiwan in any form or under any pretext.
Failure to do so would be a breach of the norms of international relations
and an interference in China's internal affairs.
All countries, and especially big powers shouldering major
responsibilities for world peace, are obligated to strictly abide by the
guidelines laid down by the five permanent members of the U.N. Security
Council to restrict the proliferation of conventional weapons so as to
contribute to maintaining and promoting regional peace and security.
However, at a time when relations across the Taiwan Straits are easing up,
certain powers have seen fit to renege on their undertakings under
international agreements and to flout the Chinese Government's repeated
strong representations by making arms sales to Taiwan, thereby whipping up
tension between the two sides of the Straits. This not only constitutes a
serious threat to China's security and an obstacle to China's peaceful
reunification, but also undermines peace and stability in Asia and the
world at large. It stands to reason that the Chinese people should voice
strong resentment against this conduct.
In international affairs the Chinese Government always pursues an
independent foreign policy of peace and adheres to the Five Principles of
mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual
non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs,
equality and mutual benefit and peaceful Co-existence. It actively seeks
to develop friendly relations with all countries of the world and will
never undermine any country's interests nor interfere in its internal
affairs. By the same token it expects all other governments to refrain
from undermining China's interests or interfering in China's internal
affairs and to correctly handle their relations with Taiwan.
