Located to the southeast of the Chinese mainland
opposite Fujian Province, the island province of Taiwan is
flanked by the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Taiwan
Straits to the west. Covering an area of 36,000 sq km,
Taiwan includes Taiwan Island, the Penghu Islands and 80
other smaller neighboring islands and islets. Taiwan was
called Yizhou or Liuqiu in ancient times. Records of Chinese
people developing Taiwan in earliest times are found in many
historical documents. Chinese governments ruled Taiwan for
centuries. The social development of Taiwan continued
according to Chinese cultural traditions even during its
50-year occupation by Japan. The Chinese government restored
its administrative organs in Taiwan Province after victory
in the War of Resistance Against Japan in 1945. On the eve
of the founding of the PRC in 1949, the Kuomintang
authorities retreated from the mainland to Taiwan. In 1950,
the Korean War broke out, and the United States dispatched
its Seventh Fleet to invade Taiwan and occupy the Taiwan
Straits. In 1954, the government of the United States and
the Taiwan authorities signed a “Mutual Defense
Treaty,” bringing about the separation of Taiwan from
the mainland.
The government of the PRC
has made unremitting efforts to solve the Taiwan issue, and
realize the reunification of the country. In February 1972,
when President Richard M. Nixon of the United States visited
China, the two sides issued the Shanghai Communique. On
January 1, 1979, the United States established official
diplomatic relations with China, formally recognizing the
government of the PRC as the sole legitimate government of
China and Taiwan as a part of China and, at the same time
announcing the cessation of “diplomatic
relations” with the Taiwan authorities, the annulment
of the “Mutual Defense Treaty” and the
withdrawal of all its military personnel from Taiwan. In
these historical conditions, the Chinese government, out of
consideration for the interests and future of the whole
nation, put forward the principle of “peaceful
reunification of the country, and one country, two
systems” in accordance with the principle of
respecting history and reality, seeking truth from facts and
taking into account the interests of both sides. The basic
points of this basic principle and the relevant policies
are:
China will do its best to achieve
peaceful reunification, but will not commit itself to rule
out the use of force; will actively promote people-to-people
contacts and economic and cultural exchanges between the two
sides of the Taiwan Straits, and start direct trade, postal,
air and shipping services as soon as possible; achieve
reunification through peaceful negotiations and, on the
premise of the One-China Principle, any matter can be
negotiated. After reunification, the policy of “one
country, two systems” will be practiced, with the main
body of China (China mainland) continuing with its socialist
system, and Taiwan maintaining its capitalist system for a
long period of time to come. After reunification, Taiwan
will enjoy a high degree of autonomy, and the Central
Government will not send troops or administrative personnel
to be stationed in Taiwan. Resolution of the Taiwan issue is
an internal affair of China, which should be achieved by the
Chinese themselves, and there is no call for aid by foreign
forces. The afore-mentioned principles and policies embody
the basic stand and spirit of adhering to the One-China
Principle, and fully respect Taiwan compatriots’ wish
to govern and administer Taiwan by themselves.
Since the Standing Committee of the
National People’s Congress’ (NPC’s)
publication on New Year’s Day, 1979 of the Appeal to
Compatriots in Taiwan, the Chinese government has resolutely
implemented the basic policy of “peaceful
reunification of the motherland, and one country, two
systems,” advocated national reunification through
negotiations, proposed that the two sides facilitate
exchanges of mail, trade, air and shipping services, and
adopted serious measures on our own initiative to promote
the development of the relations between the two sides.
Politically, the Chinese government has readjusted the
relevant policies, and alleviated hostility; militarily, it
has voluntarily relaxed the posture of confrontation by
stopping the bombarding of Jinmen and other islands, and
reduced military forces stationed in the coastal areas of
Fujian; economically, it has opened its doors widely to
welcome business people from Taiwan to make investments and
engage in trade activities on the mainland, and protected
their legal rights and interests. In addition, the Chinese
government has actively promoted people-to-people contacts
and bilateral exchanges in the fields of science and
technology, culture, sports, academia and journalism; and
authorized the mainland’s Association for Relations
Across the Taiwan Straits, a non-governmental organization,
to establish relations with Taiwan’s Foundation for
Exchange Across the Taiwan Straits, and engage in talks on
economic and routine affairs. The “Wang (Daohan)-Koo
(Chen-fu) talks” held in April 1993, Singapore,
between the leaders of these two organizations signaled a
historically important step forward in the development of
relations across the straits. In October 1998 Koo Chen-fu
paid a visit to Shanghai and Beijing, and reached with Wang
Daohan four points of common understanding on dialogues
between the two organizations on political, economic and
other issues.
On January 30,
1995, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the
Communist Party of China and President of China Jiang Zemin
delivered an important speech entitled “Continuing to
Strive Toward the Reunification of China.” In his
speech Jiang Zemin put forward eight propositions on the
development of relations between the two sides of the Taiwan
Straits and the peaceful reunification of China on the
current stage:
1. Adhering to the
principle of one China is the basis and prerequisite for
peaceful reunification. China’s sovereignty and
territorial integrity must never be allowed to suffer
division. We must resolutely oppose any statement and action
for creating “the independence of Taiwan”; and
we must also resolutely oppose the propositions to
“split the country and rule under separate
regimes,” “two Chinas over a certain period of
time,” etc., which are contrary to the principle of
one China.
2. We do not have objections
to the development of nongovernmental economic and cultural
ties between Taiwan and other countries. According to the
principle of one China and the characters of international
organization concerned, Taiwan has joined the Asian
Development Bank, the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation
Forum and other international economical organizations in
the name of “Chinese Taibei.” However, we oppose
Taiwan’s activities in “expanding its living
space internationally,” aimed at creating “two
Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan.” All
patriotic compatriots in Taiwan and other people of insight
understand that instead of solving problems, such activities
can only help the forces working for the “independence
of Taiwan,” and undermine the process of peaceful
reunification. Only after peaceful reunification is
accomplished can our Taiwan compatriots and other Chinese
truly and fully share the international dignity and honor
attained by our great motherland.
3. It
has been our consistent stand to hold negotiations with
Taiwan authorities on the peaceful reunification of the
motherland. Representatives of all political parties and
groups from both sides of the Taiwan Straits can be invited
to participate in the negotiations for peaceful
reunification. I said in my report at the 14th National
Congress of the Communist Party of China held in October
1992, “On the premise that there is only one China, we
are prepared to talk with the Taiwan authorities about any
matter, including the form that official negotiations should
take, a form that would be acceptable to both sides.”
By “on the premise that there is only one China, we
are prepared to talk with the Taiwan authorities about any
matter,” we mean, naturally, that all matters of
concern to the Taiwan authorities are included. We have
proposed time and again that negotiations should be held on
officially ending the state of hostility between the two
sides and accomplishing peaceful reunification step by step.
Here again I solemnly propose that such negotiations be
held. I suggest that, as a first step, negotiations should
be held and an agreement reached on officially ending the
state of hostility between the two sides under the principle
that there is only one China. On this basis, the two sides
may bear responsibilities together, maintain China’s
sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as plan the
future development of the relations between the two sides
separated by the strait. As regards the name, place and form
of these political talks, a solution acceptable to both
sides can certainly be found so long as consultations on an
equal footing can be held at an early date.
4. We shall try our best to achieve the
peaceful reunification of China since Chinese should not
fight Chinese. We do not promise not to use force. If used,
force will not be directed against our compatriots in
Taiwan, but against the foreign forces who intervene in
China’s reunification and go in for “the
independence of Taiwan.” We are fully confident that
our compatriots in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao and those
residing overseas would understand our principled position.
5. Challenged with world economic
development in the 21st century, we shall spare no effect to
develop economic exchange and cooperation between the two
sides separated by the Taiwan Straits so that both sides
enjoy a flourishing economy and the whole Chinese nation
benefits. We maintain that political disagreement should not
impede economic cooperation between the two sides of the
Taiwan Straits. We shall continue, for an extended period,
to implement a policy of encouraging Taiwanese investment on
the mainland and carry out the Law of the People’s
Republic of China on Protecting Investments by Taiwan
Compatriots. In any circumstances, we shall protect all
legitimate rights and interests of Taiwanese investors in a
down-to-earth way and continually encourage exchange and
contacts across the Taiwan Straits which promote mutual
understanding. Since the direct links for postal, air and
shipping services and trade between the two sides are the
objective requirements for their economic development and
contacts in various fields, and since they are in the
interests of the people on both sides, it is absolutely
necessary to adopt practical measures to speed up the
establishment of such direct links. Efforts should be made
to promote negotiations on certain specific issues between
the two sides. We are in favor of conducting this kind of
negotiations on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit
and signing nongovernmental agreements on the protection of
the rights and interests of industrialists and business
people from Taiwan.
6. The splendid
culture of 5,000 years created by the sons and daughters of
all ethnic groups of China has become ties keeping the
entire Chinese people close at heart and constitutes an
important basis for the peaceful reunification of the
motherland. People on both sides should jointly inherit and
carry forward the fine traditions of the culture.
7. The 21 million Taiwan people,
whether born there or in other provinces, are Chinese and
our own flesh and blood. The lifestyles of our Taiwan
compatriots and their desire to be masters of their own
country should be fully respected. All their legitimate
rights and interests must be protected. All relevant
departments in our Party and government, including agencies
stationed abroad, must improve their relations with our
Taiwan compatriots, listen to their views and requests, show
concern for and take care of their interests and do
everything they can to help solve their problems. We hope
that Taiwan Island enjoys social stability, economic growth
and affluence. We also hope that all political parties in
Taiwan will adopt a sensible, forward-looking and
constructive attitude and promote the expansion of relations
between the two sides. We welcome all political parties and
personages from different walks of life in Taiwan to
exchange opinions with us on the relations between the two
sides and on peaceful reunification. Their visits to the
mainland are also welcome. All personages from various
circles who have contributed to the reunification of China
will go down in history for their deeds.
8. We welcome leaders of Taiwan to
visit the mainland in their proper status. We also are ready
to accept invitations to visit Taiwan. We may discuss state
affairs or exchange opinions on certain issues first. Even a
simple visit to the side will be useful. The affairs of
Chinese people should be handled by us, something that does
not take an international occasion to accomplish. People on
both sides of the Taiwan Straits eagerly look forward to
meeting each other and being able to freely exchange visits.
The above eight propositions fully
embody the consistency and continuance of the Communist
Party of China and the Chinese Government on the issue of
Taiwan; the embody their determination and sincerity to
develop the relations across the strait and promote the
reunification of the motherland. These suggestions have been
warmly welcomed by the Chinese people at home and abroad and
aroused great attention from the international community.
The historical course of reunifying the motherland is
irreversible, and the continuously developing relations
between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits is in accordance
with the general trend and the will of the people. Following
China’s resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over
Hong Kong and Macao, the Chinese people throughout the
country eagerly hope that the Taiwan issue will be solved as
soon as possible to realize the complete reunification of
China, and that the solution to the Taiwan question will not
be postponed indefinitely. There is only one China in the
world, and the One-China Principle is the basis and Premise
for solving the Taiwan issue. Besides, the change of the
leader of the Taiwan region will not change the fact that
Taiwan is a part of Chinese territory, and “Taiwan
independence” in any form is out of the question. The
Chinese government and people have the determination and
ability to solve the Taiwan issue, and the reunification of
China will certainly be realized.
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