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| Adherence to the One-China Principle is the Basis for Peaceful Settlement of the Taiwan Question |
| 日期:2003-06-26 09:30 编辑: system 来源： |
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The Chinese government always sticks to the one-China principle, makes continuous efforts to develop cross-Straits relations and settle the Taiwan question peacefully, and safeguard the one-China principle in the struggle against Taiwan separatist forces.
1) The one-China principle is the core of the Taiwan policy of the Chinese government.
After 1979, the Chinese government began to implement the policy of “peaceful reunification” in accordance with changes of situations at home and abroad. At that moment, the Taiwan authorities still adhered to the one-China stance, hence both sides shared the grounds for common understanding and cooperation. The U.S. government that gave a long-term support to the Taiwan authorities also acknowledged that: there is only one China in the world; Taiwan is an inalienable part of China; and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the only legal government of China. That also helped settle the Taiwan question peacefully. With the above background and at the proposal of Deng Xiaoping, the Chinese government gradually evolved the scientific concept of “one country, two systems” in 1979. On this basis, the basic policy of “peaceful reunification and one country, two systems” was established. The basic point of the policy is “one China”, co-existence of “two systems”, “a high degree of autonomy” and peace talks, with the one-China principle as the core and foundation.
“A Message to Taiwan Compatriots” issued by the NPC in 1979 pointed out, “The Taiwan authorities consistently stick to a stance of one China and oppose the independence of Taiwan. This is our common position and basis for cooperation.” Deng Xiaoping repeatedly stressed that the core of the issue is the reunification of the country; after reunification, Taiwan can keep its capitalist system and the mainland keeps the socialist system but the country is a unified China; there is only one China of which Taiwan is an inalienable part and “the two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan” is unallowable. In August 1993, the white paper “The Taiwan Question and Peaceful Reunification of China” issued by the Taiwan Affairs Office and the Information Office of the State Council made clear that there is only one China in the world; Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and the central government is in Beijing; it is the universally-recognized fact in the world and also the prerequisite for the settlement of the Taiwan issue. Jiang Zemin made clear from the very beginning that the first one of his eight propositions for development of cross-Straits relations and promotion of peaceful reunification of China released in January 1995, pointed out, “Adherence to the principle of one-China is the basis and premise for peaceful reunification; China’s sovereignty and territory must never be allowed to suffer division.” In February 2000, “The One-China Principle and the Taiwan Issue” released by the Taiwan Affairs Office and the Information Office of the State Council further elaborated to the international society the one-China stance and policy that the Chinese government sticks to.
2) The one-China principle is the cornerstone for the healthy development of cross-Straits relations.
For the past two decades, the Chinese government has taken positive measures on the Taiwan issue on the basis of the one-China principle to accelerate the development of cross-Straits relations and promote the process of peaceful reunification of China.
Under the persistent principle that mutual visits across the Straits remain to be China’s internal affairs, the Chinese government worked out a series of laws and regulations, policies and service measures, such as “Administration Measures for Chinese Citizens Traveling to or from Taiwan”, to solve the practical problems for visitors across the Straits, thus promoting the development of cross-Straits exchanges. Thereupon, mutual visit across the Straits and exchanges in the fields of science and technology, culture and sports etc. become more and more frequent.
On the prerequisite of the one-China principle, the NPC Standing Committee, the State Council and some local governments have successively enacted a series of laws and regulations, such as “Provisions Concerning the Encouragement of Investments by Compatriots from Taiwan”, and “Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Investment by Taiwan Compatriots”, and have made special management on economic and business cooperation, such as “Taiwan Straits Shippin Management Rules” and “Taiwan Straits Cargo Transportation Management Rules” to define cross-Straits shippin as domestic shippin under special management. The Supreme People’s Court, in line with the principle that legal affairs concerning Taiwan belong to China’s internal special legal affairs, issued some related legal provisions such as “Provisions concerning Approval by People’s Courts of Civil Judgement by Courts in Taiwan”. These laws and regulations effectively promote the development of cross-Straits economic and business relations and guarantee the legitimate rights and interests of Taiwan compatriots. At present, economic and business relations across the Straits the Straits have become increasingly close and a situation of complementarity, mutual benefit and interdependence has taken shape gradually. The direct links of post and telecommunications have made much headway; and air and sea shipping services have also made some progess.
The one-China principle is the foundation for the contacts and negotiations between non-governmental organizations authorized by the two sides. Since 1990’s the ARATS and the SEF have started contacts, dialogues and negotiations under the one- China principle. In November 1992, the two organizations through discussion reached a common understanding that each side expressed in oral form that “both sides of the Straits adhere to the principle of on China,” directly promoting routine negotiations. Based on this, a talk was successfully held in Singapore between the chairmen of the two organizations, Wang Daohan of ARATS and Koo Chen-fu of SEF, and they signed four agreements, marking a significant historic step in the development of cross-Straits relations. In October 1998, the two leaders met in Shanghai, Started cross-Straits political dialogues and reached four common understandings, thus receiving z warm welcome from compatriots across the Straits and approval of the world opinion. The practice of talks between the two organizations proves that the name and form of talks on an equal footing can be found and achievements can be made on the basis of the one-China proinciple.
Adherence to the one-China principle is the most fundamental guiding ideology to properly settle the Taiwan issue after Hong Kong and Macao’s return to the motherland. The Chinese government made pubic the basic principle and policy toward Taiwan after Hong Kong and Macao’s return to China. It is stipulated that the development of Taiwan—Hong Kong relations and Taiwan-Macao relations after 1997 must reflect and maintain China’s reunification, sovereignty and territorial integrity and must follow the one-China principle. The relations between Taiwan and Hong Kong after 1997 and the relations between Taiwan and Macao after 1999 are the special parts of cross-Straits relations. Those affairs related to national sovereignty and cross-Straits relations are handled by the central government or by the governments of the two special administrative regions will be maintained and developed on the basis of the one-China principle.
The positive and negative experiences in the development of cross-Straits relations fully demonstrate that the One-China principle cannot be jeopardized. For the two decades ,progress made in the development of mutual visits, economic and cultural exchanges as well as in cross-Straits talks and dialogues is the result yielded under the one-China principle. The tension and retrogression in cross-Straits relations in recent years are all caused by the Taiwan authorities Because of their breach of the one-China principle.
3) The one-China principle is the basis and premise for achieving peaceful reunification
The outcome of reunification is naturally one China, and it is the implication of reunification. Any violation of the one-China principle cannot lead to a peaceful reunification. One-China is itself a principle that is not open to discussion. At present, though both sides of the Straits are not unified yet, and their political divergences are rather sharp, it should at least be the common understanding of both sides that there is only one China in the world, both the mainland and Taiwan belong to the one China, and that China’s and that China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity cannot be split. In the past 50 years, the one-China principle provided the essential assurance for the peace of the Taiwan Straits and the development of cross-Straits relations. Without the basic common understanding on the one-China issue, it is difficult to make such rapid progress in cross-Straits relations can develop healthily and steadily relies on whether the Taiwan authorities can adhere to the one-China principle and truly uphold the one-China stand; violation of this principle can only lead to turbulence and retrogression in cross-Straits relations, which is a law repeatedly proved by practice. In the past few years, there have been twists and turns in cross-Straits relations and the negotiations and talks between the above two organizations were compelled to be interrupted twice. The essential reason is that the Taiwan authorities did not recognize the one-China principle but even run counter to this principle. Lee Teng-hui’s “two states theory” was a typical example of the Taiwan authorities that violate the one-China principle. Adherence to the one-China principle is the basic political foundation to eliminate hostility, deepen understanding, promote common understanding and establish mutual trust between both sides, as well as the promise for the talks between the two organizations. There is no possibility of cooperation without the foundation and premise, and it is the crux of the question. Nothing can be done without this. Only under the one-China principle can both sides of the Straits gradually eliminate hostility, establish mutual trust, discuss any topics to find solutions for the question, put an end to the state of hostility between them to satisfy the desire of Taiwan compatriots for stability, peace and development, and to create a safe and stable environment for the further development of cross-Straits relations. The political status of the Taiwan authorities should and can only be negotiated on the premise of the one-China principle.
The Communist Party of China and the Chinese government have all along promoted the political talks between the two sides of the Straits, and appeal for a negotiation, as the first step, on “ending the state of hostility between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits on the premise of the one-China principle”’ To promote the political negotiation between the two sides of the Straits, it was suggested to start with political dialogue, gradually transfer to procedural discussion of political negotiation, and proceed to political negotiations. But it was regrettable that the Taiwan authorities always assumed an evasive and dilatory attitude or even acted in a diametrically opposite way. For the 12 years after Lee Teng-hui came to power, the one-China principle was gradually abandoned, which led to the frustration and even retrogression in the cross-Straits relations, and caused damage to the foundation of peaceful reunification. The main purpose for the widespread anti-separation, anti-Taiwan independence struggles waged by the Chinese government and people in 1995-96 and the struggle to oppose two states theory in 1999 in to safeguard the one-China principle.
The Chinese government’s adherence to the one-China principle and its active promotion of talks demonstrate its sincerity in pursuing peaceful reunification to the utmost. However, if the Taiwan authorities negate the one-China principle, the peaceful reunification between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits will lose its basis and premise. This point has been reiterated time and again by the leaders of the Chinese government, and has been clearly stated in the white papers of “The One-China Principle and the Taiwan Question” issued in February 2000 and “China’s National Defense 2000” issued in October 2000.
It is the supreme interest of the nation and the country to realize the reunification of the motherland. The Chinese government and people possess not only the utmost sincerity to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification but also unshakable faith and necessary preparedness to prevent any separatist activities of “Taiwan independence”. Any separatist plots are doomed to failure. It may be said that the Chinese government does not commit itself to renounce the use of force and retains the possibility of resorting to non-Peaceful means to fulfill the reunification of the country, precisely because it can better safeguard the one-China principle and strive for the peaceful reunification of the country to the maximum limit.
4) Peaceful reunification and noncommittal to renounce the use of force have the relationship of dialectical unity.
As early as January 31, 1979, Deng Xiaoping, while meeting with an American guest, pointed out, “We try our best to realize by peaceful means Taiwan’s return to the motherland and achieve the reunification of our country.” “The problem is that if we commit ourselves to rule out the use of force, that means to tie our hands up. It would only lead to the result that the Taiwan authorities will never negotiate peaceful reunification with us, and on the contrary, the final outcome can only be the settlement of the question by force. “At the third plenary session of CCP Central Advisory Committee on October 22,1984, he emphasized again that we “have never abandoned the possible use of non-peaceful means. We can’t make such commitment. If the Taiwan authorities never negotiate with us, what should we do” Should we give up the reunification of the country?” He repeatedly admonished, “we should remember this and our next generation should remember this. It is a strategic consideration.”
The leading collective of the third generation of CCP Central Committee with Jiang Zemin at the core continues to carry out this thought resolutely. General Secretary Jiang Zemin, while answering at his first press conference the question from a Taiwan correspondent on September 26, 1989, pointed out, “Our policy is peaceful reunification, but we cannot commit ourselves to rule out the use of force. No such commitment, I think, will better benefit peaceful reunification.” On January 30,1995, he stressed again this thought in his eight propositions for the development of relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits and the promotion of peaceful reunification of China. President Jiang Zemin, when making a call with the US President Clinton on July 18, 1999 reiterated that the fundamental policy for the settlement of the Taiwan question is still “peaceful reunification, and one country, two systems”. But we do not commit ourselves to rule out the use of force. The reason is obvious that there are forces in and outside of Taiwan that attempt to split Taiwan from the motherland. If there happens a situation as the practice of “Taiwan Independence” or foreign interference with the reunification of China, we shall not sit by idly and remain indifferent.
In February 2000, the Chinese government explicitly pointed out in the white paper “The One-China Principle and the Taiwan Question” that to safeguard the interest of all the Chinese people including Taiwan compatriots and maintain the peace and development of the Asia-Pacific region, the Chinese government remains firm in adhering to “peaceful reunification and one country, two systems”, upholding the eight propositions put forward by President Jiang Zemin for the development of cross-Straits relations and the acceleration of peaceful reunification of China; and doing its utmost to achieve the objective of peaceful reunification. However, if a grave turn of events occurs leading to the separation of Taiwan from China in any name, or if Taiwan is invaded and occupied by foreign countries, or if the Taiwan authorities refuse, sine die, the peaceful settlement of the question of reunification through negotiations, then the Chinese government will only be forced to adopt all drastic measures possible, including the use of force, to safeguard China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and fulfill the great cause of reunification.
Peaceful reunification and noncommittal to rule out use of force have the relationship of dialectical unity. They are not contradictory but supplementary, and none can be dispensed with.
Firstly, adherence to the principle of peaceful reunification benefits the interest and development of all parties. To achieve the reunification by peaceful means is the common wish of all the Chinese. Peaceful reunification which is the best way, can not only avoid great loss of life and property of the compatriots on both sides of the Straits but also benefit their unity and harmoniousness of affection, benefit the social stability and economic development it Taiwan, and benefit the whole country of China to rejuvenate and become prosperous and strong. In short, the Chinese government, for the interest of the whole nation, is doing its utmost to strive for the peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question. It is for the consideration of the overall and long-term benefits of the Chinese nation that the Chinese government has tried to resolve the Taiwan question by peaceful means since mid 1950’s Congress (NPC) issued on January 1, 1979, “ A Message to Taiwan Compatriots” proclaiming the policy of peaceful reunification, the Chinese government has been striving for the development of the relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits and the promotion of the progress of peaceful reunification. In recent years, although grave and profound changes have taken place in the international situation as well as the Taiwan situation, the attitude of striving ofr the peaceful reunification of the Chinese government does not change. President Jiang Zemin, putting forward the eight propositions for the development of relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits and the promotion of peaceful reunification of China, further pointed out, “Chinese should not fight Chinese”. Though Lee Teng-hui dished out the “ two states theory” and the Democratic Progressive Party that advocate “Taiwan independence”, came into power, which put the peaceful reunification at stake, the Chinese government and people will still strive to do tis utmost and try every possibility to achieve the treat cause of the reunification of China by peaceful means, as long as the situation of the “three if’s” listed in the white paper “The One-China Principle and the Taiwan Question” does not occur.
Secondly, Noncommittal to rule out use of force is the reliable guarantee of achieving the great cause of the reunification of China. Peace is one of the ways to achieve reunification. It is conditional, relative, subject to the great goal and the premise of reunification, but not unconditional, absolute. Without the reunification and the principle of one-China, peace loses the foundation it relies on. The policy of peaceful reunification put forward by the Chinese government in 1979 was based on the premise that the Taiwan authorities then upheld the one-China principle. The achievement of the great cause of reunification concerns the supreme interest of the Chinese nation and is the sacred task of all the Chinese people. The uniqueness of the goal of reunification decides the diversity and flexibility in the choice of measures. On this important issue concerning Chinese sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Chinese government and people have no room for any compromise and do not debar any means including the use of force when compelled to resort to it. Only in this way can we secure the goal of reunification from resks, not let out descendents down, hold ourselves responsible for the future and destiny of the Chinses nation. The Chinese government does not, with a strategic consideration, commit itself to rule out the use of force in the course of striving for the peaceful reunification. It can be assumed that when the Taiwan separatists take serious actions to split Taiwan from China by openly declaring “Taiwan independence”, or postpone the reunification indefinitely, or when foreign forces interfere with or obstruct the reunification, should the Chinese government remain indifferent, bind hand and foot, and let it happen? Under this circumstance, the “weapon of criticism” should give way to the “criticism of weapon”. No commitment of ruling out the use of force will greatly frighten and restrict all kinds of separatist actions
Thirdly, no commitment of ruling out the use of force is not aimed at the Taiwan compatriots, but at a handful of separatist forces within Taiwan Island and foreign forces interfering with China's reunification. Crisis still exists in the Taiwan Straits. On the reunification problem, on the one hand a few scum of the Chinese nation, acting as cat's paw ofr anti China foreign forces, are trying to split Taiwan from China to cook up "Taiwan in dependence", "two Chionas", or "one China, one Taiwan"; on the other hand Western anti-China forces, who do not want to see a unififed and strong China, are putting up obstacles to impede the improvement of the ralations between the two sides of the Straits and the final reunification, by making use of the "Taiwan card" to restrain China, interfere in China's internal affairs, and internationalize the Taiwan issue. Under these circumstances, no commitment of ruling out the use of force will greatly frighten the Taiwan separatist forces and delivers a serious warning to and restricts foreign interfering forces. The Taiwan question is China's internal affairs; any country will not allow the split of its territory, nor allow any foreign forces to create or support this split. The Chinese government is under no obligation of making commitment to anynoe on which means to take to handle its internal affairs, and will not allow any foreign forces to interfere in any manner.
Fourthly, only with no commitment of ruling out the use of force, can we avoid the use of force to the maximum limit to strive for the peaceful reunification. It is a basic right of a country with sovereignty to safeguard a part of its territory and not commit itself to rule out the use of force. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and China is under the obligation to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity. No commitment of ruling out the use of force demonstrates China's strong determination and firm will to strive for the peaceful reunification of China and avoid the use of force to the maximum limit. If only China commits itself to rule out the use of force, the Taiwan separatist forces and foreign interfering forces will take advantage of it and fear nothing, quicken their steps for separation, ruin the fruits we gained in the past decades of years, make peaceful reunification impossible, finally resulting in the use of force. We have no fancy about the ambition of Taiwan separatist forces and foreign interfering forces; only without ruling out the use of force and with preparation to refrain from separation, can China strive ofr peace and avoid use of forece to the maximum limit and finally ralize the peaceful reunification of the country.
In fact, for many years, just because the Chinese government insisted on reunification, and resolutely made clear its stand that China will not commit itself to rule out the use of force, it effectively restricted all kinds of schemes of the Taiwan separatist forces and foreign interfering forces, and thus securing the progress of the cause of the peaceful reunification of China. |
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