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Taiwan
Province
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people developing Taiwan in earliest times are found in many historical
documents.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.
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Taibei
Palace Museum
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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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