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Beijing says ‘1992 consensus’ is an
‘objective truth’
By Vincent Y. Chao / Staff Reporter
Beijing declared yesterday that the “1992 consensus” was an “objective” truth
and said it formed a basis for cross-strait talks.
Beijing believes the consensus is an important condition and foundation for
“mutual trust in cross-strait politics,” Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Fan
Liqing (范麗青) told a press conference in Beijing. “Without the [consensus], there
would be nowhere to begin for talks on cross-strait peace and development.”
TACIT AGREEMENT
Her comments underscore Beijing’s official policy on the tacit “one China”
agreement, which President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration says took place
in 1992.
As part of the so-called consensus, the meaning of “China” was left up to both
sides to interpret as they wished.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) maintains no such consensus was ever
reached. The party cites remarks by former Mainland Affairs Council chief Su Chi
(蘇起) in February 2006 that he had invented the consensus in 2000 in order to
break the cross-strait deadlock.
Speaking in response to efforts by DPP politicians to present an alternative to
the so-called consensus in the past week, Fan said the DPP should accept the
existence of the consensus. It has to be realistic, she said.
“The ‘1992 consensus’ objectively exists and the DPP should deal with this
pragmatically,” she said.
REPLACEMENT
However, even within the DPP, a proposal to replace the so-called “1992
consensus” with a framework based on the Republic of China Constitution has not
been accepted.
Former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) said on Monday that he believed a Consitution-based
framework would be more readily accepted by the public, benefit cross-strait
ties and give cross-strait talks a more solid footing.
His idea, which would base cross-strait relations on recognition of the ROC’s
sovereignty over Taiwan, was widely panned by pro-independence groups on
Tuesday, who said that it would undermine Taiwan’s sovereignty.
Former Examination Yuan president Yao Chia-wen (姚嘉文) yesterday accused Hsieh of
colluding with the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and said his proposal
undermined both the independence movement and the DPP’s own ideals.
“Only a small part of the ROC Constitution was made in Taiwan,” Yao said. “As a
result, the DPP can only acknowledge these [parts of the document].”
‘1996 CONSENSUS’
Former vice president Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) has been a vocal proponent of her “1996
consensus,” which calls for the recognition of Taiwan as a sovereign state based
on the first democratic elections for president during that year.
Hsieh said yesterday that he welcomed discussion of the issue.
“A [new consensus] is not something that we should settle on casually, it’s
always good to talk about this,” he said. “The issue has not been discussed in
depth within the DPP for a long time. It has important implications for Taiwan’s
future.”
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