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IV. Relations Across
Taiwan Straits:
Evolution and Stumbling
Blocks

The present division between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits isa misfortune for the Chinese nation. All the Chinese people are yearningfor an early end to this agonizing situation.

In order to enable normal movement of people across the Straits andto achieve reunification of the country, the Chinese Government has madeproposals towards this end and, at the same time, adopted measures to stepup the development of inter-Straits relations.

On the political plane, policy adjustments have been made with a viewto breaking down the mentality of hostility. The Supreme People's Courtand the Supreme People's Procuratorate have decided respectively that peoplewho had gone to Taiwan would no longer be prosecuted for offenses priorto the founding of the People's Republic of China.

On the military plane, initiatives have been taken to ease militaryconfrontation across the Straits. Shelling of Jinmen and other islandshave been discontinued. Some forward defense positions and observationposts along the Fujian coast have been transformed into economic developmentzones or tourist attractions.

On the economic plane, doors have been flung open to facilitate theflow of goods and people. Businessmen from Taiwan are welcome to investor trade on the mainland. They are accorded preferential treatment andlegal safeguards.

The Chinese Government has also adopted a positive attitude and takenmeasures to encourage bilateral exchanges and cooperation in areas suchas two-way travels, post and communications as well as scientific, cultural,sports, academic and journalistic activities. A non-governmental Associationfor Relations Across the Taiwan Straits has been set up and authorizedby the Government to liaise with the Straits Exchange Foundation and otherrelevant non-governmental bodies in Taiwan for the purpose of upholdingthe legitimate rights and interests of people on both sides and promotinginter-Straits relations.

Such policies and measures of the Chinese Government have won the understandingand support of more and more Taiwan compatriots, compatriots in Hong Kongand Macao as well as overseas Chinese and people of Chinese descent. Ontheir part, Taiwan compatriots have contributed tremendously to the developmentof inter-Straits relations. In recent years the Taiwan authorities havein turn made readjustments in their policy regarding the mainland. Theyhave taken steps to ease the situation, such as allowing people to visitrelatives on the mainland, gradually reducing the restrictions on people-to-peopleexchanges and contact, expanding indirect trade, permitting indirect investmentand cutting red tape in inter-Straits post, telecommunicationsand bank remittance services. All these are conducive to better interchanges.The past few years have witnessed rapid growth of economic relations andtrade as well as increasing mutual visits and sundry exchanges across theStraits. The Wang Daohan--Koo Chen-fu Talks in April 1993 resulted in fouragreements, marking a step forward of historic significance in inter-Straitsrelations. Thus an atmosphere of relaxation prevails in the Taiwan Straitsfor the first time in the past four decades. This is auspicious to peacefulreunification.

It should be pointed out that notwithstanding a certain measure of easingup by the Taiwan authorities, their current policy vis-a-vis themainland still seriously impedes the development of relations across theStraits as well as the reunification of the country. They talk about thenecessity of a reunified China, but their deeds are always a far cry fromthe principle of one China. They try to prolong Taiwan's separation fromthe mainland and refuse to hold talks on peaceful reunification. They haveeven set up barriers to curb the further development of the interchangesacross the Straits.

In recent years the clamours for "Taiwan independence" onthe island have become shriller, casting a shadow over the course of relationsacross the Straits and the prospect of peaceful reunification of the country.The "Taiwan independence" fallacy has a complex social-historicalroot and international background. But the Taiwan authorities have, ineffect, abetted this fallacy by its own policy of rejecting peace negotiations,restricting interchanges across the Straits and lobbying for "dualrecognition" or "two Chinas" in the internationalarena. It should be affirmed that the desire of Taiwan compatriots to runthe affairs of the island as masters of their own house is reasonable andjustified. This should by no means be construed as advocating "Taiwanindependence". They are radically distinct from those handful of "Taiwanindependence" protagonists who trumpet "independence" butvilely rely on foreign patronage in a vain attempt to detach Taiwan fromChina, which runs against the fundamental interests of the entire Chinesepeople including Taiwan compatriots. The Chinese Government is closelyfollowing 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 havegone out of their way to meddle in China's internal affairs. They supportthe anti-Communist stance of the Taiwan authorities of rejecting peacetalks and abet the secessionists on the island, thereby erecting barriersto China's peaceful reunification and seriously wounding the national feelingsof the Chinese people.

The Chinese Government is convinced that Taiwan compatriots want nationalreunification and that this is also true with most of the political forcesin or out of office in Taiwan. The people on both sides of the Straitswill overcome all the barriers and stumbling blocks by their joint effortsand ensure a better development of relations across the Straits.