Taipei, Feb. 25 (CNA) Taipei reiterated its advocacy of special state-to-state ties with Beijing to counter mainland China's claim that Taiwan is part of its territory.
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said in a cautious reply to Beijing's white paper on Taiwan policy that special state-to-state ties should be the basis for current bilateral negotiations and exchanges, given the fact that "China" is a split nation governed separately by the Republic of China on Taiwan and the People's Republic of China in mainland China.
The Republic of China will never accept Beijing's "one China policy" as defined in its white paper issued on Monday, said the MAC.
Five days after Beijing claimed in the white paper that "the ROC has ceased to exist in history", that "the People's Republic of China has inherited sovereignty over Taiwan," and that "Taiwan has always been a local authority of China," the MAC said in its first official response that the mainland interpretations are absolutely unacceptable to the ROC.
Dismissing Beijing's claims as departing from reality, the MAC said in a written statement that this white paper will only give rise to resentment among the people of Taiwan against Beijing and hurt the feelings of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
In the white paper, Beijing for the first time threatened to use force against Taiwan if the island indefinitely postponed negotiations with Beijing on national reunification.
The Cabinet-level agency in charge of mapping out Taiwan's policy toward mainland China said the ROC will not bow to military intimidation, a move that would raise further problems while solving none of them.
It accused Beijing of using the white paper to try to influence the outcome of Taiwan's presidential election and to mislead the international community into considering Taiwan to be part of mainland China by timing the release of the white paper to coincide with the run-up to the election on March 18.
However, the white paper only betrays Beijing's antagonism toward and fear of democracy, exposing its bellicose and hegemonist character, said the MAC.
Touting the ROC for having always based its policy toward mainland China on public opinion, the MAC said Taiwan will never compromise its determination to defend democracy, to shield its elections from overseas interference and to pursue peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
Blaming the different political structures of Taiwan and mainland China for their rivalry, the MAC said Taiwan is looking forward to changes in the mainland Chinese political system and social structure, two improvements that are vital both to stability on the mainland and to the eventual reunification of China.
Although both agree that there is only "one China," Taipei and Beijing are far from agreeing which regime enjoys sole legitimacy.
In its statement, the MAC urged Beijing to return to the consensus reached by both sides in 1994 which allowed Taipei and Beijing to each write their own versions of the "one China policy."
Only by agreeing to disagree on the meaning of "one China" can the two sides resume dialogue and exchanges, and build a constructive relationship, said the MAC. (By Maubo Chang)
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