Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

PREMIER DENIES ANY CROSS-STRAIT CONSENSUS ON `ONE CHINA'

Central News Agency

2005-03-01 23:28:50

    Taipei, March 1 (CNA) Premier Frank Hsieh denied Tuesday that Taiwan and mainland China ever reached consensus on the definition of "one China" in their landmark 1992 negotiations in Hong Kong -- the so-called "'92 Consensus."

    During an interpellation in the Legislative Yuan, the premier turned down a request from a lawmaker of the opposition Kuomintang to acknowledge the existence of the "'92 Consensus, " saying that at best, the two sides merely "agreed to disagree" on the issue. "'Agree to disagree' means 'no coalescence of opinion' at all, " the premier pointed out.

    The consensus, purporting to be agreed upon by Taiwan and China during the 1992 negotiations, has been considered by Beijing as the basis for its engagement with Taiwan. Beijing insisted on Taiwan's acknowledgement of the consensus as a condition for the resumption of bilateral dialogue.

    Hsieh's denial means the political impasse will continue.

(By Maubo Chang)

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