Remove missiles based on '92 consensus': presidential spokesman
ROC Central News Agency
2010/08/02 22:46:07
Taipei, Aug. 2 (CNA) The Presidential Office said Monday that Taiwan's people will not accept Beijing's call to remove its missiles targeted at Taiwan only after Taiwan accepts the "one China" principle.
"It would be a crucial step toward advancing cross-strait relations if China would take the initiative to remove its missile based on the '1992 consensus' reached between the two sides, " Presidential spokesman Lo Chih-chiang said.
He was responding to a statement made three days earlier by a Chinese military spokesman calling for Taiwan to accept the "one China" principle before the missiles could be moved.
The "1992 consensus" refers to a tacit agreement reached between negotiators of Taiwan and China in 1992 that "there is only one China but Taipei and Beijing are allowed to have their respective definitions of one China."
Beijing has always said that Taiwan and China have agreed to the "one China" principle while Taipei has insisted on freely interpreting the concept.
The "consensus," which critics contend never existed, has served as the foundation for Taiwan and China to reopen talks after President Ma Ying-jeou was sworn in on May 2008.
Lo said that peaceful and positive cross-strait engagement not only serves to meet the expectations of the people on both sides but is also well accepted by the international community.
Lo called attention to the "inharmonious picture" in which over 1,000 missiles are still deployed against Taiwan "amid this warming atmosphere, " and he urged China to have the missiles removed or dismantled for the good of the cross-strait ties.
He reiterated President Ma Ying-jeou's call for improving relations based on the principles of "facing reality, building mutual trust, shelving differences and creating a win-win situation." (By Garfie Li and Bear Lee) enditem/ls
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