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Cross-strait situation 'lax outside, tense inside": NSB head

ROC Central News Agency

2016/11/07 21:24:32

Taipei, Nov. 7 (CNA) National Security Bureau chief Peng Sheng-chu (彭勝竹) on Monday described the cross-Taiwan Strait situation over the past five months as "lax outside, but tense inside," and he expected official exchanges to become even more limited.

Peng, a former Air Force Commander, noted that in many ways, China has seemed to maintain its attitude toward Taiwan from before May 20, when President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) assumed office, but it has in fact suppressed Taiwan on various occasions.

He also said China is still watching the words and deeds of President Tsai and has yet to set a tone in dealing with the Tsai administration.

In organizations where Taiwan is a member, China will continue to let Taiwan participate, but it will rigorously demand that Taiwan follow related regulations, Peng said.

In organizations where Taiwan has yet to be a member, Taiwan's entry will depend on China's assessment, and Beijing will only consider it if Taiwan's participation will benefit the two sides, he said.

On whether China will take the initiative to wage a diplomatic war, Peng said such a possibility exists, but while pressure will continue to mount it should not reach a breaking point.

Taiwan was unable to take part in this year's ICAO meeting as well as the Interpol meeting mainly because of China's obstruction.

Beijing has cooled ties with Taipei because the Tsai administration will not recognize the "1992 consensus."

The previous Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) administration saw the consensus as a tacit agreement between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait on one China, with the two sides free to interpret what that means.

But the DPP said no such agreement ever existed and that the so-called deal brands Taiwan as a part of China, a proposition a majority of Taiwanese do not agree with.

Beijing sees the consensus as the political foundation for dialogue between Taiwan and China and has frozen interaction with Taiwan and put increasing pressure on it in the international community.

(By Lu Hsin-hui and Lilian Wu)
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