China urged to accept Taiwan existence

ROC Central News Agency

2017/10/19 20:56:41

Taipei, Oct. 19 (CNA) Taiwan's top China affairs agency on Thursday called on Beijing to squarely face the fact of the Republic of China's (Taiwan) existence and to conduct dialogue with Taipei to settle their differences.

China's policy and stance on Taiwan have not changed, judging from the remarks made by Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) at the opening session of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on Wednesday, said Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Vice Minister and spokesman Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正).

During the opening session, Xi again emphasized the "1992 consensus" as Beijing's basis for cross-strait talks and reiterated that China has the determination, confidence and ability to defeat any activities related to Taiwan independence.

At the MAC's first press conference since the CPC congress opened, Chiu said Taiwan's cross-strait policy is clear and consistent. Specifically, the government respects the historical fact of the 1992 talks and some understandings reached during the talks, he said.

However, the peaceful and stable development of cross-strait ties is a responsibility that must be shared by both sides, Chiu said.

China should abandon its threats and hostility toward Taiwan and seek a new mode of cross-strait communication and interaction to settle the differences between the two sides and improve relations, he said.

The 1992 consensus refers to an understanding reached between Taipei and Beijing in 1992 that there is only one China, with the two sides free to interpret what that means.

Beijing has insisted that the administration of President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) explicitly recognize the 1992 consensus -- in effect that Taiwan is part of "one China" -- as the political foundation for any continuation of the relatively warm cross-strait relations that existed under her predecessor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).

(By Miao Zong-han and Evelyn Kao)
Enditem/pc