KMT presidential hopeful opposes 'one country, two systems,' Taiwan independence
ROC Central News Agency
05/09/2023 07:54 PM
Taipei, May 9 (CNA) New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜), favorite to become the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) candidate in the 2024 presidential election, said on Monday that he opposes Beijing's "one country, two systems" formula and Taiwan independence.
Speaking at a hearing held at the New Taipei City Council on Monday, Hou said he insists on upholding Taiwan's democratic values to allow Taiwan to move ahead, while opposing the "one country, two systems" principle, a constitutional principle proposed by the People's Republic of China (PRC) which underpins the the governance of its special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) has argued that the "one country, two systems" formula could be customized to apply to Taiwan, while most people on the island prefer the status quo.
At the hearing, Hou, who could be drafted as the KMT presidential candidate for the upcoming presidential race scheduled for Jan. 13, 2024, was asked a series of questions about his political position by city councilors.
Among the New Taipei City councilors questioning Hou, Chen Chi-nen (陳啟能) from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) noted that Hou has never condemned Beijing for its provocative actions of sending military jets around Taiwan at a time when the mayor is likely to seek the presidential nomination of the KMT.
In response, Hou said at the hearing that challenges to national sovereignty are unacceptable so Taiwan needs to take these challenges seriously and ensure a high level of battle readiness.
If Taiwan is attacked, Hou said, he would stand up and face the challenge, urging city councilors to stop questioning his patriotism.
Chen called Hou New Taipei Mayor of "the Republic of China Taiwan," but Hou immediately corrected him, saying he should be referred to as New Taipei Mayor of "the Republic of China,", adding the latter has a legal basis under the ROC Constitution.
"Taiwan independence has no legal basis so I oppose Taiwan independence," Hou said.
Unity in Taiwan should not be damaged by ideology, Hou said, implying that the DPP's Taiwan independence rhetoric divides the country.
"The ROC is our country and Taiwan is our home. We have to take good care of our home as well as our country," he said.
DPP Spokeswoman Michelle Lin (林楚茵) said Monday that Hou's opposition to the "one country, two systems" formula is an attempt to cheat people and solicit votes for his potential presidential race.
She accused Hou of using his rhetoric on the "one county, two systems formula" to skirt the "1992 consensus" supported by former KMT president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).
Ma recently discussed the 1992 consensus at an international event and accepted the consensus in public so Hou should say whether he supports Ma's stance on the consensus, Lin added.
In response to Lin, Chiang I-chen (江怡臻), deputy head of the KMT Culture and Communications Committee, said Hou has clearly described his political beliefs as he adheres to the ROC Constitution and "our country is the ROC, a democratic and free county under rule of law, and a sovereign country."
According to the KMT, the 1992 consensus, reached at a 1992 meeting between the then-KMT government and its Chinese counterpart, refers to a tacit understanding that both sides recognize there is only "one China," with each having its own interpretation of what China means. Beijing has never publicly recognized, nor rejected the second part of the KMT interpretation.
In another hearing at New Taipei City Council held on Tuesday, Hou said the ROC's sovereignty covers Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu. "I am here to protect Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu," he said.
Hou said he always deals with cross-strait affairs based on the ROC Constitution and the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, noting that the Act clearly describes ties across the Taiwan Strait.
Under the Act, the Taiwan area refers to Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu, and any other area under the effective control of the government while the mainland area refers to the territory of the Republic of China outside the Taiwan area.
The Act stipulates the provisions of the legislation pertaining to the people of the mainland area shall likewise apply to the people of the mainland area who reside outside the mainland area.
During the Saturday hearing, Hou said he respected Ma's stance on the 1992 consensus.
Vice President and DPP Chairman Lai Ching-te (賴清德) has received his party's nomination for the presidential race, while former Taipei Mayor and Taiwan People's Party Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) has registered in his party's presidential primary to run as the party's candidate in the 2024 election.
Hou faces competition internally from business tycoon Terry Gou (郭台銘), who, despite not currently being a member of the KMT, has said he plans to seek the party's nomination.
(By Wang Hung-kuo, Yeh Su-ping and Frances Huang)
Enditem/AW
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