The One-China Principle and the Taiwan Issue
2004-03-09 13:08
The Taiwan Affairs Office and The Information
Office of the State
Council (February 21, 2000 )
Foreword
On October 1, 1949, the Chinese people won a great victory in the
new democratic revolution and founded the People's Republic of China
(PRC). The Kuomintang (KMT) ruling clique retreated from the
mainland to entrench in China's Taiwan Province in confrontation
with the Central Government with the support of foreign forces. This
is the origin of the Taiwan issue. Settlement of the Taiwan issue
and realization of the complete reunification of China embody the
fundamental interests of the Chinese nation. The Chinese government
has worked persistently toward this goal in the past 50 years. From
1979, the Chinese government has striven for the peaceful
reunification of China in the form of "one country, two systems"
with the greatest sincerity and the utmost effort. Economic and
cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts between the two
sides of the Taiwan Straits have made rapid progress since the end
of 1987. Unfortunately, from the 1990s, Lee Teng-hui, the leader of
the Taiwan authorities, has progressively betrayed the One-China
Principle, striving to promote a separatist policy with "two Chinas"
at the core, going so far as to openly describe the cross-Straits
relations as "state to state relations, or at least special state to
state relations."This action has seriously damaged the basis for
peaceful reunification of the two sides, harmed the fundamental
interests of the entire Chinese nation including the Taiwan
compatriots, and jeopardized peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific
region. The Chinese government has consistently adhered to the
One-China Principle and resolutely opposed any attempt to separate
Taiwan from China. The struggle between the Chinese government and
the separatist forces headed by Lee Teng-hui finds its concentrated
expression in the question of whether to persevere in the One-China
Principle or to create "two Chinas" or "One-China, one Taiwan."
In August 1993, we issued a white paper entitled "The Taiwan
Question and Reunification of China," which systematically expounds
the fact concerning Taiwan as an inalienable part of China, the
origin of the Taiwan issue and the Chinese government's basic
principles and related policies regarding resolution of the Taiwan
question. We deem it necessary here to further explain to the
international community the Chinese government's position and policy
on the One-China Principle.
I. The Basis for One China, de Facto and de Jure
The One-China Principle has been evolved in the course of the
Chinese people's just struggle to safeguard China's sovereignty and
territorial integrity, and its basis, both de facto and de jure, is
unshakable.
Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. All the facts and laws about
Taiwan prove that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese
territory. In April 1895, through a war of aggression against China,
Japan forced the Qing government to sign the unequal Treaty of
Shimonoseki, and forcibly occupied Taiwan. In July 1937, Japan
launched an all-out war of aggression against China. In December
1941, the Chinese government issued the Proclamation of China's
Declaration of War Against Japan, announcing to the world that all
treaties, agreements and contracts concerning Sino-Japanese
relations, including the Treaty of Shimonoseki, had been abrogated,
and that China would recover Taiwan. In December 1943, the Cairo
Declaration was issued by the Chinese, U.S. and British
governments, stipulating that Japan should return to China all the
territories it had stolen from the Chinese, including Northeast
China, Taiwan and the Penghu Archipelago. The Potsdam Proclamation
signed by China, the United States and Britain in 1945 (later
adhered to by the Soviet Union) stipulated that "The terms of the
Cairo Declaration shall be carried out." In August of that year,
Japan declared surrender and promised in its instrument of surrender
that it would faithfully fulfill the obligations laid down in the
Potsdam Proclamation. On October 25, 1945, the Chinese government
recovered Taiwan and the Penghu Archipelago, resuming the exercise
of sovereignty over Taiwan.
On October 1, 1949, the Central People's Government of the PRC was
proclaimed, replacing the government of the Republic of China to
become the only legal government of the whole of China and its sole
legal representative in the international arena, thereby bringing
the historical status of the Republic of China to an end. This is a
replacement of the old regime by a new one in a situation where the
main bodies of the same international laws have not changed and
China's sovereignty and inherent territory have not changed
therefrom, and so the government of the PRC naturally should fully
enjoy and exercise China's sovereignty, including its sovereignty
over Taiwan.
Since the KMT ruling clique retreated to Taiwan, although its regime
has continued to use the designations "Republic of China" and
"government of the Republic of China," it has long since completely
forfeited its right to exercise state sovereignty on behalf of China
and, in reality, has always remained only a local authority in
Chinese territory.
The formulation of the One-China Principle and its basic meaning. On
the day of its founding, the Central People's Government of the PRC
declared to governments of all countries in the world, "This
government is the sole legitimate government representing the entire
people of the People's Republic of China. It is ready to establish
diplomatic relations with all foreign governments that are willing
to abide by the principles of equality, mutual benefit and mutual
respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty."
Shortly afterwards, the Central People's Government telegraphed the
United Nations, announcing that the KMT authorities had "lost all
basis, both de jure and de facto, to represent the Chinese people,"
and therefore had no right to represent China at all. One principle
governing New China's establishment of diplomatic relations with a
foreign country is that it recognizes the government of the PRC as
the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China,
severs or refrains from establishing diplomatic relations with the
Taiwan authorities.
These propositions of the Chinese government met with obstruction by
the U.S. government. On January 5, 1950, the U.S. President Truman
issued a statement, saying that the U.S. and other Allied countries
recognized China's exercise of sovereignty over Taiwan Island in the
four years since 1945. However, after the start of the Korean War in
June 1950, to isolate and contain China the U.S. government not only
sent troops to occupy Taiwan, but it also dished out such fallacies
as "the status of Taiwan has yet to be determined" and later, step
by step, lobbied for "dual recognition" among the international
community in order to create "two Chinas." Naturally, the Chinese
government resolutely opposed this, insisting that there is only one
China in the world, Taiwan is a part of China and the government of
the PRC is the sole legal government representing the whole of
China. China has evolved the One-China Principle precisely in the
course of the endeavor to develop normal diplomatic relations with
other countries and the struggle to safeguard state sovereignty and
territorial integrity. The above propositions constitute the basic
meaning of the One-China Principle, the crucial point being to
safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
During the 30 or 40 years after 1949, although the Taiwan
authorities did not recognize the legitimate status of the
government of the PRC as the representative of the whole of China,
they did insist that Taiwan is a part of China and that there is
only one China, and opposed "two Chinas" and "Taiwan independence. "
This shows that for a long time there has been a common
understanding among the Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Straits
on the fundamental question that there is only one China and Taiwan
is a part of Chinese territory. As far back as October 1958, when
the People's Liberation Army (PLA) was engaged in the battle to
bombard Jinmen, Chairman Mao Zedong declared to the Taiwan
authorities, "There is only one China, not two, in the world. You
agree with us on this point, as indicated in your leaders'
proclamations." In January 1979, the Standing Committee of the
National People's Congress (NPC) issued a Message to Taiwan
Compatriots, pointing out that "the Taiwan authorities have always
stood firm on the one China position and opposed the independence
of Taiwan. This is our common stand and our basis for cooperation."
The Chinese government's solemn and reasonable stand for the
One-China Principle has gained the understanding and support of more
and more countries and international organizations, and the
One-China Principle has been gradually accepted by the international
community at large. In October 1971, the United Nations General
Assembly adopted at its 26th session Resolution 2758, which expelled
the representatives of the Taiwan authorities and restored the seat
and all the lawful rights of the government of the PRC in the United
Nations. In September 1972, China and Japan signed a Joint
Statement, announcing establishment of diplomatic relations between
the two countries, and that Japan recognizes the government of the
PRC as the only legitimate government of China, fully understands
and respects the Chinese government's position that Taiwan is an
inalienable part of the territory of the PRC, and promises to adhere
to the position as prescribed in Article 8 of the Potsdam
Proclamation. In December 1978, China and the U.S. issued the Joint
Communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations, in which
the U.S. " recognizes the government of the People's Republic of
China as the sole legal government of China" and "acknowledges the
Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is a part of
China. " Up to now, 161 countries have established diplomatic
relations with the PRC; they all acknowledge the One-China Principle
and promise to handle their relations with Taiwan within the
one-China framework.
II. The One-China Principle--the Basis and Prerequisite for
Achieving Peaceful Reunification
The One-China Principle is the foundation stone for the Chinese
government's policy on Taiwan. On Comrade Deng Xiaoping's
initiative, the Chinese government has, since 1979, adopted the
policy of peaceful reunification and gradually evolved the
scientific concept of "one country, two systems." On this basis,
China established the basic principle of "peaceful reunification,
and one country, two systems." The key points of this basic
principle and the relevant policies are: China will do its best to
achieve peaceful reunification, but will not commit itself to ruling
out the use of force; will actively promote people-to-people
contacts and economic and cultural exchanges between the two sides
of the Taiwan Straits, and start direct trade, postal, air and
shipping services as soon as possible; achieve reunification through
peaceful negotiations and, on the premise of the One-China
Principle, any matter can be negotiated. After reunification, the
policy of "one country, two systems" will be practiced, with the
main body of China (Chinese mainland) continuing with its socialist
system, and Taiwan maintaining its capitalist system for a long
period of time to come. After reunification, Taiwan will enjoy a
high degree of autonomy, and the Central Government will not send
troops or administrative personnel to be stationed in Taiwan.
Resolution of the Taiwan issue is an internal affair of China, which
should be achieved by the Chinese themselves, and there is no call
for aid by foreign forces. The afore-mentioned principles and
policies embody the basic stand and spirit of adhering to the
One-China Principle, and fully respect Taiwan compatriots' wish to
govern and administer Taiwan by themselves. On January 30, 1995,
President Jiang Zemin put forward eight propositions on the
development of relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits
and the promotion of peaceful reunification of China, explicitly
pointing out: "Adhering to the One-China Principle is the basis and
prerequisite for peaceful reunification. "
Only by adhering to the One-China Principle can peaceful
reunification be achieved. The Taiwan issue is one left over by the
Chinese civil war. As yet, the state of hostility between the two
sides of the Straits has not formally ended. To safeguard China's
sovereignty and territorial integrity and realize the reunification
of the two sides of the Straits, the Chinese government has the
right to resort to any necessary means. Peaceful means would be
favorable to the common development of the societies on both sides
of the Straits, and to the harmony and unity of the compatriots
across the Straits. Peaceful means is therefore the best means. The
Chinese government's declaration in 1979 on implementing the
principle of peaceful reunification was based on the premise that
the Taiwan authorities at that time upheld the principle that there
is only one China in the world and Taiwan is a part of China.
Meanwhile, the Chinese government took into account the fact that
the U.S. government, which for many years had supported the Taiwan
authorities, had accepted that there is only one China in the world,
Taiwan is a part of China and the government of the PRC is the only
legitimate government of China, and saw this acknowledgment as being
beneficial to the peaceful resolution of the Taiwan issue. While
carrying out the policy of peaceful reunification, the Chinese
government always makes it clear that the means used to solve the
Taiwan issue is a matter of China's internal affairs, and China is
under no obligation to commit itself to rule out the use of force.
This is by no means directed against Taiwan compatriots, but against
the scheme to create an "independent Taiwan" and against the foreign
forces interfering in the reunification of China, and is intended as
a necessary safeguard for the striving for peaceful reunification.
Resort to force would only be the last choice made under compelling
circumstances.
As for Taiwan, upholding the principle of one China indicates that
it acknowledges that China's sovereignty and territory are
inalienable. In this way, both sides of the Taiwan Straits will have
a common basis and premise and may find ways to solve their
political differences and realize peaceful reunification through
consultation on an equal footing. If Taiwan denies the One-China
Principle and tries to separate Taiwan from the territory of China,
the premise and basis for peaceful reunification will cease to
exist. As for the United States, if it promises to follow a
one-China policy, it should earnestly implement the three
communiques between the Chinese and U.S. governments and fulfill the
series of promises it has made. It should maintain only cultural,
commercial and other non-governmental relations with Taiwan; oppose
"Taiwan independence," "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" and
not to stand in the way of the reunification of China. Acting
otherwise will destroy the external conditions necessary for the
Chinese government to strive for peaceful reunification.
As for countries in the Asia-Pacific region and other regions in the
world, the situation across the Taiwan Straits has always been
closely linked with the stability of the Asia-Pacific region.
Adherence to the policy of one China by countries concerned will be
beneficial to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and
favorable for China to develop friendly relations with other
countries, and therefore conforms to the interests of the
Asia-Pacific region and other countries in the world.
The Chinese government is actively and sincerely striving for
peaceful reunification. To achieve peaceful reunification, the
Chinese government has appealed time and again for cross-Straits
negotiations on the basis of equality and the One-China Principle.
Taking Taiwan's political reality into full account and out of
consideration for the Taiwan authorities' request for the
negotiations to be held on an equal footing, we have put forward one
proposal after another, such as that the negotiations should be held
between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese KMT on a
reciprocal basis and that the talks between the two parties may
include representatives from all parties and mass organizations of
Taiwan, and we have never spoken of negotiations between the
"central and local authorities." The Chinese government has also
proposed that dialogues may start first, including political
dialogues, which may gradually move on to procedural consultations
for political talks to solve the name, the topics for discussion and
the forms of official talks before political talks are held.
Political talks may be carried out step by step. First, negotiations
should be held and an agreement reached on an official end to the
state of hostility between the two sides under the principle of one
China so as to jointly safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial
integrity and work out plans for the development of the future
cross-Straits relations. In January 1998, to seek and expand the
political basis for relations between the two sides, the Chinese
government explicitly proposed to the Taiwan side that before the
realization of reunification and in handling affairs concerning
inter-Straits relations, especially during the talks between the two
sides, the One-China Principle should be upheld, namely that there
is only one China in the world, Taiwan is a part of China and
China's sovereignty and territorial integrity is not to be
separated. The Chinese government hopes that on the basis of the
One-China Principle, the two sides will hold consultations on an
equal footing and discuss national reunification together.
To strive for peaceful reunification, the Chinese government has
adopted a series of positive policies and measures to promote the
comprehensive development of cross-Straits relations. From the end
of 1987, when the state of isolation between the two sides was
terminated, to the end of 1999, the number of Taiwan compatriots
coming to the mainland of China for visiting their relatives,
sightseeing or exchanges reached 16 million by turnstile count. The
total indirect trade volume between the two sides of the Straits
has exceeded US$ 160 billion; the agreed capital to be invested by
Taiwan business people in the mainland has exceeded US$ 44 billion,
of which US$ 24 billion has been actually used. Great progress has
been made in the exchange of mail and telecommunications across the
Straits; and some progress has been made in the exchange of air and
shipping services too. The NPC and its Standing Committee, the State
Council, and local governments have worked out a sequence of laws
and regulations to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of
Taiwan compatriots. To properly solve the concrete issues arising
from the people-to-people contacts between the two sides through
consultations, in November 1992 the mainland's Association for
Relations Across the Taiwan Straits and Taiwan's Straits Exchange
Foundation reached the common understanding during talks on routine
affairs that each of the two organizations should express verbally
that "both sides of the Taiwan Straits adhere to the One-China
Principle." On this basis, the leaders of these two organizations
successfully held the "Wang Daohan-Koo Chen-fu talks" and signed
several agreements on protecting the legitimate rights and
interests of the compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits in
April 1993. In October 1998, the leaders of the two organizations
met in Shanghai, starting political dialogue across the Straits. The
talks between the two organizations were carried out on an equal
footing. Practice has proved that on the basis of the One-China
Principle, it is entirely possible to find a proper way for holding
talks, based on equality, between the two sides. Since Hong Kong and
Macao's return to China, people-to-people contacts and exchanges
between Hong Kong and Taiwan and between Macao and Taiwan have
continued and developed on the basis of the One-China Principle.
III. The Chinese Government--Staunch Champion for the One-China
Principle
Separatist forces in Taiwan are bent on violating the One-China
Principle. In 1988, after Lee Teng-hui became the leader of the
Taiwan authorities, he publicly stated time and again that the basic
policy of the Taiwan authorities was that "there is only one China,
not two," and "we have always maintained that China should be
reunited, and we adhere to the principle of 'one China.'"
However, since the early 1990s, Lee Teng-hui has gradually deviated
from the One-China Principle, trumpeting "two governments," "two
reciprocal political entities," "Taiwan is already a state with
independent sovereignty," and "At the present stage the Republic of
China is on Taiwan and the People's Republic of China is on the
mainland." Moreover, he went back on his words, saying that "I have
never said that there is only one China." In addition, he has
connived at and provided support for the separatists who advocate
"Taiwan independence" and their activities, thus helping the rapid
development of the "Taiwan independence" forces and the spread of
the "Taiwan independence" ideology. Under the direction of Lee
Teng-hui, the Taiwan authorities have adopted a series of measures
toward actual separation. In matters of Taiwan's form of government,
the Taiwan authorities are seeking to transform Taiwan into an
"independent political entity" through a "constitutional reform," so
as to suit the needs of creating "two Chinas." In foreign relations,
the Taiwan authorities have spared no effort to carry out the
activities for "expanding the international space of survival," with
the aim of creating "two Chinas." Since 1993, for seven years
running, the Taiwan authorities have maneuvered for participation in
the United Nations. In military affairs, the Taiwan authorities have
bought large quantities of advanced weapons from foreign countries
and sought to join the Theater Missile Defense system (TMD), in an
attempt to establish a military alliance of a disguised form with
the United States and Japan.
In ideology and culture, the Taiwan authorities have endeavored to
obliterate the Chinese awareness of Taiwan compatriots, especially
young people, and their identification with the motherland, in order
to create misunderstanding of the motherland among Taiwan
compatriots and estrange them from her, thus cutting off the
ideological and cultural ties between the compatriots on both sides
of the Taiwan Straits. Since 1999, Lee Teng-hui has stepped up
his separatist activities. In May, he published the book The Road
to Democracy, which advocates the division of China into seven
regions, each enjoying "full autonomy." On July 9, he went so far as
to publicly distort the cross-Straits relations as "state to state
relations, or at least special state to state relations," in an
attempt to fundamentally change the status of Taiwan as a part of
China, sabotage the relations between both sides of the Taiwan
Straits, especially the basis for cross-Straits political dialogues
and negotiations, and wreck the foundation for peaceful
reunification. Lee Teng-hui has become the general representative of
Taiwan's separatist forces, a saboteur of the stability of the
Taiwan Straits, a stumbling-block preventing the development of
relations between China and the United States, and a troublemaker
for the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region.
The Chinese government firmly defends the One-China Principle. The
Chinese government and people have always maintained sharp vigilance
and fought resolutely against the secessionist activities of the
Taiwan separatists, represented by Lee Teng-hui.
After Lee Teng-hui's "private" visit to the United States in June
1995, the Chinese government has waged a resolute struggle against
separation and against "Taiwan independence," and made strong
protests and representations to the U.S. government for openly
allowing Lee Teng-hui to visit the U.S., violating its promises made
in the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques, and seriously prejudicing
China's sovereignty. This struggle has shown the Chinese government
and people's firm resolve and ability to safeguard state sovereignty
and territorial integrity, and exerted an important and far-reaching
influence. Compatriots in Taiwan have further realized the serious
harm "Taiwan independence" can cause. Lee Teng-hui has received a
heavy blow for his separatist activities in the international
community, so that some of the " Taiwan independence" protagonists
have had to abandon certain extremist propositions aimed at
division. The international community has further realized the
necessity of upholding the one-China policy. The U.S. government has
explicitly undertaken not to support "Taiwan independence," not to
support "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan," and not to support
Taiwan joining any international organization whose membership is
restricted to sovereign states.
The Chinese government and people have fought more unremittingly
after Lee Teng-hui cooked up his "two states" theory. The relevant
department of the Chinese government has clearly stated that the
attempt of the Taiwan separatists to implement the "two states"
theory in "legal" form was an even more serious and dangerous step
toward division and a grave provocation against peaceful
reunification. Were the attempt to succeed, it would be impossible
for China to achieve peaceful reunification. The struggle against
this attempt has grown in momentum with Chinese both at home and
abroad condemning the "two states" theory with one voice. Most
countries in the world have reaffirmed their position of upholding
the One-China Policy. The U.S. government has also reasserted its
adherence to the One-China Policy and its commitment to the "Three
Non-supports" for Taiwan. Finally, the Taiwan authorities have been
compelled to announce that they will not amend their "constitution"
and "laws" according to the "two states" theory.
Nevertheless, separatists in Taiwan are still attempting to detach
Taiwan "de jure" from China in the name of the "Republic of China"
by various forms, including "formulating a new constitution,"
"amending the constitution," and "explaining the constitution" or
through "legislation." Special vigilance should be maintained to the
fact that the Taiwan separatists are continually scheming to disrupt
the Sino-U.S. relations and provoke conflicts and confrontation
between the two nations to achieve their aim of dividing China.
Facts prove that a serious crisis still exists in the situation of
the Taiwan Straits. To safeguard the interests of the entire Chinese
people including compatriots in Taiwan and maintain the peace and
development of the Asia-Pacific region, the Chinese government
remains firm in adhering to "peaceful reunification" and "one
country, two systems"; upholding the eight propositions put forward
by President Jiang Zemin for the development of cross-Straits
relations and the acceleration of the peaceful reunification of
China; and doing its utmost to achieve the objective of peaceful
reunification. However, if a grave turn of events occurs leading to
the separation of Taiwan from China in any name, or if Taiwan is
invaded and occupied by foreign countries, or if the Taiwan
authorities refuse, sine die, the peaceful settlement of
cross-Straits reunification through negotiations, then the Chinese
government will only be forced to adopt all drastic measures
possible, including the use of force, to safeguard China's
sovereignty and territorial integrity and fulfill the great cause of
reunification. The Chinese government and people absolutely have the
determination and ability to safeguard China's sovereignty and
territorial integrity, and will never tolerate, condone or remain
indifferent to the realization of any scheme to divide China. Any
such scheme is doomed to failure.
IV. Several Questions Involving the One-China Principle in the
Cross-Straits Relations
Chinese territory and sovereignty has not been split, and the two
sides of the Straits are not two states. The Taiwan authorities
support their position on "two Chinas," including the "two states"
theory proposed by Lee Teng-hui, with the following arguments:
Since 1949, the territories on either side of the Straits have been
divided and governed separately, with neither side having
jurisdiction over the other; the government of the PRC has never
ruled Taiwan; and since 1991 Taiwan has witnessed a form of
government that has nothing to do with that of the Chinese mainland.
These arguments are absolutely untenable, and can never lead to
the conclusion that Taiwan may declare itself a state under the name
of the "Republic of China," or that the two sides of the Straits
have been divided into two states. Firstly, state sovereignty is
inseparable. The territory is the space in which a state exercises
its sovereignty. In the territory of a country there can only be a
central government exercising sovereignty on behalf of the state. As
we have already said, Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese
territory and, after replacing the government of the Republic of
China in 1949, the government of the PRC has become the sole legal
government of China, enjoying and exercising sovereignty over the
whole of China, including Taiwan.
Although the two sides of the Straits remain to be reunified, the
long-term existence of this abnormal situation has not imbued Taiwan
with a status and rights in international law, nor can it change the
legal status of Taiwan as a part of China. The problem now is that
the separatists in Taiwan and some foreign anti-China forces seek to
change this state of affairs, and it is this that the Chinese
government and people are firmly against.
We firmly oppose changing Taiwan's status as a part of China by
referendum. The Taiwan separatists' attempt to change Taiwan's
status as a part of China by referendum on the pretext that "
sovereignty belongs to the people" is futile. Firstly, under both
domestic and international laws Taiwan's legal status as a part of
Chinese territory is unequivocal, and there can be no premise for
using referendum to decide any matter of self-determination.
Secondly, the phrase "sovereignty belongs to the people" refers to
all the people of state, and not certain people or the people of a
certain area. The sovereignty over Taiwan belongs to all the Chinese
people including Taiwan compatriots, and not to some of the people
in Taiwan. Thirdly, at no time in history has Taiwan been a state in
its own right, and since 1945 Taiwan has not been a foreign colony,
nor has it been under foreign occupation. The issue of national
self-determination, therefore, does not exist. In short, from the
time that China recovered Taiwan in 1945, there has been no question
at all of changing Taiwan's status as a part of China by holding a
referendum. The only future for Taiwan is reunification with the
China mainland, and certainly not separation. Any attempt to
separate Taiwan from China through so-called referendum would only
lead the Taiwan people to disaster.
The "two German states formula" cannot be applied to the settlement
of the Taiwan issue. Some people in Taiwan have suggested that
cross-Straits relations should be dealt with according to the "two
German states formula," since Germany was divided into two states
after the Second World War, and was later reunified. This proposal
shows a misunderstanding of history and reality. The division of
Germany after the war and the temporary division between the two
sides of the Straits are questions of a different nature, the
difference lying mainly in three aspects. The first is the reasons
for, and the nature of, the division. After its defeat in the Second
World War in 1945, Germany was divided into zones occupied
separately by the four victorious nations of the United States,
Britain, France and the Soviet Union according to a declaration on
the defeat of Germany and the assumption of supreme authority and
the subsequent Potsdam Agreement. The reunification of Germany
became a focus of the confrontation in Europe between the United
States and the Soviet Union during the cold war. The Federal
Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic were
established in the zones occupied by the U.S., Britain and France,
and that occupied by the Soviet Union. Thus Germany was divided
into two states. Obviously, the German question arose entirely from
external factors, while the Taiwan issue, left over by China's civil
war, is a matter of China 's internal affairs. The second aspect is
the difference in status between the two under international law.
Germany was divided according to a series of international treaties
during and after the Second World War, while the Taiwan question
involves provisions of the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam
Proclamation and other international treaties, stating that Japan
must return Taiwan, which it had stolen from China, to the Chinese.
The third is the difference between the two in their actual
conditions of existence.
Against the backdrop of the confrontation between the U.S. and the
Soviet Union, the two German states had foreign troops stationing in
their territories and so were compelled to recognize each other and
co-exist in the international community. The Chinese government has
always persisted in the principle of one China. Before Lee Teng-hui
assumed power, and during his early days in office, the Taiwan
authorities recognized only one China and opposed "two Chinas," and
the One-China Principle has also been widely accepted by the
international community. For these reasons, the Taiwan issue and the
German issue cannot be placed in the same category, nor can the "two
German states formula" be copied to settle the Taiwan question.
Any question can be discussed under the One-China Principle. The
Chinese government advocates that the final purpose of cross-Straits
negotiations is to achieve peaceful reunification; and that to
achieve this purpose, talks should be held based on the principle of
one China. However, the proposals for " Taiwan independence," "two
Chinas" and "two states," aiming for separation instead of
reunification, violate the One-China Principle, and are naturally
unacceptable to the Chinese government. Provided that it is within
the framework of one China, any question can be discussed, including
the various issues that are of concern to the Taiwan side. The
Chinese government believes that Taiwan's international space for
economic, cultural and social activities compatible with its status,
the political status of the Taiwan authorities and other questions
can be finally settled in the process of peaceful reunification
through political negotiations within this framework.
The so-called controversy about democracy and system is an excuse
for obstructing the reunification of China. In recent years the
Taiwan authorities have repeatedly declared that " democratization
on the China mainland is the key to the reunification of China" and
that "the real essence of the cross-Straits issue is a contest
between systems." This is an excuse for postponing and resisting
reunification, as well as a scheme to deceive compatriots in Taiwan
and world opinion. The CPC and the Chinese government have
consistently striven to achieve socialist democracy. To achieve
peaceful reunification in the form of "one country, two systems,"
and to allow the two different social systems on both sides of the
Straits to coexist without imposing them on one or the other--this
is best able to embody the wishes of compatriots on both sides of
the Straits and is itself democratic. The different social systems
across the Straits, therefore, should not constitute any barrier to
peaceful reunification. Moreover, the Chinese government
acknowledges the differences between Taiwan on the one hand and Hong
Kong and Macao on the other and, after peaceful reunification, is
prepared to apply a looser form of the "one country, two systems"
policy in Taiwan than in Hong Kong and Macao. It is totally
unreasonable and undemocratic for the Taiwan authorities to seek to
obstruct reunification on the pretext of the "controversy about
democracy and system" and to force the more than 1.2 billion people
living on the Chinese mainland to practice the political and
economic systems in Taiwan. The demand for democracy should not be
used as a reason for refusing reunification. The essence of the
difference between the two sides of the Straits on this question
lies by no means in the controversy over whether to practice
democracy or in the controversy over what system to practice, but
rather a controversy over the choice between reunification and
separation.
V. Several Questions Involving Adherence to the One-China Principle
in the International Community
The Chinese government has expressed its appreciation to the
international community for widely pursuing a one-China policy. In
August 1993, we published the white paper The Taiwan Question and
Reunification of China. In Chapter V of this document, "Several
Questions Involving Taiwan in International Relations," we explained
our position and policy on a number of issues, including relations
between Taiwan and countries maintaining diplomatic ties with China,
relations between international organizations and Taiwan, aviation
services between Taiwan and countries having diplomatic relations
with China, and arms sales to Taiwan by countries having diplomatic
relations with China. Here, we would like to reaffirm our related
position and policy.
Taiwan is ineligible for membership of the United Nations and other
international organizations whose membership is confined to
sovereign states. The United Nations is an inter-governmental
international organization composed of sovereign states. After the
restoration of the lawful rights of the PRC in the United Nations,
the issue of China's representation in the UNO was resolved once and
for all and Taiwan's re-entry became totally out of the question.
The Taiwan authorities have asserted that Resolution 2758 of the UN
resolved only "the problem of China's representation," but not "the
problem of Taiwan's representation," and demanded participation in
the UN. We will never permit such a separatist act of creating "two
Chinas' or "one China, one Taiwan."
All members of the UN should adhere to the purpose and principles of
the Charter of the United Nations and related UN resolutions, abide
by norms governing international relations, including mutual respect
for sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-interference in
each other's internal affairs, and never, in any form, support
Taiwan's joining the UN or other international organizations whose
membership is confined to sovereign states.
On the basis of the principle of one China, the Chinese government
has made arrangements for Taiwan's participation in some
inter-governmental international organizations which accept region
membership in an agreeable and acceptable way according to the
nature, regulations and actual conditions of these international
organizations. As a region of China, Taiwan has participated in the
Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) respectively in the names of " Taipei, China" and
"Chinese Taipei." In September 1992, the chairman of the council of
the predecessor of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), stated that Taiwan may
participate in this organization as "a separate
Taiwan-Penghu-Jinmen-Mazu tariff zone" (abbreviated as Chinese
Taipei) after the PRC's entry to GATT. The WTO should persist in the
principle defined in the afore-said statement when examining the
acceptance of Taiwan's entry to the organization. This is only an ad
hoc arrangement and cannot constitute a model applicable to other
inter-governmental international organizations or international
gatherings.
No country maintaining diplomatic relations with China should
provide arms to Taiwan or enter into military alliance of any form
with Taiwan. All countries maintaining diplomatic relations with
China should abide by the principles of mutual respect for
sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-interference in each
other's internal affairs, and refrain from providing arms to Taiwan
or helping Taiwan produce arms in any form or under any pretext.
The Taiwan question is the most crucial and most sensitive issue in
the relations between China and the U.S. The three Sino-U.S. joint
communiques are the basis for the healthy and stable development of
relations between the two countries. For over twenty years, the U.S.
has promised to adhere to a One-China Policy, which has brought to
itself benefits such as the establishment of diplomatic relations
with China, the development of Sino-U.S. relations and the relative
stability of the Taiwan situation. Regrettably, the U.S. has
repeatedly contravened its solemn undertakings to China made in the
August 17 Communique and continued its sale of advanced arms and
military equipment to Taiwan. Recently, some people in the U.S.
Congress have cooked up the so-called Taiwan Security Enhancement
Act and are attempting to include Taiwan in the TMD. This is gross
interference in China 's internal affairs and a grave threat to
China's security, obstructing the peaceful reunification of China
and jeopardizing the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region
and the world at large. The Chinese government is firmly against
such actions.
The Chinese government adheres to the One-China Principle in dealing
with Taiwan's contacts with the outside world. The Taiwan
authorities have spared no effort to promote "pragmatic diplomacy"
in the international arena and enlarge their "international space of
survival," the essence of these being to create "two Chinas" or "one
China, one Taiwan." It is only natural that the Chinese government
should firmly oppose these. Meanwhile, considering the needs of
Taiwan's socio-economic development and the actual benefits of
compatriots in Taiwan, the Chinese government has no objection to
Taiwan's non-governmental economic and cultural contacts with
foreign countries; in fact, on the premise of one China, it has
adopted many flexible measures to make Taiwan's economic, trade and
cultural contacts with foreign countries more convenient. For
example, Taiwan may stay on the International Olympic Committee in
the name of "Chinese Taipei." As a matter of fact, Taiwan has
maintained extensive economic, trade and cultural relations with
many countries and regions in the world. Every year, a million
Taiwan compatriots go abroad for travel, business or study, as well
as for academic, cultural or sports exchanges, and Taiwan's annual
import and export trade volume has exceeded the US$200-billion mark.
This has demonstrated that adhering to the One-China Principle has
not prevented Taiwan compatriots from engaging in non-governmental
international exchanges or affected the needs of Taiwan's normal
economic, trade and cultural activities.
The Chinese government safeguards all the justified and lawful
rights and interests of Taiwan compatriots abroad. The people of
Taiwan are of the same flesh and blood with us. The Chinese
government has always worked for safeguarding their justified and
lawful rights and interests abroad. Chinese embassies and consulates
stationed abroad have always considered it their duties to
strengthen their ties with Taiwan compatriots, listen to their
suggestions and requests and safeguard their interests, and done
everything they can to help them overcome their difficulties. During
the Gulf War, the Chinese embassy helped Taiwanese labor service
personnel stranded in Kuwait pull out of dangerous places safely.
After the big earthquakes in Osaka and Kobe, Japan, the Chinese
embassy and consulate general there promptly extended their
sympathies to stricken Taiwan compatriots. When the civil war in
Cambodia broke out, the Chinese embassy lost no time in helping
Taiwanese business people and tourists whose lives and property were
seriously imperiled by the war to move to safe places. All the
above-mentioned facts reflect the Chinese government's care for
Taiwan compatriots. When both sides of the Taiwan Straits are
reunified, Taiwan compatriots will, together with people of all
ethnic groups in the country, have more possibilities to fully enjoy
the dignity and honor of the PRC in the world.
Conclusion
China has a long history of 5,000 years. The Chinese people have
lived and multiplied on this land where all ethnic groups have mixed
together, in the course of which they have evolved powerful
cohesiveness, and the values of cherishing and safeguarding unity.
Over the long course of history, the Chinese nation has witnessed
changes of dynasties, transfers of governments, local separatist
regimes, and foreign invasions, especially the untold invasions and
dismemberment by foreign powers in modern history. However, unity
has always been the main trend in the development of Chinese
history. After every separation, the country was invariably
reunified, only to be followed in its wake by rapid political,
economic, cultural, scientific and technological development. Our
compatriots in Taiwan have a glorious tradition of patriotism, and
have performed brilliant exploits in the struggles against foreign
invasions of Taiwan. Since the founding of the PRC, the Chinese
people have particularly valued their hard-earned national
independence, firmly upheld state sovereignty and territorial
integrity and struggled unswervingly for reunification of the
motherland. The 5,000-year history and culture have been implanted
deeply in the minds of the Chinese people, sprouting the strong
national consciousness of the need for national unification.
The Chinese government hopes that the international community will
follow the principle of one China now and always and that the U.S.
government will earnestly fulfil all the principles concerning the
Taiwan issue in the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques, and its
solemn promise to uphold the One-China Principle.
As the Chinese government has successively resumed the exercise of
sovereignty over Hong Kong and Macao, the people of the whole of
China are eager to resolve the Taiwan issue as early as possible and
realize the total reunification of the country. They cannot allow
the resolution of the Taiwan issue to be postponed indefinitely. We
firmly believe that the total reunification of China will be
achieved through the joint efforts of the entire Chinese people
including compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits and those
living overseas.
Council (February 21, 2000 )
Foreword
On October 1, 1949, the Chinese people won a great victory in the
new democratic revolution and founded the People's Republic of China
(PRC). The Kuomintang (KMT) ruling clique retreated from the
mainland to entrench in China's Taiwan Province in confrontation
with the Central Government with the support of foreign forces. This
is the origin of the Taiwan issue. Settlement of the Taiwan issue
and realization of the complete reunification of China embody the
fundamental interests of the Chinese nation. The Chinese government
has worked persistently toward this goal in the past 50 years. From
1979, the Chinese government has striven for the peaceful
reunification of China in the form of "one country, two systems"
with the greatest sincerity and the utmost effort. Economic and
cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts between the two
sides of the Taiwan Straits have made rapid progress since the end
of 1987. Unfortunately, from the 1990s, Lee Teng-hui, the leader of
the Taiwan authorities, has progressively betrayed the One-China
Principle, striving to promote a separatist policy with "two Chinas"
at the core, going so far as to openly describe the cross-Straits
relations as "state to state relations, or at least special state to
state relations."This action has seriously damaged the basis for
peaceful reunification of the two sides, harmed the fundamental
interests of the entire Chinese nation including the Taiwan
compatriots, and jeopardized peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific
region. The Chinese government has consistently adhered to the
One-China Principle and resolutely opposed any attempt to separate
Taiwan from China. The struggle between the Chinese government and
the separatist forces headed by Lee Teng-hui finds its concentrated
expression in the question of whether to persevere in the One-China
Principle or to create "two Chinas" or "One-China, one Taiwan."
In August 1993, we issued a white paper entitled "The Taiwan
Question and Reunification of China," which systematically expounds
the fact concerning Taiwan as an inalienable part of China, the
origin of the Taiwan issue and the Chinese government's basic
principles and related policies regarding resolution of the Taiwan
question. We deem it necessary here to further explain to the
international community the Chinese government's position and policy
on the One-China Principle.
I. The Basis for One China, de Facto and de Jure
The One-China Principle has been evolved in the course of the
Chinese people's just struggle to safeguard China's sovereignty and
territorial integrity, and its basis, both de facto and de jure, is
unshakable.
Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. All the facts and laws about
Taiwan prove that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese
territory. In April 1895, through a war of aggression against China,
Japan forced the Qing government to sign the unequal Treaty of
Shimonoseki, and forcibly occupied Taiwan. In July 1937, Japan
launched an all-out war of aggression against China. In December
1941, the Chinese government issued the Proclamation of China's
Declaration of War Against Japan, announcing to the world that all
treaties, agreements and contracts concerning Sino-Japanese
relations, including the Treaty of Shimonoseki, had been abrogated,
and that China would recover Taiwan. In December 1943, the Cairo
Declaration was issued by the Chinese, U.S. and British
governments, stipulating that Japan should return to China all the
territories it had stolen from the Chinese, including Northeast
China, Taiwan and the Penghu Archipelago. The Potsdam Proclamation
signed by China, the United States and Britain in 1945 (later
adhered to by the Soviet Union) stipulated that "The terms of the
Cairo Declaration shall be carried out." In August of that year,
Japan declared surrender and promised in its instrument of surrender
that it would faithfully fulfill the obligations laid down in the
Potsdam Proclamation. On October 25, 1945, the Chinese government
recovered Taiwan and the Penghu Archipelago, resuming the exercise
of sovereignty over Taiwan.
On October 1, 1949, the Central People's Government of the PRC was
proclaimed, replacing the government of the Republic of China to
become the only legal government of the whole of China and its sole
legal representative in the international arena, thereby bringing
the historical status of the Republic of China to an end. This is a
replacement of the old regime by a new one in a situation where the
main bodies of the same international laws have not changed and
China's sovereignty and inherent territory have not changed
therefrom, and so the government of the PRC naturally should fully
enjoy and exercise China's sovereignty, including its sovereignty
over Taiwan.
Since the KMT ruling clique retreated to Taiwan, although its regime
has continued to use the designations "Republic of China" and
"government of the Republic of China," it has long since completely
forfeited its right to exercise state sovereignty on behalf of China
and, in reality, has always remained only a local authority in
Chinese territory.
The formulation of the One-China Principle and its basic meaning. On
the day of its founding, the Central People's Government of the PRC
declared to governments of all countries in the world, "This
government is the sole legitimate government representing the entire
people of the People's Republic of China. It is ready to establish
diplomatic relations with all foreign governments that are willing
to abide by the principles of equality, mutual benefit and mutual
respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty."
Shortly afterwards, the Central People's Government telegraphed the
United Nations, announcing that the KMT authorities had "lost all
basis, both de jure and de facto, to represent the Chinese people,"
and therefore had no right to represent China at all. One principle
governing New China's establishment of diplomatic relations with a
foreign country is that it recognizes the government of the PRC as
the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China,
severs or refrains from establishing diplomatic relations with the
Taiwan authorities.
These propositions of the Chinese government met with obstruction by
the U.S. government. On January 5, 1950, the U.S. President Truman
issued a statement, saying that the U.S. and other Allied countries
recognized China's exercise of sovereignty over Taiwan Island in the
four years since 1945. However, after the start of the Korean War in
June 1950, to isolate and contain China the U.S. government not only
sent troops to occupy Taiwan, but it also dished out such fallacies
as "the status of Taiwan has yet to be determined" and later, step
by step, lobbied for "dual recognition" among the international
community in order to create "two Chinas." Naturally, the Chinese
government resolutely opposed this, insisting that there is only one
China in the world, Taiwan is a part of China and the government of
the PRC is the sole legal government representing the whole of
China. China has evolved the One-China Principle precisely in the
course of the endeavor to develop normal diplomatic relations with
other countries and the struggle to safeguard state sovereignty and
territorial integrity. The above propositions constitute the basic
meaning of the One-China Principle, the crucial point being to
safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
During the 30 or 40 years after 1949, although the Taiwan
authorities did not recognize the legitimate status of the
government of the PRC as the representative of the whole of China,
they did insist that Taiwan is a part of China and that there is
only one China, and opposed "two Chinas" and "Taiwan independence. "
This shows that for a long time there has been a common
understanding among the Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Straits
on the fundamental question that there is only one China and Taiwan
is a part of Chinese territory. As far back as October 1958, when
the People's Liberation Army (PLA) was engaged in the battle to
bombard Jinmen, Chairman Mao Zedong declared to the Taiwan
authorities, "There is only one China, not two, in the world. You
agree with us on this point, as indicated in your leaders'
proclamations." In January 1979, the Standing Committee of the
National People's Congress (NPC) issued a Message to Taiwan
Compatriots, pointing out that "the Taiwan authorities have always
stood firm on the one China position and opposed the independence
of Taiwan. This is our common stand and our basis for cooperation."
The Chinese government's solemn and reasonable stand for the
One-China Principle has gained the understanding and support of more
and more countries and international organizations, and the
One-China Principle has been gradually accepted by the international
community at large. In October 1971, the United Nations General
Assembly adopted at its 26th session Resolution 2758, which expelled
the representatives of the Taiwan authorities and restored the seat
and all the lawful rights of the government of the PRC in the United
Nations. In September 1972, China and Japan signed a Joint
Statement, announcing establishment of diplomatic relations between
the two countries, and that Japan recognizes the government of the
PRC as the only legitimate government of China, fully understands
and respects the Chinese government's position that Taiwan is an
inalienable part of the territory of the PRC, and promises to adhere
to the position as prescribed in Article 8 of the Potsdam
Proclamation. In December 1978, China and the U.S. issued the Joint
Communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations, in which
the U.S. " recognizes the government of the People's Republic of
China as the sole legal government of China" and "acknowledges the
Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is a part of
China. " Up to now, 161 countries have established diplomatic
relations with the PRC; they all acknowledge the One-China Principle
and promise to handle their relations with Taiwan within the
one-China framework.
II. The One-China Principle--the Basis and Prerequisite for
Achieving Peaceful Reunification
The One-China Principle is the foundation stone for the Chinese
government's policy on Taiwan. On Comrade Deng Xiaoping's
initiative, the Chinese government has, since 1979, adopted the
policy of peaceful reunification and gradually evolved the
scientific concept of "one country, two systems." On this basis,
China established the basic principle of "peaceful reunification,
and one country, two systems." The key points of this basic
principle and the relevant policies are: China will do its best to
achieve peaceful reunification, but will not commit itself to ruling
out the use of force; will actively promote people-to-people
contacts and economic and cultural exchanges between the two sides
of the Taiwan Straits, and start direct trade, postal, air and
shipping services as soon as possible; achieve reunification through
peaceful negotiations and, on the premise of the One-China
Principle, any matter can be negotiated. After reunification, the
policy of "one country, two systems" will be practiced, with the
main body of China (Chinese mainland) continuing with its socialist
system, and Taiwan maintaining its capitalist system for a long
period of time to come. After reunification, Taiwan will enjoy a
high degree of autonomy, and the Central Government will not send
troops or administrative personnel to be stationed in Taiwan.
Resolution of the Taiwan issue is an internal affair of China, which
should be achieved by the Chinese themselves, and there is no call
for aid by foreign forces. The afore-mentioned principles and
policies embody the basic stand and spirit of adhering to the
One-China Principle, and fully respect Taiwan compatriots' wish to
govern and administer Taiwan by themselves. On January 30, 1995,
President Jiang Zemin put forward eight propositions on the
development of relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits
and the promotion of peaceful reunification of China, explicitly
pointing out: "Adhering to the One-China Principle is the basis and
prerequisite for peaceful reunification. "
Only by adhering to the One-China Principle can peaceful
reunification be achieved. The Taiwan issue is one left over by the
Chinese civil war. As yet, the state of hostility between the two
sides of the Straits has not formally ended. To safeguard China's
sovereignty and territorial integrity and realize the reunification
of the two sides of the Straits, the Chinese government has the
right to resort to any necessary means. Peaceful means would be
favorable to the common development of the societies on both sides
of the Straits, and to the harmony and unity of the compatriots
across the Straits. Peaceful means is therefore the best means. The
Chinese government's declaration in 1979 on implementing the
principle of peaceful reunification was based on the premise that
the Taiwan authorities at that time upheld the principle that there
is only one China in the world and Taiwan is a part of China.
Meanwhile, the Chinese government took into account the fact that
the U.S. government, which for many years had supported the Taiwan
authorities, had accepted that there is only one China in the world,
Taiwan is a part of China and the government of the PRC is the only
legitimate government of China, and saw this acknowledgment as being
beneficial to the peaceful resolution of the Taiwan issue. While
carrying out the policy of peaceful reunification, the Chinese
government always makes it clear that the means used to solve the
Taiwan issue is a matter of China's internal affairs, and China is
under no obligation to commit itself to rule out the use of force.
This is by no means directed against Taiwan compatriots, but against
the scheme to create an "independent Taiwan" and against the foreign
forces interfering in the reunification of China, and is intended as
a necessary safeguard for the striving for peaceful reunification.
Resort to force would only be the last choice made under compelling
circumstances.
As for Taiwan, upholding the principle of one China indicates that
it acknowledges that China's sovereignty and territory are
inalienable. In this way, both sides of the Taiwan Straits will have
a common basis and premise and may find ways to solve their
political differences and realize peaceful reunification through
consultation on an equal footing. If Taiwan denies the One-China
Principle and tries to separate Taiwan from the territory of China,
the premise and basis for peaceful reunification will cease to
exist. As for the United States, if it promises to follow a
one-China policy, it should earnestly implement the three
communiques between the Chinese and U.S. governments and fulfill the
series of promises it has made. It should maintain only cultural,
commercial and other non-governmental relations with Taiwan; oppose
"Taiwan independence," "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" and
not to stand in the way of the reunification of China. Acting
otherwise will destroy the external conditions necessary for the
Chinese government to strive for peaceful reunification.
As for countries in the Asia-Pacific region and other regions in the
world, the situation across the Taiwan Straits has always been
closely linked with the stability of the Asia-Pacific region.
Adherence to the policy of one China by countries concerned will be
beneficial to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and
favorable for China to develop friendly relations with other
countries, and therefore conforms to the interests of the
Asia-Pacific region and other countries in the world.
The Chinese government is actively and sincerely striving for
peaceful reunification. To achieve peaceful reunification, the
Chinese government has appealed time and again for cross-Straits
negotiations on the basis of equality and the One-China Principle.
Taking Taiwan's political reality into full account and out of
consideration for the Taiwan authorities' request for the
negotiations to be held on an equal footing, we have put forward one
proposal after another, such as that the negotiations should be held
between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese KMT on a
reciprocal basis and that the talks between the two parties may
include representatives from all parties and mass organizations of
Taiwan, and we have never spoken of negotiations between the
"central and local authorities." The Chinese government has also
proposed that dialogues may start first, including political
dialogues, which may gradually move on to procedural consultations
for political talks to solve the name, the topics for discussion and
the forms of official talks before political talks are held.
Political talks may be carried out step by step. First, negotiations
should be held and an agreement reached on an official end to the
state of hostility between the two sides under the principle of one
China so as to jointly safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial
integrity and work out plans for the development of the future
cross-Straits relations. In January 1998, to seek and expand the
political basis for relations between the two sides, the Chinese
government explicitly proposed to the Taiwan side that before the
realization of reunification and in handling affairs concerning
inter-Straits relations, especially during the talks between the two
sides, the One-China Principle should be upheld, namely that there
is only one China in the world, Taiwan is a part of China and
China's sovereignty and territorial integrity is not to be
separated. The Chinese government hopes that on the basis of the
One-China Principle, the two sides will hold consultations on an
equal footing and discuss national reunification together.
To strive for peaceful reunification, the Chinese government has
adopted a series of positive policies and measures to promote the
comprehensive development of cross-Straits relations. From the end
of 1987, when the state of isolation between the two sides was
terminated, to the end of 1999, the number of Taiwan compatriots
coming to the mainland of China for visiting their relatives,
sightseeing or exchanges reached 16 million by turnstile count. The
total indirect trade volume between the two sides of the Straits
has exceeded US$ 160 billion; the agreed capital to be invested by
Taiwan business people in the mainland has exceeded US$ 44 billion,
of which US$ 24 billion has been actually used. Great progress has
been made in the exchange of mail and telecommunications across the
Straits; and some progress has been made in the exchange of air and
shipping services too. The NPC and its Standing Committee, the State
Council, and local governments have worked out a sequence of laws
and regulations to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of
Taiwan compatriots. To properly solve the concrete issues arising
from the people-to-people contacts between the two sides through
consultations, in November 1992 the mainland's Association for
Relations Across the Taiwan Straits and Taiwan's Straits Exchange
Foundation reached the common understanding during talks on routine
affairs that each of the two organizations should express verbally
that "both sides of the Taiwan Straits adhere to the One-China
Principle." On this basis, the leaders of these two organizations
successfully held the "Wang Daohan-Koo Chen-fu talks" and signed
several agreements on protecting the legitimate rights and
interests of the compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits in
April 1993. In October 1998, the leaders of the two organizations
met in Shanghai, starting political dialogue across the Straits. The
talks between the two organizations were carried out on an equal
footing. Practice has proved that on the basis of the One-China
Principle, it is entirely possible to find a proper way for holding
talks, based on equality, between the two sides. Since Hong Kong and
Macao's return to China, people-to-people contacts and exchanges
between Hong Kong and Taiwan and between Macao and Taiwan have
continued and developed on the basis of the One-China Principle.
III. The Chinese Government--Staunch Champion for the One-China
Principle
Separatist forces in Taiwan are bent on violating the One-China
Principle. In 1988, after Lee Teng-hui became the leader of the
Taiwan authorities, he publicly stated time and again that the basic
policy of the Taiwan authorities was that "there is only one China,
not two," and "we have always maintained that China should be
reunited, and we adhere to the principle of 'one China.'"
However, since the early 1990s, Lee Teng-hui has gradually deviated
from the One-China Principle, trumpeting "two governments," "two
reciprocal political entities," "Taiwan is already a state with
independent sovereignty," and "At the present stage the Republic of
China is on Taiwan and the People's Republic of China is on the
mainland." Moreover, he went back on his words, saying that "I have
never said that there is only one China." In addition, he has
connived at and provided support for the separatists who advocate
"Taiwan independence" and their activities, thus helping the rapid
development of the "Taiwan independence" forces and the spread of
the "Taiwan independence" ideology. Under the direction of Lee
Teng-hui, the Taiwan authorities have adopted a series of measures
toward actual separation. In matters of Taiwan's form of government,
the Taiwan authorities are seeking to transform Taiwan into an
"independent political entity" through a "constitutional reform," so
as to suit the needs of creating "two Chinas." In foreign relations,
the Taiwan authorities have spared no effort to carry out the
activities for "expanding the international space of survival," with
the aim of creating "two Chinas." Since 1993, for seven years
running, the Taiwan authorities have maneuvered for participation in
the United Nations. In military affairs, the Taiwan authorities have
bought large quantities of advanced weapons from foreign countries
and sought to join the Theater Missile Defense system (TMD), in an
attempt to establish a military alliance of a disguised form with
the United States and Japan.
In ideology and culture, the Taiwan authorities have endeavored to
obliterate the Chinese awareness of Taiwan compatriots, especially
young people, and their identification with the motherland, in order
to create misunderstanding of the motherland among Taiwan
compatriots and estrange them from her, thus cutting off the
ideological and cultural ties between the compatriots on both sides
of the Taiwan Straits. Since 1999, Lee Teng-hui has stepped up
his separatist activities. In May, he published the book The Road
to Democracy, which advocates the division of China into seven
regions, each enjoying "full autonomy." On July 9, he went so far as
to publicly distort the cross-Straits relations as "state to state
relations, or at least special state to state relations," in an
attempt to fundamentally change the status of Taiwan as a part of
China, sabotage the relations between both sides of the Taiwan
Straits, especially the basis for cross-Straits political dialogues
and negotiations, and wreck the foundation for peaceful
reunification. Lee Teng-hui has become the general representative of
Taiwan's separatist forces, a saboteur of the stability of the
Taiwan Straits, a stumbling-block preventing the development of
relations between China and the United States, and a troublemaker
for the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region.
The Chinese government firmly defends the One-China Principle. The
Chinese government and people have always maintained sharp vigilance
and fought resolutely against the secessionist activities of the
Taiwan separatists, represented by Lee Teng-hui.
After Lee Teng-hui's "private" visit to the United States in June
1995, the Chinese government has waged a resolute struggle against
separation and against "Taiwan independence," and made strong
protests and representations to the U.S. government for openly
allowing Lee Teng-hui to visit the U.S., violating its promises made
in the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques, and seriously prejudicing
China's sovereignty. This struggle has shown the Chinese government
and people's firm resolve and ability to safeguard state sovereignty
and territorial integrity, and exerted an important and far-reaching
influence. Compatriots in Taiwan have further realized the serious
harm "Taiwan independence" can cause. Lee Teng-hui has received a
heavy blow for his separatist activities in the international
community, so that some of the " Taiwan independence" protagonists
have had to abandon certain extremist propositions aimed at
division. The international community has further realized the
necessity of upholding the one-China policy. The U.S. government has
explicitly undertaken not to support "Taiwan independence," not to
support "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan," and not to support
Taiwan joining any international organization whose membership is
restricted to sovereign states.
The Chinese government and people have fought more unremittingly
after Lee Teng-hui cooked up his "two states" theory. The relevant
department of the Chinese government has clearly stated that the
attempt of the Taiwan separatists to implement the "two states"
theory in "legal" form was an even more serious and dangerous step
toward division and a grave provocation against peaceful
reunification. Were the attempt to succeed, it would be impossible
for China to achieve peaceful reunification. The struggle against
this attempt has grown in momentum with Chinese both at home and
abroad condemning the "two states" theory with one voice. Most
countries in the world have reaffirmed their position of upholding
the One-China Policy. The U.S. government has also reasserted its
adherence to the One-China Policy and its commitment to the "Three
Non-supports" for Taiwan. Finally, the Taiwan authorities have been
compelled to announce that they will not amend their "constitution"
and "laws" according to the "two states" theory.
Nevertheless, separatists in Taiwan are still attempting to detach
Taiwan "de jure" from China in the name of the "Republic of China"
by various forms, including "formulating a new constitution,"
"amending the constitution," and "explaining the constitution" or
through "legislation." Special vigilance should be maintained to the
fact that the Taiwan separatists are continually scheming to disrupt
the Sino-U.S. relations and provoke conflicts and confrontation
between the two nations to achieve their aim of dividing China.
Facts prove that a serious crisis still exists in the situation of
the Taiwan Straits. To safeguard the interests of the entire Chinese
people including compatriots in Taiwan and maintain the peace and
development of the Asia-Pacific region, the Chinese government
remains firm in adhering to "peaceful reunification" and "one
country, two systems"; upholding the eight propositions put forward
by President Jiang Zemin for the development of cross-Straits
relations and the acceleration of the peaceful reunification of
China; and doing its utmost to achieve the objective of peaceful
reunification. However, if a grave turn of events occurs leading to
the separation of Taiwan from China in any name, or if Taiwan is
invaded and occupied by foreign countries, or if the Taiwan
authorities refuse, sine die, the peaceful settlement of
cross-Straits reunification through negotiations, then the Chinese
government will only be forced to adopt all drastic measures
possible, including the use of force, to safeguard China's
sovereignty and territorial integrity and fulfill the great cause of
reunification. The Chinese government and people absolutely have the
determination and ability to safeguard China's sovereignty and
territorial integrity, and will never tolerate, condone or remain
indifferent to the realization of any scheme to divide China. Any
such scheme is doomed to failure.
IV. Several Questions Involving the One-China Principle in the
Cross-Straits Relations
Chinese territory and sovereignty has not been split, and the two
sides of the Straits are not two states. The Taiwan authorities
support their position on "two Chinas," including the "two states"
theory proposed by Lee Teng-hui, with the following arguments:
Since 1949, the territories on either side of the Straits have been
divided and governed separately, with neither side having
jurisdiction over the other; the government of the PRC has never
ruled Taiwan; and since 1991 Taiwan has witnessed a form of
government that has nothing to do with that of the Chinese mainland.
These arguments are absolutely untenable, and can never lead to
the conclusion that Taiwan may declare itself a state under the name
of the "Republic of China," or that the two sides of the Straits
have been divided into two states. Firstly, state sovereignty is
inseparable. The territory is the space in which a state exercises
its sovereignty. In the territory of a country there can only be a
central government exercising sovereignty on behalf of the state. As
we have already said, Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese
territory and, after replacing the government of the Republic of
China in 1949, the government of the PRC has become the sole legal
government of China, enjoying and exercising sovereignty over the
whole of China, including Taiwan.
Although the two sides of the Straits remain to be reunified, the
long-term existence of this abnormal situation has not imbued Taiwan
with a status and rights in international law, nor can it change the
legal status of Taiwan as a part of China. The problem now is that
the separatists in Taiwan and some foreign anti-China forces seek to
change this state of affairs, and it is this that the Chinese
government and people are firmly against.
We firmly oppose changing Taiwan's status as a part of China by
referendum. The Taiwan separatists' attempt to change Taiwan's
status as a part of China by referendum on the pretext that "
sovereignty belongs to the people" is futile. Firstly, under both
domestic and international laws Taiwan's legal status as a part of
Chinese territory is unequivocal, and there can be no premise for
using referendum to decide any matter of self-determination.
Secondly, the phrase "sovereignty belongs to the people" refers to
all the people of state, and not certain people or the people of a
certain area. The sovereignty over Taiwan belongs to all the Chinese
people including Taiwan compatriots, and not to some of the people
in Taiwan. Thirdly, at no time in history has Taiwan been a state in
its own right, and since 1945 Taiwan has not been a foreign colony,
nor has it been under foreign occupation. The issue of national
self-determination, therefore, does not exist. In short, from the
time that China recovered Taiwan in 1945, there has been no question
at all of changing Taiwan's status as a part of China by holding a
referendum. The only future for Taiwan is reunification with the
China mainland, and certainly not separation. Any attempt to
separate Taiwan from China through so-called referendum would only
lead the Taiwan people to disaster.
The "two German states formula" cannot be applied to the settlement
of the Taiwan issue. Some people in Taiwan have suggested that
cross-Straits relations should be dealt with according to the "two
German states formula," since Germany was divided into two states
after the Second World War, and was later reunified. This proposal
shows a misunderstanding of history and reality. The division of
Germany after the war and the temporary division between the two
sides of the Straits are questions of a different nature, the
difference lying mainly in three aspects. The first is the reasons
for, and the nature of, the division. After its defeat in the Second
World War in 1945, Germany was divided into zones occupied
separately by the four victorious nations of the United States,
Britain, France and the Soviet Union according to a declaration on
the defeat of Germany and the assumption of supreme authority and
the subsequent Potsdam Agreement. The reunification of Germany
became a focus of the confrontation in Europe between the United
States and the Soviet Union during the cold war. The Federal
Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic were
established in the zones occupied by the U.S., Britain and France,
and that occupied by the Soviet Union. Thus Germany was divided
into two states. Obviously, the German question arose entirely from
external factors, while the Taiwan issue, left over by China's civil
war, is a matter of China 's internal affairs. The second aspect is
the difference in status between the two under international law.
Germany was divided according to a series of international treaties
during and after the Second World War, while the Taiwan question
involves provisions of the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam
Proclamation and other international treaties, stating that Japan
must return Taiwan, which it had stolen from China, to the Chinese.
The third is the difference between the two in their actual
conditions of existence.
Against the backdrop of the confrontation between the U.S. and the
Soviet Union, the two German states had foreign troops stationing in
their territories and so were compelled to recognize each other and
co-exist in the international community. The Chinese government has
always persisted in the principle of one China. Before Lee Teng-hui
assumed power, and during his early days in office, the Taiwan
authorities recognized only one China and opposed "two Chinas," and
the One-China Principle has also been widely accepted by the
international community. For these reasons, the Taiwan issue and the
German issue cannot be placed in the same category, nor can the "two
German states formula" be copied to settle the Taiwan question.
Any question can be discussed under the One-China Principle. The
Chinese government advocates that the final purpose of cross-Straits
negotiations is to achieve peaceful reunification; and that to
achieve this purpose, talks should be held based on the principle of
one China. However, the proposals for " Taiwan independence," "two
Chinas" and "two states," aiming for separation instead of
reunification, violate the One-China Principle, and are naturally
unacceptable to the Chinese government. Provided that it is within
the framework of one China, any question can be discussed, including
the various issues that are of concern to the Taiwan side. The
Chinese government believes that Taiwan's international space for
economic, cultural and social activities compatible with its status,
the political status of the Taiwan authorities and other questions
can be finally settled in the process of peaceful reunification
through political negotiations within this framework.
The so-called controversy about democracy and system is an excuse
for obstructing the reunification of China. In recent years the
Taiwan authorities have repeatedly declared that " democratization
on the China mainland is the key to the reunification of China" and
that "the real essence of the cross-Straits issue is a contest
between systems." This is an excuse for postponing and resisting
reunification, as well as a scheme to deceive compatriots in Taiwan
and world opinion. The CPC and the Chinese government have
consistently striven to achieve socialist democracy. To achieve
peaceful reunification in the form of "one country, two systems,"
and to allow the two different social systems on both sides of the
Straits to coexist without imposing them on one or the other--this
is best able to embody the wishes of compatriots on both sides of
the Straits and is itself democratic. The different social systems
across the Straits, therefore, should not constitute any barrier to
peaceful reunification. Moreover, the Chinese government
acknowledges the differences between Taiwan on the one hand and Hong
Kong and Macao on the other and, after peaceful reunification, is
prepared to apply a looser form of the "one country, two systems"
policy in Taiwan than in Hong Kong and Macao. It is totally
unreasonable and undemocratic for the Taiwan authorities to seek to
obstruct reunification on the pretext of the "controversy about
democracy and system" and to force the more than 1.2 billion people
living on the Chinese mainland to practice the political and
economic systems in Taiwan. The demand for democracy should not be
used as a reason for refusing reunification. The essence of the
difference between the two sides of the Straits on this question
lies by no means in the controversy over whether to practice
democracy or in the controversy over what system to practice, but
rather a controversy over the choice between reunification and
separation.
V. Several Questions Involving Adherence to the One-China Principle
in the International Community
The Chinese government has expressed its appreciation to the
international community for widely pursuing a one-China policy. In
August 1993, we published the white paper The Taiwan Question and
Reunification of China. In Chapter V of this document, "Several
Questions Involving Taiwan in International Relations," we explained
our position and policy on a number of issues, including relations
between Taiwan and countries maintaining diplomatic ties with China,
relations between international organizations and Taiwan, aviation
services between Taiwan and countries having diplomatic relations
with China, and arms sales to Taiwan by countries having diplomatic
relations with China. Here, we would like to reaffirm our related
position and policy.
Taiwan is ineligible for membership of the United Nations and other
international organizations whose membership is confined to
sovereign states. The United Nations is an inter-governmental
international organization composed of sovereign states. After the
restoration of the lawful rights of the PRC in the United Nations,
the issue of China's representation in the UNO was resolved once and
for all and Taiwan's re-entry became totally out of the question.
The Taiwan authorities have asserted that Resolution 2758 of the UN
resolved only "the problem of China's representation," but not "the
problem of Taiwan's representation," and demanded participation in
the UN. We will never permit such a separatist act of creating "two
Chinas' or "one China, one Taiwan."
All members of the UN should adhere to the purpose and principles of
the Charter of the United Nations and related UN resolutions, abide
by norms governing international relations, including mutual respect
for sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-interference in
each other's internal affairs, and never, in any form, support
Taiwan's joining the UN or other international organizations whose
membership is confined to sovereign states.
On the basis of the principle of one China, the Chinese government
has made arrangements for Taiwan's participation in some
inter-governmental international organizations which accept region
membership in an agreeable and acceptable way according to the
nature, regulations and actual conditions of these international
organizations. As a region of China, Taiwan has participated in the
Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) respectively in the names of " Taipei, China" and
"Chinese Taipei." In September 1992, the chairman of the council of
the predecessor of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), stated that Taiwan may
participate in this organization as "a separate
Taiwan-Penghu-Jinmen-Mazu tariff zone" (abbreviated as Chinese
Taipei) after the PRC's entry to GATT. The WTO should persist in the
principle defined in the afore-said statement when examining the
acceptance of Taiwan's entry to the organization. This is only an ad
hoc arrangement and cannot constitute a model applicable to other
inter-governmental international organizations or international
gatherings.
No country maintaining diplomatic relations with China should
provide arms to Taiwan or enter into military alliance of any form
with Taiwan. All countries maintaining diplomatic relations with
China should abide by the principles of mutual respect for
sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-interference in each
other's internal affairs, and refrain from providing arms to Taiwan
or helping Taiwan produce arms in any form or under any pretext.
The Taiwan question is the most crucial and most sensitive issue in
the relations between China and the U.S. The three Sino-U.S. joint
communiques are the basis for the healthy and stable development of
relations between the two countries. For over twenty years, the U.S.
has promised to adhere to a One-China Policy, which has brought to
itself benefits such as the establishment of diplomatic relations
with China, the development of Sino-U.S. relations and the relative
stability of the Taiwan situation. Regrettably, the U.S. has
repeatedly contravened its solemn undertakings to China made in the
August 17 Communique and continued its sale of advanced arms and
military equipment to Taiwan. Recently, some people in the U.S.
Congress have cooked up the so-called Taiwan Security Enhancement
Act and are attempting to include Taiwan in the TMD. This is gross
interference in China 's internal affairs and a grave threat to
China's security, obstructing the peaceful reunification of China
and jeopardizing the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region
and the world at large. The Chinese government is firmly against
such actions.
The Chinese government adheres to the One-China Principle in dealing
with Taiwan's contacts with the outside world. The Taiwan
authorities have spared no effort to promote "pragmatic diplomacy"
in the international arena and enlarge their "international space of
survival," the essence of these being to create "two Chinas" or "one
China, one Taiwan." It is only natural that the Chinese government
should firmly oppose these. Meanwhile, considering the needs of
Taiwan's socio-economic development and the actual benefits of
compatriots in Taiwan, the Chinese government has no objection to
Taiwan's non-governmental economic and cultural contacts with
foreign countries; in fact, on the premise of one China, it has
adopted many flexible measures to make Taiwan's economic, trade and
cultural contacts with foreign countries more convenient. For
example, Taiwan may stay on the International Olympic Committee in
the name of "Chinese Taipei." As a matter of fact, Taiwan has
maintained extensive economic, trade and cultural relations with
many countries and regions in the world. Every year, a million
Taiwan compatriots go abroad for travel, business or study, as well
as for academic, cultural or sports exchanges, and Taiwan's annual
import and export trade volume has exceeded the US$200-billion mark.
This has demonstrated that adhering to the One-China Principle has
not prevented Taiwan compatriots from engaging in non-governmental
international exchanges or affected the needs of Taiwan's normal
economic, trade and cultural activities.
The Chinese government safeguards all the justified and lawful
rights and interests of Taiwan compatriots abroad. The people of
Taiwan are of the same flesh and blood with us. The Chinese
government has always worked for safeguarding their justified and
lawful rights and interests abroad. Chinese embassies and consulates
stationed abroad have always considered it their duties to
strengthen their ties with Taiwan compatriots, listen to their
suggestions and requests and safeguard their interests, and done
everything they can to help them overcome their difficulties. During
the Gulf War, the Chinese embassy helped Taiwanese labor service
personnel stranded in Kuwait pull out of dangerous places safely.
After the big earthquakes in Osaka and Kobe, Japan, the Chinese
embassy and consulate general there promptly extended their
sympathies to stricken Taiwan compatriots. When the civil war in
Cambodia broke out, the Chinese embassy lost no time in helping
Taiwanese business people and tourists whose lives and property were
seriously imperiled by the war to move to safe places. All the
above-mentioned facts reflect the Chinese government's care for
Taiwan compatriots. When both sides of the Taiwan Straits are
reunified, Taiwan compatriots will, together with people of all
ethnic groups in the country, have more possibilities to fully enjoy
the dignity and honor of the PRC in the world.
Conclusion
China has a long history of 5,000 years. The Chinese people have
lived and multiplied on this land where all ethnic groups have mixed
together, in the course of which they have evolved powerful
cohesiveness, and the values of cherishing and safeguarding unity.
Over the long course of history, the Chinese nation has witnessed
changes of dynasties, transfers of governments, local separatist
regimes, and foreign invasions, especially the untold invasions and
dismemberment by foreign powers in modern history. However, unity
has always been the main trend in the development of Chinese
history. After every separation, the country was invariably
reunified, only to be followed in its wake by rapid political,
economic, cultural, scientific and technological development. Our
compatriots in Taiwan have a glorious tradition of patriotism, and
have performed brilliant exploits in the struggles against foreign
invasions of Taiwan. Since the founding of the PRC, the Chinese
people have particularly valued their hard-earned national
independence, firmly upheld state sovereignty and territorial
integrity and struggled unswervingly for reunification of the
motherland. The 5,000-year history and culture have been implanted
deeply in the minds of the Chinese people, sprouting the strong
national consciousness of the need for national unification.
The Chinese government hopes that the international community will
follow the principle of one China now and always and that the U.S.
government will earnestly fulfil all the principles concerning the
Taiwan issue in the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques, and its
solemn promise to uphold the One-China Principle.
As the Chinese government has successively resumed the exercise of
sovereignty over Hong Kong and Macao, the people of the whole of
China are eager to resolve the Taiwan issue as early as possible and
realize the total reunification of the country. They cannot allow
the resolution of the Taiwan issue to be postponed indefinitely. We
firmly believe that the total reunification of China will be
achieved through the joint efforts of the entire Chinese people
including compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits and those
living overseas.