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Taiwan Affairs Office &
Information Office
State Council
August 1993, Beijing,
China
Contents
Foreword
I. Taiwan-an
Inalienable Part of China
II. Origin of the Taiwan Question
III. The Chinese Government's Basic Position Regarding
Settlement of the Taiwan Question
IV. Relations Across Taiwan
Straits: Evolution and Stumbling Blocks
V. Several Questions
Involving Taiwan in International Relations
Conclusion
Foreword
It is the
sacred right of each and every sovereign State and a fundamental principle
of international law to safeguard national unity and territorial
integrity. The Charter of the United Nations specifically stipulates that
the United Nations and its Members shall refrain from any action against
the territorial integrity or political independence of any of its Members
or any State and shall not intervene in matters which are essentially
within the domestic jurisdiction of any State. The United Nations
Declaration on Principles of International Law Concerning Friendly
Relations and Co-operation Among States in Accordance with the Charter of
the United Nations points out that any attempt aimed at the partial or
total disruption of the national unity, territorial integrity or political
independence of a State or country is incompatible with the purposes and
principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
The modern
history of China was a record of subjection to aggression, dismemberment
and humiliation by foreign powers. It was also a chronicle of the Chinese
people's valiant struggles for national independence and in defense of
their state sovereignty, territorial integrity and national dignity. The
origin and evolution of the Taiwan Question are closely linked with that
period of history. For various reasons Taiwan is still separated from the
mainland. Unless and until this state of affairs is brought to an end, the
trauma on the Chinese nation will not be healed and the Chinese people's
struggle for national reunification and territorial integrity will
continue.
What is the present state of the Taiwan question? What
is the crux of the problem? What are the position and views of the Chinese
Government regarding the settlement of this issue? In order to facilitate
a better understanding by the international community, it is necessary to
elucidate the following points.
I. Taiwan -- an Inalienable
Part of China
Lying off
the southeastern coast of the China mainland, Taiwan is China's largest
island and forms an integral whole with the mainland.
Taiwan has
belonged to China since ancient times. It was known as Yizhou or Liuqiu in
antiquities. Many historical records and annals documented the development
of Taiwan by the Chinese people in earlier periods. References to this
effect were to be found, among others, in Seaboard Geographic Gazetteer
compiled more than 1,700 years ago by Shen Ying of the State of Wu during
the period of the Three Kingdoms. This was the world's earliest written
account of Taiwan. Several expeditions, each numbering over ten thousand
men, had been sent to Taiwan by the State of Wu (third century A.D.) and
the Sui Dynasty (seventh century A.D.) respectively. Since early
seventeenth century the Chinese people began to step up the development of
Taiwan. Their numbers topped one hundred thousand at the end of the
century. By 1893 (19th year of the reign of Qing Emperor Guangxu) their
population exceeded 2.54 million people in 507,000 or more households.
That was a 25-fold increase in 200 years. They brought in a more advanced
mode of production and settled the whole length and breadth of Taiwan.
Thanks to the determined efforts and hard toil of the pioneers, the
development of the island as a whole greatly accelerated. This was the
historical fact of how Taiwan, like the other parts of China, came to be
opened up and settled by the Chinese people of various nationalities. From
the very beginning the Taiwan society derived from the source of the
Chinese cultural tradition. This basic fact had not changed even during
the half century of Japanese occupation. The history of Taiwan's
development is imbued with the blood, sweat, and ingenuity of the Chinese
people including the local ethnic minorities.
Chinese
governments of different periods set up administrative bodies to exercise
jurisdiction over Taiwan. As early as in the mid-12th century the Song
Dynasty set up a garrison in Penghu, putting the territory under the
jurisdiction of Jinjiang County of Fujian's Quanzhou Prefecture. The Yuan
Dynasty installed an agency of patrol and inspection in Penghu to
administer the territory. During the mid- and late 16th century the Ming
Dynasty reinstated the once abolished agency and sent reinforcements to
Penghu in order to ward off foreign invaders. In 1662 (first year of the
reign of Qing Emperor Kangxi) General Zheng Chenggong (known in the West
as Koxinga) instituted Chengtian Prefecture on Taiwan. Subsequently, the
Qing government expanded the administrative structure in Taiwan, thereby
strengthening its rule over the territory. In 1684 (23rd year of the reign
of Emperor Kangxi) a Taiwan-Xiamen Patrol Command and a Taiwan Prefecture
Administration were set up under the jurisdiction of Fujian Province.
These in turn exercised jurisdiction over three counties on the island:
Taiwan (present-day Tainan), Fengshan(present-day Gaoxiong) and, Zhuluo
(present-day Jaiyi). In 1714 (53rd year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi)
the Qing government ordered the mapping of Taiwan to determine its size.
In 1721 (60th year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi) an office of imperial
supervisor for inspecting Taiwan was created and the Taiwan-Xiamen Patrol
command was renamed Prefecture Administration of Taiwan and Xiamen,
incorporating the subsequently-created Zhanghua County and Danshui Canton.
In 1727 (5th year of the reign of Emperor Yongzheng) the administration on
the island was reconstituted as the Prefecture Administration of Taiwan
(which was later renamed Prefecture Command for Patrol of Taiwan) and
incorporated the new Penghu Canton. The territory then became officially
known as Taiwan. In order to upgrade the administration of Taiwan, the
Qing government created Taibei Prefecture, Jilong Canton and three
counties of Danshui, Xinzhu and Yilan in 1875 (1st year of the reign of
Emperor Guangxu). In 1885 (11th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu), the
government formally made Taiwan a full province covering three prefectures
and one sub-prefecture and incorporating 11 counties and 5 cantons. Liu
Mingchuan was appointed first Governor of Taiwan. During his tenure of
office, railways were laid, mines opened, telegraph service installed,
merchant ships built, industries started and new-style schools set up.
Considerable social, economic and cultural advancement in Taiwan was
achieved as a result.
After the Chinese people's victory in the
war against Japanese aggression in 1945, the Chinese government reinstated
its administrative authority in Taiwan Province.
Chinese on both
sides of the Taiwan Straits carried out a prolonged, unremitting struggle
against foreign invasion and occupation of Taiwan. Since the late 15th
century Western colonialists started to grab and conquer colonies in a big
way. In 1624 (4th year of the reign of Ming Emperor Tianqi) Dutch
colonialists invaded and occupied the southern part of Taiwan. Two years
later Spanish colonialists seized the northern part of Taiwan. In 1642
(l5th year of the reign of Ming Emperor Chongzhen) the Dutch evicted the
Spaniards and took over north Taiwan. The Chinese people on both sides of
the Straits waged various forms of struggle including armed insurrections
against the invasion and occupation of Taiwan by foreign colonialists. In
1661 (l8th year of the reign of Qing Emperor Shufizhi) General Zheng
Chenggong (Koxinga) led an expedition to Taiwan and expelled the Dutch
colonialists from the island in the following year.
Japan
launched a war of aggression against China in l894 (20th year of the reign
of Qing Emperor Guangxu). In the ensuing year, as a result of defeat the
Qing government was forced to sign the Treaty of Shimonoseki, ceding
Taiwan to Japan. This wanton betrayal and humiliation shocked the whole
nation and touched off a storm of protests. A thousand or more candidates
from all 18 provinces including Taiwan who had assembled in Beijing for
the Imperial Examination signed a strongly-worded petition opposing the
ceding of Taiwan. In Taiwan itself, people wailed and bemoaned the
betrayal and went on general strikes. General Liu Yongfu and others of the
garrison command stood with Taiwan compatriots and put up a fierce fight
against the Japanese landing forces. To support this struggle, people on
the mainland, particularly in the southeastern region, showed their
solidarity by generous donations or organizing volunteers to Taiwan to
fight the Japanese forces. Taiwan compatriots never ceased their dauntless
struggle throughout the Japanese occupation. Initially, they formed
insurgent groups to wage guerrilla warfare for as long as seven years.
When the Revolution of 1911 overthrew the Qing monarchy they in turn lent
support to their mainland compatriots by staging more than a dozen armed
insurrections. The 1920s and 1930s witnessed surging waves of mass action
sweeping across the island against Japanese colonial rule.
In
1937 the Chinese people threw themselves into an all-out war of resistance
against Japanese aggression. In its declaration of war against Japan, the
Chinese Government proclaimed that all treaties, conventions, agreements,
and contracts regarding relations between China and Japan, including the
Treaty of Shimonoseki, had been abrogated. The declaration stressed that
China would recover Taiwan, Penghu and the four northeastern provinces.
After eight years of grueling war against Japanese aggression the Chinese
people won final victory and recovered the lost territory of Taiwan in
1945. Taiwan compatriots displayed an outburst of passion and celebrated
the great triumph of their return to the fold of the motherland by setting
off big bangs of fireworks and performing rites to communicate the event
to their ancestors.
The international community has acknowledged
the fact that Taiwan belongs to China. The Chinese people's war of
resistance against Japanese aggression, being part of the world-wide
struggle against Fascism, received extensive support from people all over
the world. During the Second World War China, the United States, the
Soviet Union, Great Britain, France and others formed an alliance to
oppose the Axis of Germany, Japan and Italy. The Cairo Declaration issued
by China, the United States and Great Britain on 1 December 1943 stated:
"It is the purpose of the three great Allies that Japan shall be stripped
of all the islands in the Pacific which she has seized or occupied since
the beginning of the First World War in 1914, and that all the territories
Japan has stolen from the Chinese, such as Manchuria, Formosa [Taiwan] and
the Pescadores [Penghu], shall be restored to China." The Potsdam
Proclamation signed by China, the United States and Great Britain on 26
July 1945 (subsequently adhered to by the Soviet Union) reiterated: "The
terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out." On 15 August of the
same year, Japan declared surrender. The instrument of Japan's surrender
stipulated that "Japan hereby accepts the provisions in the declaration
issued by the heads of the Governments of the United States, China and
Great Britain on July 26, 1945 at Potsdam, and subsequently adhered to by
the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics" On 25 October the ceremony for
accepting Japan's surrender in Taiwan Province of the China war theater of
the Allied powers was held in Taibei. On the occasion the chief officer
for accepting the surrender proclaimed on behalf of the Chinese government
that from that day forward Taiwan and the Penghu Archipelago had again
been incorporated formally into the territory of China and that the
territory, people, and administration had now been placed under the
sovereignty of China. From that point in time forward, Taiwan and Penghu
had been put back under the jurisdiction of Chinese sovereignty.
Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, 157
countries have established diplomatic relations with China. All these
countries recognize that there is only one China and that the Government
of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government of China
and Taiwan is part of China.
II. Origin of the Taiwan
Question
Taiwan
was returned to China de jure and de facto at the end of the Second World
War. It became an issue only as an aftermath of the ensuing anti-popular
civil war started by Kuomintang, and more especially because of
intervention by foreign forces.
Taiwan question and civil war
launched by Kuomintang. During the war of resistance against Japanese
aggression the Chinese Communist Party and other patriotic groups pressed
Kuomintang into a national united front with the Communist Party to fight
Japanese imperialist aggression. After victory of the war the two Parties
should have joined hands to work for the resurgence of China. But the
Kuomintang clique headed by Chiang Kai-shek flouted the people's fervent
aspirations for peace and for building an independent, democratic and
prosperous new China. Relying on U.S. support, this clique tore up the 10
October 1945 agreement between the two Parties and launched an all-out
anti-popular civil war. The Chinese people were compelled to respond with
a people's liberation war which was to last more than three years under
the leadership of the Communist Party. Since the Kuomintang clique had
already been spurned by the people of all nationalities for its reign of
terror, the government of the "Republic of China" in Nanjing was finally
overthrown by the Chinese people. The People's Republic of China was
proclaimed on 1 October 1949 and the Government of the new People's
Republic became the sole legal government of China. A group of military
and political officials of the Kuomintang clique took refuge in Taiwan
and, with the support of the then U.S. administration, created the
division between the two sides of the Straits.
Taiwan question
and responsibility of the United States. Against the backdrop of East-West
confrontation in the wake of the Second World War and guided by its
conceived global strategy and national interest considerations, the U. S.
government gave full support to the Kuomintang, providing it with money,
weapons and advisors to carry on the civil war and block the advance of
the Chinese people's revolution. However, the U.S. government never
achieved its objective. The White Paper on United States Relations with
China released by the Department of State in 1949 and Secretary of State
Dean. After victory of the war the two Acheson's letter of transmittal to
President Harry S. Truman had to admit this. Dean Acheson lamented in his
letter: "The unfortunate but inescapable fact is that the ominous result
of the civil war in China was beyond the control of the government of the
United States. ? Nothing that was left undone by this country has
contributed to it. It was the product of internal Chinese forces, forces
which this country tried to influence but could not."
At the
time of the founding of the People's Republic of China the then U.S.
administration could have pulled itself from the quagmire of China's civil
war. But it failed to do so. Instead, it adopted a policy of isolation and
containment of New China. When the Korean War broke out, it started armed
intervention in the inter-Taiwan Straits relations which were entirely
China's internal affairs. On 27 June 1950 President Truman announced: ''I
have ordered the Seventh Fleet to prevent any attack on Formosa.'' Thus
the Seventh Fleet invaded the Taiwan Straits and the U.S. 13th Air Force
set up base in Taiwan. In December 1954 the U.S. concluded with the Taiwan
authorities a so-called mutual defense treaty placing China's Taiwan
Province under U.S. ''protection''. The erroneous policy of the U.S.
government of continued interference in China's internal affairs led to
prolonged and intense confrontation in the Taiwan Straits area and
henceforth the Taiwan question became a major dispute between China and
the United States.
In order to ease tension in the Taiwan
Straits area and seek ways of solving the dispute between the two
countries, the Chinese Government started dialogues with the United States
from the mid-1950s onwards. The two countries held 136 sessions of talks
at ambassadorial level from August 1955 to February 1970. However, no
progress had been made in that period on the key issue of easing and
removing tension in the Taiwan Straits area. It was not until late 1960s
and early 1970s when the international situation had undergone changes and
as New China had gained in strength that the U.S. began to readjust its
China policy and the relations between the two countries started a
thawing. In October 1971 the United Nations General Assembly adopted at
its 26th session Resolution 2758 which restored all the lawful rights of
the People's Republic of China in the United Nations and expelled the
''representatives'' of the Taiwan authorities from the U.N. U.S. President
Richard Nixon visited China in February 1972 in the course of which the
two countries issued a joint communiqu└ in Shanghai stating that: ''The
U.S. side declared: the United States acknowledges that all Chinese on
either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that
Taiwan is a part of China. The United States Government does not challenge
that position.''
In December 1978 the U.S. Government accepted
the three principles proposed by the Chinese Government for the
establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, namely,
the United States should sever ''diplomatic relations'' and abrogate the
''mutual defense treaty'' with the Taiwan authorities and withdraw U.S.
military forces from Taiwan. On I January 1979 China and the United States
formally established diplomatic relations. The communiqu└ on the
Establishment of Diplomatic Relations said that: ''The United States of
America recognizes the Government of the People's Republic of China as the
sole legal government of China. Within this context, the people of the
United States will maintain cultural, commercial and other unofficial
relations with the people of Taiwan. ? The Government of the United States
of America acknowledges the Chinese position that there is but one China
and Taiwan is part of China. '' Normalization of Sino-U.S. relation was
thus achieved.
Regrettably, however, scarcely three months after
the event, a so-called Taiwan Relations Act was passed by the U.S.
Congress and signed into law by the President. A domestic legislation of
the U.S. as it was, this Act contained many clauses that contravened the
communiqu└ on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and
the U.S. and the principles of international law, and seriously prejudiced
the rights and interests of the Chinese people. Invoking this legislation,
the U.S. Government has continued its arms sales to Taiwan, interference
in China's internal affairs and obstruction to Taiwan's reunification with
the mainland.
In order to resolve the issue of U.S. arms sales
to Taiwan, the Chinese and the U.S. governments negotiated and reached an
agreement on 17 August 1982. A communiqu└ bearing the same date became the
third joint communiqu└ governing Sino-U.S. relations. In that communiqu└
the U.S. Government stated that: ''It does not seek to carry out a
long-term policy of arms sales to Taiwan, that its arms sales to Taiwan
will not exceed, either in qualitative or in quantitative terms, the level
of those supplied in recent years since the establishment of diplomatic
relations between the United States and China and that it intends
gradually to reduce its sale of arms to Taiwan, leading, over a period of
time, to a final resolution.'' Yet in the past dozen or more years the
U.S. Government has not only failed to implement the communiqu└ in
earnest, but has repeatedly contravened it. In September 1992 the U.S.
Government even decided to sell 150 F-16 high-performance fighter aircraft
to Taiwan. This action of the U.S. Government has added a new stumbling
block in the way of the development of Sino-U. S. relations and settlement
of the Taiwan question.
It is clear from the foregoing that the
U.S. Government is responsible for holding up the settlement of the Taiwan
Question. Since the 1970s many Americans of vision and goodwill in or
outside the administration have contributed much by way of helping to
resolve the differences between China and the U.S. on the Taiwan question.
The aforesaid three joint communiqu└ testify to their effort and
contribution of which the Chinese Government and people are highly
appreciative. On the other hand, one cannot fail to note that there are
people in the U.S. who still do not want to see a reunified China. They
have cooked up various pretexts and exerted influence to obstruct the
settlement of the Taiwan question.
The Chinese Government is
convinced that the American and the Chinese peoples are friendly to each
other and that the normal development of the relations between the two
countries accords with the long-term interests and common aspiration of
both peoples. Both countries should cherish the three hard-won joint
communiqu└ guiding the development of bilateral relations. As long as both
sides abide by the principles enshrined in those communiqu└, respect each
other and set store by their overall common interests, it will not be
difficult to settle the Taiwan question that has been left over from
history and Sino-U.S. relations will surely see steady improvement and
development ahead.
III. The Chinese Government's
Basic Position Regarding Settlement of the Taiwan Question
To settle
the Taiwan question and achieve national reunification -- this is a
sacrosanct mission of the entire Chinese people. The Chinese Government
has persistently worked towards this end since the founding of the
People's Republic. Its basic position on this question is: peaceful
reunification, one country, two systems.
Peaceful reunification;
one country, two systems -- how has this position been formulated? The
Chinese Government conceived a peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question
as early as in the 1950s. In May 1955 the late Premier Zhou Enlai said at
a NPC Standing Committee meeting that two alternatives were open to the
Chinese people for the solution of the Taiwan question -- by resort to war
or by peaceful means. The Chinese people would strive for a peaceful
solution wherever possible, he affirmed. In April 1956 the late Chairman
Mao Zedong put forward thoughts for policy-making such as ''peace is the
best option'', ''all patriots are of one family'' and ''it is never too
late to join the ranks of patriots''. However, those wishes have not come
to fruition for reasons such as interference by foreign forces.
Major changes took place in and outside China in the 1970s.
Diplomatic ties were established and relations normalized between China
and the United States. The Third Plenary Session of the Eleven Central
Committee of the Communist Party of China decided to shift the focus of
the work of the Party and the State to the economic modernization
programme. In the meantime, people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits,
compatriots of Hong Kong and Macao as well as overseas Chinese and people
of Chinese descent all expressed their fervent hope that the two sides of
the Straits would join hands to work for a resurgence of China. It was
against this historical background that the Chinese Government formulated
the position of ''peaceful reunification; one country, two systems''. The
position takes the overall national interests and the future of the
country into consideration. It respects history as well as the prevailing
situation. It is realistic and takes care of the interests of all.
On 1 January 1979 the Standing Committee of the National
People's Congress of the People's Republic of China issued a message to
compatriots in Taiwan, pronouncing the Chinese Government's basic position
regarding peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question. It called for the
holding of talks between the two sides of the Straits to seek an end to
the military confrontation. It pledged that in the pursuit of national
reunification, the Government ''will respect the status quo on Taiwan and
the views of people of all walks of life there and adopt reasonable
polices and measures''.
In a statement on 30 September 1981 the
late Chairman Ye Jianying of the NPC Standing Committee further elaborated
the policy and principles for the settlement of the Taiwan question. He
affirmed that ''after the country is reunified, Taiwan can enjoy a high
degree of autonomy as a special administrative region'' and proposed that
talks be held on an equal footing between the ruling Parties on each side
of the Straits, namely, the Chinese Communist Party and the Kuomintang.
Referring to Ye Jianying's remarks, Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping
pointed out on 11 January 1982 that this in effect meant ''one country,
two systems'', i.e., on the premise of national reunification, the main
body of the nation would continue with its socialist system while Taiwan
could maintain capitalism.
On 26 June 1983 Deng Xiaoping further
enunciated the concept of peaceful reunification, stressing that the
crucial point was national reunification. He went on to expound the
Government's policy on reunification and on the creation of a Taiwan
special administrative region.
On 12 October 1992 General
Secretary Jiang Zemin of the CPC Central Committee pointed out: ''We shall
work steadfastly for the great cause, adhering to the principles of
peaceful reunification and 'one country, two systems' ? We reiterate that
the Chinese Communist Party is ready to establish contact with the Chinese
Kuomintang at the earliest possible date to create conditions for talks on
officially ending the state of hostility between the two sides of the
Taiwan Straits and gradually realizing peaceful reunification.
Representatives from other parties, mass organizations and all circles on
both sides of the Taiwan Straits could be invited to join in such talks.
''
Basic Contents of ''peaceful reunification; one country, two
Systems''. This position is an important component of the theory and
practice of building socialism with Chinese characteristics and a
fundamental state policy of the Chinese Government which will not change
for a long time to come. Its basic contents are as follows:
1.
Only one China. There is only one China in the world, Taiwan is an
inalienable part of China and the seat of China's central government is in
Beijing. This is a universally recognized fact as well as the premise for
a peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question.
The Chinese
Government is firmly against any words or deeds designed to split China's
sovereignty and territorial integrity. It opposes ''two Chinas'', ''one
China, one Taiwan'', ''one country, two governments'' or any attempt or
act that could lead to ''independence of Taiwan''. The Chinese people on
both sides of the Straits all believe that there is only one China and
espouse national reunification. Taiwan's status as an inalienable part of
China has been determined and cannot be changed. ''Self determination''
for Taiwan is out of the question.
2. Coexistence of two
systems. On the premise of one China, socialism on the mainland and
capitalism on Taiwan can coexist and develop side by side for a long time
without one swallowing up the other. This concept has largely taken
account of the actual situation in Taiwan and practical interests of our
compatriots there. It will be a unique feature and important innovation in
the state system of a reunified China.
After reunification,
Taiwan's current socio-economic system, its way of life as well as
economic and cultural ties with foreign countries can remain unchanged.
Private property, including houses and land, as well as business
ownership, legal inheritance and overseas Chinese and foreign investments
on the island will all be protected by law.
3. A high degree of
autonomy. After reunification, Taiwan will become a special administrative
region. It will be distinguished from the other provinces or regions of
China by its high degree of autonomy. It will have its own administrative
and legislative powers, an independent judiciary and the right of
adjudication on the island. It will run its own party, political,
military, economic and financial affairs. It may conclude commercial and
cultural agreements with foreign countries and enjoy certain rights in
foreign affairs. It may keep its military forces and the mainland will not
dispatch troops or administrative personnel to the island. On the other
hand, representatives of the government of the special administrative
region and those from different circles of Taiwan may be appointed to
senior posts in the central government and participate in the running of
national affairs.
4. Peace negotiations. It is the common
aspiration of the entire Chinese people to achieve reunification of the
country by peaceful means through contacts and negotiations. People on
both sides of the Straits are all Chinese. It would be a great tragedy for
all if China's territorial integrity and sovereignty were to be split and
its people were to be drawn into a fratricide. Peaceful reunification will
greatly enhance the cohesion of the Chinese nation. It will facilitate
Taiwan's socio-economic stability and development and promote the
resurgence and prosperity of China as a whole.
In order to put
an end to hostility and achieve peaceful reunification, the two sides
should enter into contacts and negotiations at the earliest possible date.
On the premise of one China, both sides can discuss any subject, including
the modality of negotiations, the question of what Parties, groups and
personalities may participate as well as any other matters of concern to
the Taiwan side. So long as the two sides sit down and talk, they will
always be able to find a mutually acceptable solution.
Taking
into account the prevailing situation on both sides of the Straits, the
Chinese Government has proposed that pending reunification the two sides
should, according to the principle of mutual respect, complementarity and
mutual benefit, actively promote economic cooperation and other exchanges.
Direct trade, postal, air and shipping services and two-way visits should
be started in order to pave the way for the peaceful reunification of the
country.
Peaceful reunification is a set policy of the Chinese
Government. However, any sovereign state is entitled to use any means it
deems necessary, including military ones, to uphold its sovereignty and
territorial integrity. The Chinese Government is under no obligation to
undertake any commitment to any foreign power or people intending to split
China as to what means it might use to handle its own domestic affairs.
It should be pointed out that the Taiwan question is purely an
internal affair of China and bears no analogy to the cases of Germany and
Korea which were brought about as a result of international accords at the
end of the Second World War. Therefore, the Taiwan question should not be
placed on a par with the situation of Germany or Korea. The Chinese
Government has always opposed applying the German or Korean formulas to
Taiwan. The Taiwan question should and entirely can be resolved
judiciously through bilateral consultations and within the framework of
one China.
IV. Relations Across Taiwan
Straits: Evolution and Stumbling Blocks
The
present division between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits is a
misfortune for the Chinese nation. All the Chinese people are yearning for
an early end to this agonizing situation.
In order to enable
normal movement of people across the Straits and to achieve reunification
of the country, the Chinese Government has made proposals towards this end
and, at the same time, adopted measures to step up the development of
inter-Straits relations.
On the political plane, policy
adjustments have been made with a view to breaking down the mentality of
hostility. The Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's
Procuratorate have decided respectively that people who had gone to Taiwan
would no longer be prosecuted for offenses prior to the founding of the
People's Republic of China.
On the military plane, initiatives
have been taken to ease military confrontation across the Straits.
Shelling of Jinmen and other islands have been discontinued. Some forward
defense positions and observation posts along the Fujian coast have been
transformed into economic development zones or tourist attractions.
On the economic plane, doors have been flung open to facilitate
the flow of goods and people. Businessmen from Taiwan are welcome to
invest or trade on the mainland. They are accorded preferential treatment
and legal safeguards.
The Chinese Government has also adopted a
positive attitude and taken measures to encourage bilateral exchanges and
cooperation in areas such as two-way travels, post and communications as
well as scientific, cultural, sports, academic and journalistic
activities. A non-governmental Association for Relations Across the Taiwan
Straits has been set up and authorized by the Government to liaise with
the Straits Exchange Foundation and other relevant non-governmental bodies
in Taiwan for the purpose of upholding the legitimate rights and interests
of people on both sides and promoting inter-Straits relations.
Such policies and measures of the Chinese Government have won
the understanding and support of more and more Taiwan compatriots,
compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao as well as overseas Chinese and people
of Chinese descent. On their part, Taiwan compatriots have contributed
tremendously to the development of inter-Straits relations. In recent
years the Taiwan authorities have in turn made readjustments in their
policy regarding the mainland. They have taken steps to ease the
situation, such as allowing people to visit relatives on the mainland,
gradually reducing the restrictions on people-to-people exchanges and
contact, expanding indirect trade, permitting indirect investment and
cutting red tape in inter-Straits post, telecommunications and bank
remittance services. All these are conducive to better interchanges. The
past few years have witnessed rapid growth of economic relations and trade
as well as increasing mutual visits and sundry exchanges across the
Straits. The Wang Daohan--Koo Chen-fu Talks in April 1993 resulted in four
agreements, marking a step forward of historic significance in
inter-Straits relations. Thus an atmosphere of relaxation prevails in the
Taiwan Straits for the first time in the past four decades. This is
auspicious to peaceful reunification.
It should be pointed out
that notwithstanding a certain measure of easing up by the Taiwan
authorities, their current policy vis-a-vis the mainland still seriously
impedes the development of relations across the Straits as well as the
reunification of the country. They talk about the necessity of a reunified
China, but their deeds are always a far cry from the principle of one
China. They try to prolong Taiwan's separation from the mainland and
refuse to hold talks on peaceful reunification. They have even set up
barriers to curb the further development of the interchanges across the
Straits.
In recent years the clamours for ''Taiwan
independence'' on the island have become shriller, casting a shadow over
the course of relations across the Straits and the prospect of peaceful
reunification of the country. The ''Taiwan independence'' fallacy has a
complex social-historical root and international background. But the
Taiwan authorities have, in effect, abetted this fallacy by its own policy
of rejecting peace negotiations, restricting interchanges across the
Straits and lobbying for ''dual recognition'' or ''two Chinas'' in the
international arena. It should be affirmed that the desire of Taiwan
compatriots to run the affairs of the island as masters of their own house
is reasonable and justified. This should by no means be construed as
advocating ''Taiwan independence''. They are radically distinct from those
handful of ''Taiwan independence'' protagonists who trumpet
''independence'' but vilely rely on foreign patronage in a vain attempt to
detach Taiwan from China, which runs against the fundamental interests of
the entire Chinese people including Taiwan compatriots. The Chinese
Government is closely following the course of events and will never
condone any manoeuvre for ''Taiwan independence''.
Certain
foreign forces who do not want to see a reunified China have gone out of
their way to meddle in China's internal affairs. They support the
anti-Communist stance of the Taiwan authorities of rejecting peace talks
and abet the secessionists on the island, thereby erecting barriers to
China's peaceful reunification and seriously wounding the national
feelings of the Chinese people.
The Chinese Government is
convinced that Taiwan compatriots want national reunification and that
this is also true with most of the political forces in or out of office in
Taiwan. The people on both sides of the Straits will overcome all the
barriers and stumbling blocks by their joint efforts and ensure a better
development of relations across the Straits.
V. Several Questions Involving
Taiwan in International Relations
As has
been elucidated in the foregoing, there is only one China in the world, of
which Taiwan is an inalienable part. The Government of the People's
Republic of China has been recognized by the United Nations and throughout
the world as the sole legal government representing the entire Chinese
people. In the interest of safeguarding state sovereignty and realizing
national reunification the Chinese Government has always stood firm on the
principle of one China and ensured the interests of Taiwan compatriots in
international relations involving Taiwan. The Chinese Government has no
doubt that its position will be respected by all other governments and
people.
The Chinese Government deems it necessary to reiterate
its position and policy on the following matters.
(1)
Relations between Taiwan and countries maintaining diplomatic ties with
China
All countries maintaining diplomatic relations with
China have, in conformity with international law and the principle of one
China, undertaken in formal agreement or understanding with the Chinese
Government not to establish any ties of an official nature with Taiwan.
According to international law, a sovereign state can only be represented
by a single central government. As a part of China, Taiwan has no right to
represent China in the international community, nor can it establish
diplomatic ties or enter into relations of an official nature with foreign
countries. Nevertheless, considering the needs of Taiwan's economic
development and the practical interests of Taiwan compatriots, the Chinese
Government has not objected to non-governmental economic or cultural
exchanges between Taiwan and foreign countries.
In recent years
the Taiwan authorities have vigorously launched a campaign of ''pragmatic
diplomacy'' to cultivate official ties with countries having diplomatic
relations with China in an attempt to push ''dual recognition'' and
achieve the objective of creating a situation of ''two Chinas'' or ''one
China, one Taiwan''. The Chinese Government is firmly against this scheme.
It is noted that the overwhelming majority of the countries of
the world cherish friendly relations with China and abide by their
agreement or understanding with China on the issue of Taiwan. The Chinese
Government appreciates this. On the other hand, it should be pointed out
that, in disregard of their international credibility, certain countries
have breached the undertaking made at the time of the establishment of
diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China by evolving official
relations with Taiwan, thereby putting a spoke in the wheel of China's
reunification. The Chinese Government sincerely hopes that the governments
in question will take measures to rectify the situation.
(2)
Relations between international organizations and Taiwan
The
sovereignty of each State is an integral whole which is indivisible and
unsharable. The Government of the People's Republic of China, as the sole
legal government of China, has the right and obligation to exercise state
sovereignty and represent the whole of China in international
organizations. The Taiwan authorities' lobbying for a formula of ''one
country, two seats'' in international organizations whose membership is
confined to sovereign states is a manoeuvre to create ''two Chinas''. The
Chinese Government is firmly opposed to such an attempt. Its principled
position fully conforms to the fundamental interests of the entire Chinese
people including Taiwan compatriots and overseas Chinese. Only on the
premise of adhering to the principle of one China and in the light of the
nature and statutes of the international organizations concerned as well
as the specific circumstances, can the Chinese Government consider the
question of Taiwan's participation in the activities of such organizations
and in a manner agreeable and acceptable to the Chinese Government.
All the specialized agencies and organizations of the United
Nations system are inter-governmental organizations composed of sovereign
states. After the restoration of the lawful rights of the People's
Republic of China in the United Nations, all the specialized agencies and
organizations of the U.N. system have formally adopted resolutions
restoring to the People's Republic of China its lawful seat and expelling
the ''representatives'' of the Taiwan authorities. Since then the issue of
China's representation in the U.N. system has been resolved once and for
all and Taiwan's re-entry is out of the question. However, it should be
pointed out that recently some elements of the Taiwan authorities have
been clamouring for ''returning to the United Nations'. Apparently, this
is an attempt to split state sovereignty, which is devoid of any legal or
practical basis. The Chinese Government is convinced that all governments
and organizations of the U.N. system will be alert to this scheme and
refrain from doing anything prejudicial to China's sovereignty.
In principle, Taiwan is also ineligible for membership in other
categories of inter-governmental organizations. As to regional economic
organizations such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Taiwan's participation is
subject to the terms of agreement or understanding reached between the
Chinese Government and the parties concerned which explicitly prescribe
that the People's Republic of China is a full member as a sovereign state
whereas Taiwan may participate in the activities of those organizations
only as a region of China under the designation of Taipei, China (in ADB)
or Chinese Taipei (in APEC). This is only an ad hoc arrangement and cannot
constitute a ''model'' applicable to other inter-governmental
organizations or international gatherings.
As regards
participation in non-governmental international organizations, the
relevant bodies of the People's Republic of China may reach an agreement
or understanding with the parties concerned so that China's national
organizations would use the designation of China, while Taiwan's
organizations may participate under the designation of Taipei, China or
Taiwan, China.
(3) Aviation services between Taiwan and
counties having diplomatic relations with China
Airspace is
an inalienable part of a country's territory. The 1919 Paris Aviation
Convention and the 1944 Chicago Convention affirm the principle of
complete and exclusive sovereignty of each country over its airspace.
Therefore, the opening of aviation services with Taiwan by any airlines,
including privately-operated ones, of countries having diplomatic
relations with China is a political issue affecting China's sovereignty
and cannot be regarded as a non-political transaction. State-run airlines
of countries having diplomatic relations with China certainly must not
operate air services to Taiwan. Privately-operated airlines must seek
China's consent through consultations between their government and the
Chinese Government before they can start reciprocal air services with
privately-operated airlines of Taiwan. As a matter of fact, according to
the afore-said principle the Chinese Government has consented to such
services between privately-operated airlines of Britain, Germany, Canada,
etc. and their counterparts in Taiwan.
As for countries which
already had aviation services with Taiwan before the establishment of
diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, they can
negotiate with the Chinese Government to change the official nature of
such services so as to be able to continue the operations as privately-run
commercial transportation undertakings.
(4) Arms sales to
Taiwan by counties having diplomatic relations with China
The Chinese Government has always firmly opposed any country
selling any type of arms or transferring production technology of the same
to 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 in any form or under
any pretext. Failure to do so would be a breach of the norms of
international relations and an interference in China's internal affairs.
All countries, and especially big powers shouldering major
responsibilities for world peace, are obligated to strictly abide by the
guidelines laid down by the five permanent members of the U.N. Security
Council to restrict the proliferation of conventional weapons so as to
contribute to maintaining and promoting regional peace and security.
However, at a time when relations across the Taiwan Straits are easing up,
certain powers have seen fit to renege on their undertakings under
international agreements and to flout the Chinese Government's repeated
strong representations by making arms sales to Taiwan, thereby whipping up
tension between the two sides of the Straits. This not only constitutes a
serious threat to China's security and an obstacle to China's peaceful
reunification, but also undermines peace and stability in Asia and the
world at large. It stands to reason that the Chinese people should voice
strong resentment against this conduct.
In international affairs
the Chinese Government always pursues an independent foreign policy of
peace and adheres to the Five Principles of mutual respect for sovereignty
and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each
other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful
Co-existence. It actively seeks to develop friendly relations with all
countries of the world and will never undermine any country's interests
nor interfere in its internal affairs. By the same token it expects all
other governments to refrain from undermining China's interests or
interfering in China's internal affairs and to correctly handle their
relations with Taiwan.
Conclusion
Reunification of the
country embodies the fundamental interest of the Chinese nation.
After national reunification the two sides of the Taiwan Straits
can pool their resources and make common cause in economic development and
work towards China's resurgence. Numerous problems that have been
besetting Taiwan would be judiciously resolved within the framework of one
China. Taiwan compatriots will share the pride and glory of a great nation
with their kith and kin from the other parts of the motherland.
Taiwan question has long been a destabilizing factor in the
Asia-Pacific region. Reunification of China will not only bolster the
stability and development of the country itself, but also contribute to
the further enhancement of the friendly relations and cooperation between
China and other countries as well as to peace and development in the
Asia-Pacific region and the world as a whole.
The Chinese
Government is confident that it can count on the understanding and support
of governments and people of all countries in the pursuit of its just
cause of safeguarding its state sovereignty and territorial integrity.
(Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, the People's Republic of China)
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