“Cross-strait ties would improve significantly if mainland China withdraws or dismantles its missiles based on the ‘1992 consensus,’” Presidential Office spokesman Lo Chih-chiang said Aug. 2.
Lo’s remarks came in response to a statement by a mainland Chinese military spokesman last week urging Taiwan to accept the “one China” principle so that missiles deployed against the island could be removed.
The “1992 consensus” is an informal, oral understanding that there exists only one China, inclusive of the mainland and Taiwan, with both sides agreeing to differ on its precise political definition. Since President Ma Ying-jeou took office in 2008, this consensus has been the foundation for Taipei’s dialogue with Beijing.
The people of both sides and the international community expect peaceful cross-strait exchanges, Lo said, but with over 1,000 missiles pointed at Taiwan, this picture is inconsistent with the harmonious atmosphere cultivated between the two sides.
Lo said Ma wants to develop cross-strait relations based on the principles of “facing reality, accumulating mutual trust, seeking common ground, shelving differences and continuing to create win-win situations.”
Separately, the Cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council reaffirmed the government’s policy of urging mainland China to abandon its military threat against Taiwan.
On the issue of fostering cross-strait military confidence building measures, the MAC reiterated the government’s policy of prioritizing economic concerns and solving “urgent and easy issues first, difficult issues later.” (JSM)
Write to Elaine Hou at elainehou@mail.gio.gov.tw