The concept of “one country, two areas” is in accordance with the ROC Constitution, which states that the ROC encompasses the areas of both Taiwan and mainland China, according to the Mainland Affairs Council May 14.
“The notion of one ROC, with two areas is embodied in the Constitution and regulations governing cross-strait exchanges,” MAC said in a statement. “It manifests the ROC’s status as an independent and sovereign state.”
Under the ROC Constitution and the 1992 Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, the Taiwan Area refers to Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and any other area under the effective control of the government, MAC said, adding that the Mainland Area refers to the territory of the Republic of China outside the Taiwan Area.
This principle, confirmed during constitutional reforms led by former President Lee Teng-hui 20 years ago, has remained the same under Presidents Lee, Chen Shui-bian and incumbent Ma Ying-jeou, according to MAC.
MAC’s remarks came in response to an open letter the same day by Tsai Ing-wen, former chairwoman of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party, who on her Facebook page challenged the Ma administration’s handling of cross-strait relations.
Tsai’s move came in light of comments made by Wu Poh-hsiung, honorary chairman of the ruling Kuomintang, who said during an annual meeting with top mainland Chinese leader Hu Jintao March 22 in Beijing that the concept of “one country, two areas” serves as the foundation of Ma’s mainland China policy, and Taipei and Beijing share “special relations” rather than state-to-state relations.
According to MAC, Ma’s mainland China policy is to maintain the cross-strait status quo of no unification, no independence and no use of force based on the Constitution and the 1992 consensus—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.
Over the past four years, the Ma administration has adopted a progressive approach in dealing with cross-strait ties, putting economics before politics and prioritizing issues that are urgent or easily solved, MAC said, adding that this principle has given rise to institutionalized exchanges and growing mutual trust between Taipei and Beijing.
For the two sides to establish sustainable and stable relations, MAC said Taipei-Beijing exchanges should be based on mutual nonrecognition of sovereignty and mutual nondenial of governing authority, as well as reciprocity, dignity and mutual benefit. (THN)
Write to Rachel Chan at rachelchan@mail.gio.gov.tw