Taiwan will never relinquish its sovereignty in exchange for an illusory peace, nor will its 23 million people ever allow their destiny to be decided by the other side of the strait, according to Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chen Ming-tong July 18.
In light of recent changes, the government is willing to consider future cross-strait interactions with a more open attitude and flexible policy while engaging in pragmatic communication and dialogue, Chen said. But China must stop words and actions harmful to Taiwan and restrain internal factors detrimental to positive development, he added.
Chen made the comments during a keynote address at an international conference on the opportunities and challenges of cross-strait relations in Washington. Hosted by U.S.-headquartered think tank The Heritage Foundation and Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, the one-day event featured top academics, experts and U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee for the Asia-Pacific.
According to Chen, since President Tsai Ing-wen took office in May 2016, the government has consistently handled cross-strait ties in a pragmatic fashion and engaged in related affairs according to the ROC Constitution. Tsai respects the historical fact of cross-strait talks in 1992, as well as the joint acknowledgement of seeking common ground while reserving differences to promote the peaceful and stable development of Taipei-Beijing relations, he said.
The president’s cross-strait policy of maintaining the status quo is in line with the major interests of all parties in the region, Chen said, adding that it is a correct and feasible path beneficial to peace, stability and prosperity in East Asia—vital factors in preserving global order.
Chen said Tsai reaffirmed this point during an interview with Agence France-Presse last month in Taipei City. She said Taiwan has been an “island of resilience” under different rulers over the centuries, transitioning through a bloodless revolution from authoritarianism to democracy in which ethnic groups harmoniously coexist and collectively form its core values.
In contrast, Chen said, the China model has attracted the world’s attention for its economic development achievements, yet lacks the institutional means to incorporate public opinion and ensure accountability. This makes it ineffective in addressing the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life and delivering balanced development, he added.
China has also used sharp power to export its ideology and influence government policymaking in other countries, putting them on heightened alert and drawing attention to its goal of expanding institutional control and reshaping the global order, according to Chen.
Factors central to the current state of cross-strait ties are China’s denial of the existence of the ROC, its so-called one China principle and ongoing efforts to constrain Taiwan’s international space, Chen said. The resultant political impasse has seen an escalation of hostility between the two sides, he added.
Despite these challenges, Taiwan will more determinedly reach out to the world, Chen said, adding that the government is grateful for the support of the global community in this regard, especially the U.S.
Chen said friendly Taipei-Washington ties are based on shared democratic values and beliefs, as well as a common interest in regional strategic security. As a vibrant democracy, Taiwan will work closely with neighboring countries to defend the collective achievements of freedom and openness in the region, protect rules-based international order and further contribute to stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, he added. (SFC-E)
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