Cross-Strait Relations: One-China Principle Is the Focus

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, December 30, 2001

Cross-Strait Relations: One-China Principle Is the Focus

This special year-end article, written by People's Daily correspondent Wu Yaming and published on page 6 of this newspaper on December 29, focuses on the following three points: Economic and Trade Relations; Political Stalemate and One-China Principle.

Progress in Economic and Trade Relations

Cross-strait economic and trade exchange and cooperation is where the common interests of compatriots of the mainland and Taiwan Province lie. Thanks to the joint efforts of compatriots on both sides, cross-Strait economic and trade relations have continued to develop over the past year.

Firstly, the amount of Taiwan investment in the Chinese mainland has increased dramatically. According to statistics from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC), between January and October this year, 3,312 Taiwan-funded projects were newly approved, with contracted Taiwan investment amounting to US$5.322 billion, paid-in Taiwan funds to US$2.398 billion, respective increases being 36.97 percent and 37.3 percent over the same period last year, the year 2001 will witness the largest rate of growth since 1995. By the end of October this year, the number of Taiwan-invested projects had totaled 50,348, with contracted Taiwan investment reaching US$53.982 billion and paid-in Taiwan funds hitting US$28.819 billion.

Secondly, affected by the world economic depression, although there is a slowdown in the growth rate of cross-Strait indirect trade which, however, has continued to grow as a whole. According to customs statistics, in the first 10 months of this year, indirect cross-Strait trade totaled US$26.145 billion, a 4.6 percent year-on-year increase. Of which Chinese mainland's exports to Taiwan came to US$4.058 billion, a 2.6 percent decrease from last year's same period; imports from Taiwan stood at US$22.087 billion, a 6.1 percent year-on-year increase. By the end of this October, indirect cross-Strait trade totaled US$217 billion, the mainland's exports to Taiwan ran to US$35.096 billion, goods exported by Taiwan to the mainland were valued at US$181.964 billion.

Thirdly, there have been more frequent contacts between business people on the two sides of the Straits. The travel of Taiwan industrialists and businessmen to the Chinese mainland on investigation, investment and other economic and trade activities continues to be a warm wave, the number of economic and trade, and scientific and technical personnel traveling from the Chinese mainland to Taiwan for exchange is on the increase. From January to November this year, there were 1,574 economic and trade delegations and groups going from the mainland to Taiwan, a 34.4 percent increase over 2000, and economic and trading personnel numbered 8,413 people by turnstile count, a 37.9 percent rise over 2000.

It is noteworthy that after undergoing a tortuous course, China and Chinese Taipei have finally joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, this historic event will, without a doubt, produce major influence on cross-Strait economic and trade exchange and cooperation, generally speaking, it will dramatically increase business opportunities for Taiwan businessmen to develop trade with and investment in the mainland. Promote the development of the system of cross-Strait industrial division of work and cooperation, thereby furthering the development of cross-Strait economic and trade ties, but the course will be a rough and bumpy one.

Meanwhile, cross-Strait personnel contacts and exchanges in literature and art, science and technology, education, medicine and other fields have kept on expanding and deepening. From January to November this year, the number of Taiwan people coming to the Chinese mainland via Hong Kong and Macao exceeded 2.7 million by turnstile count, a 11.78 percent year-on-year increase, those from the mainland to Taiwan for exchange numbered 21,904 people by turnstile count, a 74.72 percent rise over the same period last year. The exhibition of terracotta soldiers and horses of the Qin Dynasty, the performance of the mainland's works "The Same Song" and "the Sentiment of China" in Taiwan as well as the screening of a number of outstanding mainland- produced TV plays in Taiwan have added a new chapter to the annals of cross-Strait exchanges.

Political Stalemate Remains

In the past year, the cross-Strait relationship was focused on whether upholding or negating the one-China principle.

The Chinese mainland has on many occasions repeatedly pointed out: In terms of cross-Strait relationship, adhering to the one-China principle means upholding the fact that "there is only one China in the world, the mainland and Taiwan both belong to one China, China's sovereignty and territorial integrity admit of no partition". Doing so both stresses that China's sovereignty and territorial integrity have not been separated and allow of no separation and fully show our sincerity in peaceful reunification, our respect for the feelings and wishes of Taiwan compatriots and displays the compatibility of the one-China principle. Our Party and State leaders have repeatedly indicated that so long as the Taiwan authorities accept the one-China principle and acknowledge the "1992 Consensus", the two sides can begin dialogs and negotiation and can discuss any matter. Considering the worries and misgivings of Taiwan's general public, Vice-Premier Qian Qichen has specially declared that more relaxed policies than those for Hong Kong and Macao can be applied in solving the Taiwan issue under the "one country, two systems" framework. These policies include: Taiwan can continue to use Taiwan currency; continue to retain its armed force; continue to act as a separate tariff zone; continue to keep its government frame; the mainland will not collect, or transfer, a single cent of money from Taiwan; the lifestyle of Taiwan people will remain unchanged; Taiwan entrepreneurs may keep their original property; Taiwan will independently handle its personnel affairs, the mainland will not send officials to hold posts in Taiwan.

Our consistent stand is to exchange opinions with various parties, organizations and people from all walks of life in Taiwan under the one-China principle, concerning opposition to "Taiwan independence" and development of cross-Strait relations. By upholding this principle over the past year, the Chinese mainland has conducted extensive dialogs with some political parties and organizations in Taiwan Island, they have reached consensus to different degrees on issues, such as the one-China principle, the "92 Consensus" and opposition to "Taiwan independence", promotion of three direct links of mail, trade and air and shipping services, which has increased understanding and enhanced feelings.

Whether or not clearly accepting the one-China principle is a touchstone for testing whether the leader of the Taiwan authorities has the sincerity in improving cross-Strait relationship. Over the past year, under the pressure of the general public's demand for improving and developing cross-Strait relations, the Taiwan authorities were compelled to assume some "goodwill" posture, for instance, opening three "mini-links"-direct trade, transport and postal service in Jinmen and Mazu, conditionally allowing mainland correspondents to go to Taiwan to conduct fixed-point news covering, and replacing the "no haste, be patient" policy with "active opening and effective management", creating a false impression of "relaxation" and "stability" in cross-Strait relations. However, the leader of Taiwan authorities has thus far refused to accept the one-China principle, denies the consensus that "both sides of the Straits adhere to the one-China principle" expressed by words of mouth respectively, and reached between the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) in 1992, he obstinately clings to a splittist stand, obstructs direct three links between the two sides, actively pushes for cultural "Taiwan independence", he wantonly purchases munitions in an attempt to "resist reunification by force" and "seek independence by force", internationally, he continues to seek a "return to the United Nations" and carries out activities designed to split the motherland. All these practices have created obstacles to improvement of cross-Strait relations, as a result, the situation in the Taiwan Straits continues to be tense and the political stalemate remains.

The One-China Principle Is a Base Line

On December 1, the election of "legislative members", county magistrates and mayors was held in the Taiwan region, there were respective growth and decline in the Island's political forces, the political situation has changed somewhat, but the mainstream popular will featuring Taiwan people's desire for peace, stability and development and opposition to "Taiwan independence" and advocacy for development of cross-Strait ties remain unchanged.

Compatriots between the two sides of the Straits are members of the same family. Taiwan compatriots, be they natives of Taiwan Province or people from other provinces, are all Chinese. Persisting in the one-China principle is meant to safeguard the fundamental interests of the compatriots on both sides of the Straits. The one-China principle is the foundation for improving and developing cross-Strait relations, as well as the bottom line of our policy toward Taiwan, which will not change with the change in time and space. Only when the Taiwan authorities clearly accept the one-China principle and acknowledge the "92 Consensus", is it possible to improve and develop the cross-Strait relations and to bring stability to Taiwan society and the general public.

One China, of course, refers to geographical, historical and bloodrelations, it is all the more an actuality. Respecting history and facing up to reality mean the need to acknowledge one China. It is particularly noteworthy that cross-Strait exchanges and contacts, whether they are direct "three links" between the two sides or popular tourism, are the internal affairs of a country. After China and Chinese Taipei joined the WTO one after the other, the cross-Strait economic and trade relations remain to be relations conducted between the mainstay of China and its separate tariff zone. Cross-Strait economic and trade ties can gain development only within the one-China framework.

The Chinese mainland will continue to implement the basic principles of "peaceful reunification, one country, two systems" and the eight-point proposal put forward by President Jiang Zemin for developing cross-Strait relations and expediting the process of the peaceful reunification of the motherland at the present stage, it has the greatest sincerity to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification, at the same time, it will not sit by and do nothing toward the "Taiwan independence" activities. Promoting reunification of the country and devoting efforts to national rejuvenation is the common responsibility of compatriots on the two sides of the Straits as well as their common interests.

By People's Daily Online

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