`Two Koreas Model' Unfit for the Taiwan Question

A proposal from Taiwan politicians that China follow the two Koreas' example to settle the question of Taiwan is an attempt to create two 'Chinas', said an article in the Hong Kong-based Bauhinia magazine, according to Chinadaily report.

At first sight, the attempt by those politicians to follow the "two Koreas model'' appears to want to blaze a new trail for reunification. But in essence, this is a ruse to seek independence and avert the one-China principle, the article said.

This is a total miscalculation.

Taiwan's officials should know the "two Koreas model'' is not suitable for the situation across the Straits, the article said.

The separation of Korea is an international issue left over from World War II, while the problem across the Straits belongs to China's internal affairs.

In 1945, Japan was defeated and surrendered in World War II. Korea shook off Japan's 35-year colonial rule and should have become an independent country, but the United States advised the former Soviet Union to manage northern Korea while the United States took charge of the southern half of the country.

This eventually led to the long-term separation of Korea, the article said.

Contrary to the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Taiwan was returned to China at the end of World War II in accordance with international agreements. At that time, the then Chinese Government resumed sovereignty over Taiwan.

To support their "two Koreas model'' proposal, the Taiwan politicians said that, in actuality, there are "two Chinas,'' because, since 1949, there have been two governments across the Taiwan Straits.

Their reasoning is ridiculous and untenable, the article said.

It is a fact widely recognized by the international community that there is only one China in the world with the government of the People's Republic of China as the only legal government representing China, the article said. Taiwan is an integral part of China.

Early in 1971, the United Nations reached consensus on the representative rights of China. Since then more than 160 countries have established diplomatic ties with China, all recognizing the one-China fact.

The reason the two sides across the Straits have not been able to break the deadlock in negotiations is because the Taiwan authorities fail to recognize the one-China principle, a precondition of further contact and dialogue.

"One China, two systems,'' which was put forward by the late leader Deng Xiaoping and was implemented successfully in Hong Kong and Macao, should be a pragmatic approach for the two sides across the Straits to achieve reunification.

The one-China principle is a touchstone to examine Taiwan's new leader's sincerity to safeguard the integrity of China's territory and sovereignty, the article said.

Under the principle of one-China, Taiwan can maintain its current social system, enjoy full autonomy and even its own troops. The key to the problem now leading to the deadlock across the Straits is that some Taiwan officials refuse to give up their independence mentality.

It is ridiculous to see those politicians on the island drone on about the "two Koreas model,'' but reluctant to admit they are Chinese, the article said.

The Chinese Government reiterated that it will oppose any attempt to seek Taiwan independence under any pretext.

The so-called "Taiwan independence'' activities are actually a by-product of the resurgence of international anti-China forces after World War II. Those forces worked hand in glove with Taiwan's anti-reunification forces to burrow "diplomatic space'' for Taiwan so as to lay a foundation for Taiwan's independence.

Taiwan's former "president'' Lee Tung-hui's "two states'' theory undermined the Chinese Government's efforts of reunification through peaceful means and cast a pall over the situation across the Straits, the article said.

But it seems Taiwan's newly-elected officials failed to learn a lesson from Lee. They jumped on Lee's bandwagon and continued to engage in separatist activities.

"Vice-president'' Annette Lu is one example, the article said.

Lu reiterated her notorious description in public that Taiwan and the Chinese mainland are "close neighbours and distant relatives'' in an attempt to brush aside the one-China principle.

The article said that the central government is sincere in seeking reunification. It also has the capability to stop any separatist activity.

People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/