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China's Reunification Is Our Common Aspiration
Chen Yunlin, director of both the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, published the New Year congratulatory message titled "Cross-Straits Reunification Is Our Common Aspiration" in the magazine "Cross-Straits Relations" in the first issue, 2001. Chen extended his New Year greetings and New Century wishes to the Taiwan compatriots on behalf of the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.
Chen said that all of us are Chinese, flesh and blood compatriots. Since the early 1990s, the cross-Straits relations have undergone an unusual course. Compatriots across the Straits have joined efforts in their resolute fight against the separatist schemes to create the " independence of Taiwan", "two Chinas", and "one China, one Taiwan", thus safeguarding State sovereignty and territorial integrity, promoting the continual economic and cultural exchanges between the two sides, and enhancing mutual feeling and understanding.
Chen pointed out that we are all Chinese. China is our common homeland. There is only one China in the world. Both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China. China's State sovereignty and territorial integrity admit of no partition. The "one-China" principle is the foundation and prerequisite for the development of cross-Straits ties and the reunification of the motherland.
However, the new leader of Taiwan authorities refused to accept the "one-China" principle and denied the consensus on "adherence to the one-China principle" expressed respectively by words of mouth, reached between the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) in 1992. He even advocated that "Taiwan is a "sovereign independent state" and denied the goal of the reunification of the two sides.
As a result, there has all along existed the source of tension in the cross-Strait relations which may possibly be pushed to a dangerous verge at any time, thereby seriously harming the fundamental interests of the Taiwan compatriots. There is no reason for the Taiwan authorities to reject the one-China principle. There should be no difficulty for them to accept the one-China principle. Only when the Taiwan authorities accept the one-China principle, can cross-Straits ties develop steadily and Taiwan compatriots set their minds on work.
Chen Yunlin said that the Communist Party of China (CPC) held the Fifth Plenary Session of the 15th Central Committee of the CPC in October 2000 . The meeting set three major tasks which must be properly tackled by the CPC in the new century: continuing to push forward the modernization drive, accomplishing the reunification of the motherland, and defending world peace and promoting common development.
The CPC's listing of the accomplishment of reunification of the motherland as one of the three major tasks is a historic strategic decision, which embodies the strong feeling and firm will of the Chinese nation, and reflects the demand of the times and the development trend of the cross-Straits relations, it will greatly expedite the process of China's complete reunification.
Chen emphasized that we are all Chinese. An early solution of the Taiwan issue and realization of the complete reunification of the motherland is the common aspiration of all the Chinese people.
We will unswervingly implement the basic principles of "peaceful reunification, one country, two systems" and continue to carry out in-depth President Jiang Zemin's eight-point proposal for developing cross-Straits relations and promoting the process of peaceful reunification of the motherland at the present stage.
We will unshakably uphold the one-China principle, resolutely oppose any splitting schemes, and safeguard State sovereignty and territorial integrity; we will continue to devote to pushing forward cross-Strait dialogs and negotiations on the basis of the one-China principle, we welcome various political parties and people of various social circles in Taiwan who are opposed to "Taiwan independence" and in favor of national reunification to conduct exchanges and dialogs with us;
we will continue to boost cross-Strait economic and cultural exchanges and personnel contacts, we will give full consideration to and respect the aspirations of Taiwan compatriots, and under any circumstance, we will earnestly protect the lawful rights and interests of Taiwan compatriots in cross-Straits economic and cultural exchanges.
Both sides of the Straits will join in succession the WTO, there will be plenty of new business opportunities for cross-Straits economic exchanges. At this moment, we sincerely hope that Taiwan authorities will no more set up barriers to Taiwan compatriots, give up the policy of "No haste, be patient" as soon as possible, and start direct "three exchanges" (exchange of mails, trade and air and shipping services) with the mainland.
In conclusion, Chen said that we are all Chinese. You and I have a share of responsibility for the reunification of the motherland. We are convinced that when compatriots of the two sides of the Straits are united in the endeavor, the peaceful reunification of the motherland and the great reunion of the Chinese nation will certainly be realized at an early date.
By PD Online staff member Du Minghua
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