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I have written a lot about the fact that Taiwanese are way-up-in-the-air as to what their identity as a people and a nation should be. Here is another round of that in todays papers\. VKASOne China idea up for discussion: Ma
MUTUAL NON-DENIAL:GThe DPP said the one China, two governments proposal ran counter to Mas 2008 pledge that he would not discuss unification within his term
By Mo Yan-chih and Vincent Y. Chao / Staff Reporters TAIPEI TIMES
Sat, Jun 25, 2011 V Page 1
The latest proposal that Taiwan and China function as separate governments within a one China framework could be up for discussion, President Ma Ying-jeou (^E) said, sparking concern within the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) about political negotiations across the Taiwan Strait.
In an interview with the Chinese-language Apple Daily published yesterday, Ma said a proposal made by Beijings Tsinghua University professor Chu Shulong (s) in a recent paper to the Brookings Institution that Taiwan and China should be brought together as a single country, but with separate central governments, showed that his own mutual non-denial position on cross-strait relations had inspired more academics to think about cross-strait issues.
I think mutual denial of each others sovereignty and mutual non-denial of respective jurisdictions would be more appropriate, but any proposal has its pros and cons, and I think its up for discussion, Ma said.
The mutual non-denial policy proposed by Ma in 2007 implies that Taiwan does not deny Chinas existence, but that it cannot recognize its sovereignty.
Presidential Office spokesman Fan Chiang Tai-chi (S) said later yesterday that the discussion Ma mentioned in the interview referred to academic discussions, dismissing the DPPs criticisms of Mas comments.
We hope the DPP will stop distorting the presidents remarks and use its energy to work on a long-term framework for interaction between the two sides [of the Taiwan Strait] instead, he said.
Fan Chiang said the Ma government has been promoting cross-strait relations using the principle of one China, with a different interpretation on each side.
Ma said in the interview that the one China in the proposed one country, two central governments solution should refer to the Republic of China (ROC).
Ma, seeking re-election in Januarys presidential election, brushed aside concerns about the start of political negotiations between the two sides of the Strait if he were re-elected, saying the core issue of cross-strait relations, which is the sovereignty issue, would not be able to be solved in such a short time.
Theres no pressure for political negotiations from Beijing, Ma said. They do not necessarily want to hurry the talks either.
DPP spokesperson Chen Chi-mai ( said the interview showed the presidents pro-China inclination and that it was cause for serious concern.
I think that cross-strait interaction is an extremely difficult question that the president shouldnt take it so lightly; it concerns the countrys sovereignty and it contains dangers. [The talk] about political discussions concern [whether Taiwan] is ready for unification with China, Chen said.
Chen said Ma needed to break out of the one China mindset that the so-called 1992 consensus had locked Taiwan into.
Chus proposal ran counter to Mas 2008 election promise that he would not discuss unification while president, Chen added.
Elsewhere in the Apple Daily interview, Ma challenged DPP Chairperson and presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wens (^ proposal to build a feasible and viable interaction framework with China if elected and lashed out at her cross-strait policies, saying they were hollow and vague.
Tsais denial of the existence of the 1992 consensus shows that she cannot face reality and her comments on the so-called feasible and viable interaction framework are empty talk, Ma said.
Ma also challenged Tsais call for mutual understanding between the DPP and Beijing, saying it would be difficult for Tsai to carry out her promises because of her evasiveness when defining cross-strait policies.
In response to Mas criticism of Tsai, Chen said that instead of political attacks, the president should assess his own cross-strait policies and whether they have received popular support.
Mas cross-strait policies revolve around a one China framework. Instead, what the DPP is proposing is a framework that is open and can create lasting peace and stability, Chen said. As the one China policy his only platform, we wonder how this kind of leader still has the nerve to criticize others?
Published on Taipei Times :
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2011/06/25/2003506626
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