January 3, 2019
Taiwan says it will never accept the ‘one country, two system’ solution.
President Tsai Ing-wen said on Jan. 2 that she has never accepted the so-called “1992 consensus” and will never do so because it is tantamount to the “one China, two systems” formula devised by China to bring Taiwan under its control.
Speaking at a news conference, Tsai stated categorically that since assuming office in May 2016, she has rejected the “1992 consensus,” the goal of which is Taiwan’s unification with China.
“We have never accepted the ‘1992 consensus.’ The fundamental reason is that the ‘1992 consensus,’ as defined by Beijing, is, in fact, the ‘one China principle’ and ‘one China, two systems’ formula,” Tsai said.
“Taiwan will never accept the ‘one China, two systems’ formula, and the vast majority of Taiwan’s people are firmly opposed to the approach designed by Beijing,” she said, noting that a speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier in the day proved that “Taiwan’s misgivings are correct.”
The “1992 consensus” refers to a verbal agreement reached in 1992 between the then Kuomintang (KMT) government of Taiwan and Chinese communist officials that both sides of the Taiwan Strait acknowledge there is only “one China,” with each side free to interpret what “China” means.
Earlier Wednesday, Xi said in a speech commemorating the 40th anniversary of the “Message to Compatriots in Taiwan” that Taiwan “must and will be” united with China based on the “1992 consensus” under the “one China principle.”
Xi said China is willing to talk with any party in Taiwan to push forward the political process as long as it accepts the “one China principle.” However, he reiterated “we will not renounce the use of force or give up the option to use all necessary measures” to serve that end and crack down on Taiwan independence.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Xi’s attempt to put pressure on Taiwan through Beijing’s “one China principle” and the “1992 consensus” highlights China’s ignorance of the fact that Taiwan is a globally recognized democracy, that Taiwan’s people refuse to accept the “one country, two systems” approach and have the right to determine their own future.
MOFA urged the international community to maintain its support for Taiwan and help it to continue to serve as a beacon in the Asia-Pacific region.
“We look forward to working with the international community to jointly safeguard our shared common values and establish an international order based on freedom, democracy and respect for human rights,” it said.
Meanwhile, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said Taiwan will not accept an offer to talk with an authoritarian regime that is determined to stamp out Taiwan’s sovereignty.
The MAC also urged China not to misjudge the situation and take any unilateral action as Taiwan is prepared to safeguard its dignity and sovereignty.
The implementation of the “one country, two systems” policy in Hong Kong has deprived its people of freedom and the rule of law — something the people of Taiwan will never accept, the MAC said.