“The Peaceful Unification of the Motherland and the One-Country-Two-Systems”

The basic approach for resolving the issues of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao, in order to achieve the peaceful reunification of the motherland, under the premise of one-China principle, which envisages the co-existence and co-development of socialist system in the mainland of China and the capitalist system in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao for a long time in the future. After the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the CPC, the Chinese government decided to shift the focus of work to modern economic construction and proceeding from fundamental interests of the country and the national reconciliation, the government put forward the basic policy of “Peaceful Unification and One-Country-Two-Systems”, based on the the principles of respecting history, respecting reality, seeking truth from facts, and taking care of the interests of all parties. This policy was first proposed in response to the Taiwan question and has undergone a gradual process formation. In the mid-1950s, the CPC and the Central Government had envisaged a peaceful solution to the Taiwan question.

In April 1956, Mao Zedong put forward proposals such as “peace is the best option”, “all patriots belong to one big family”, “it is never too late to join the ranks of patriots”, “ whether they come forward early or late”, and “the existing system in Taiwan may remain unchanged”. That means Mao Zedong had nurtured the initial idea of the co-existence of two different systems and had communicated with the Taiwan side. In 1978, the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Party replaced the phrase “peaceful liberation of Taiwan” with “Taiwan’s returning to the embrace of the motherland and the realization of the great cause of reunification.” Based on the fundamental interests of the country and the nation, the Party and the Chinese government put forward the basic policy of “Peaceful Unification and One-Country-Two-Systems”, following the principles of respecting history, respecting reality, seeking truth from facts, and taking care of the interests of all parties.

On New Year’s Day in 1979, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress issued the “Message to Compatriots in Taiwan”, calling on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait to negotiate an end to the military standoff, and pointing out that we would respect Taiwan’s status and the opinions of people from all walks of life in Taiwan, and adopt reasonable policies and measures to achieve national reunification. On September 30, 1981, Ye Jianying, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, mentioned that “after the country is reunified, Taiwan can enjoy a high degree of autonomy as a special administrative region” and suggested that the two parties in power on both sides of the strait should hold reciprocal negotiations.

On January 11, 1982, Deng Xiaoping pointed out that the above remarks made by Ye Jianying was actually “One Country, Two Systems”, which meant that after achieving national reunification, the socialist system adopted by the main body of the country would co-exist with the capitalist system in Taiwan. On June 26, 1983, Deng Xiaoping further proposed the concept of realizing the peaceful reunification of Taiwan and the mainland, pointing out that the key was the reunification of the motherland. There are four principles in the basic policy of “Peaceful Unification and One-Country-Two-Systems”. Firstly, one-China, which is the prerequisite for the peaceful settlement of the Taiwan problem. Secondly, the coexistence of the two systems. The socialist system in mainland of China will coexist with the capitalist system in Taiwan. Thirdly, a high degree of autonomy. As a special administrative region, Taiwan will enjoy a high degree of autonomy. Fourthly, peace negotiations. We will strive for peaceful reunification, but do not undertake to renounce the use of force. This is not aimed at compatriots in Taiwan, but aimed at the foreign forces’ interference in China’s reunification and the separatist forces’ attempts to achieve “Taiwan independence”. To solve the Taiwan problem and achieve the reunification of the motherland, we pin our hopes on the people of Taiwan.

The policy of “Peaceful Unification and One-Country-Two-Systems” creatively develops the Marxist theory of the state, and has successful practice in resolving the issues of Hong Kong and Macao. It is conducive to creating the peaceful international and domestic environment required by the cause of socialist modernization. It also provides new ideas for solving international disputes and historical issues. As an important part of the theory and practice of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, it is a basic national policy on solving historical problems.