Guidelines of Taiwan Affairs Policy Under the New Situation

The guidelines of Taiwan affairs policy can be explained in the broad sense and narrow sense. In a broad sense, they refer to the guidelines on work related to Taiwan formulated after the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh CPC Central Committee; in a narrow sense, they refer to those that are deepened by the CPC Central Committee from the “peaceful reunification and One Country, Two Systems” when there is a relaxed atmosphere in the Taiwan Strait and new changes have taken place in the domestic and international situation related to Taiwan question.

On September 30, 1981, Ye Jianying, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, put forward nine guidelines on peaceful reunification of Taiwan region, which are as follows:

(1) The Chinese Kuomintang and the CPC will negotiate on an equal footing.

(2) The two sides reach an agreement on postal, trade, navigation, visiting relatives, traveling and academic, cultural and sports exchanges.

(3) After reunification, Taiwan can retain its army as a special administrative region and enjoy special autonomy.

(4) Taiwan region’s social and economic system, lifestyle and economic and cultural relations with other foreign countries remain unchanged; private property, houses, land, enterprise ownership, legal inheritance rights and foreign investment are inviolable.

(5) Taiwan region’s political leaders can serve as leaders of national political institutions and participate in state management.

(6) When Taiwan region’s local finances are in trouble, the central government can give subsidies at its discretion.

(7) We can ensure that the people of Taiwan who are willing to return to the mainland of China to settle down have an access to proper arrangements, can come and go freely without discrimination.

(8) Taiwan businessmen are welcome to invest in the mainland with their legitimate rights and interests and profits guaranteed.

(9) People and organizations from all walks of life in Taiwan region are welcome to provide suggestions on the unification and discuss affairs of the state.

On June 26, 1983, Deng Xiaoping put forward the following six ideas:

(1) The core of the Taiwan question is the reunification of the motherland.

(2) The systems can be different, but only the People’s Republic of China can represent China internationally.

(3) We disagree with the proposal of Taiwan’s “complete autonomy”.

(4) After the reunification of the motherland, the Taiwan Special Administrative Region can implement a different system from the mainland.

(5) Peaceful reunification does not mean that the mainland annexes Taiwan. Of course, Taiwan cannot annex the mainland.

(6) We should hold equal talks between the two parties and implement the third cooperation between the Kuomintang and the CPC rather than call it the central and local negotiations.

On January 30, 1995, Jiang Zemin, according to the reality in Taiwan that the pro-independence forces and separatist forces became stronger great changes took place in the internal and external environment around Taiwan, delivered a speech entitled “Continue to Struggle for the Completion of the Great Cause of the Motherland’s Reunification”, which clearly expounded the essence of the idea of “peaceful reunification and One-Country-Two-Systems” and put forward the following eight propositions for developing cross-strait relations and promoting the process of peaceful reunification of the motherland at the present stage.

(1) We should adhere to the one-China principle, because it is the basis and prerequisite of achieving peaceful reunification.

(2) There is no objection to the development of non-governmental economic and cultural relations between Taiwan and foreign countries.

(3) We should conduct negotiations on peaceful reunification across the Taiwan Straits.

(4) We should strive to achieve peaceful reunification, and the Chinese will not fight against those on our own side.

(5) We should vigorously develop cross-strait economic exchanges and cooperation.

(6) The splendid 5,000-year-old culture created by the sons and daughters of all ethnic groups in China has always been the spiritual bond that holds together all Chinese people and an important foundation for realizing peaceful reunification.

(7) We should fully respect the lifestyle of Taiwan compatriots and their desire to be masters of their own affairs, and protect all legitimate rights and interests of Taiwan compatriots.

(8) We welcome the leaders of the Taiwan authorities to visit in an appropriate capacity; I am also willing to accept the invitation to go to Taiwan.

In May 2000, the DPP, which adhered to the “Taiwan independence” in the Party program, denied the “1992 Consensus” and promoted “legal Taiwan independence”. In August 2002, it suddenly threw out the theory of “one country on each side”. In November 2002, the 16th CPC National Congress put forward the guiding ideology and overall requirements for Taiwan work in the coming period. In March 2005, Hu Jintao put forward the following four suggestions on developing cross-strait relations under the new situation.

Never waver in adhering to the One-China principle.

(2) Never give up efforts for peaceful reunification.

(3) Implementing the policy of placing hope on the people of Taiwan will never change.

(4) Never compromise against “Taiwan independence” activities.

On March 14, the Third Session of the 10th National People’s Congress reviewed and approved the “Anti-Secession Law”, which declared for the first time the strong will of the Chinese people to safeguard national unity and territorial integrity in the form of national law.

In 2008, the reigning Kuomintang recognized the “1992 Consensus”, which ushered in a rare historical opportunity for cross-strait relations. In December of the same year, Hu Jintao systematically expounded the following 4 important propositions for the peaceful development of cross-strait relations at the symposium to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the publication of the “Report to Taiwan Compatriots”.

(1) Abide by one-China and enhance political mutual trust.

(2) Promote economic cooperation and common development.

(3) Carry forward Chinese culture and strengthen spiritual ties.

(4) Strengthen personnel exchanges and expand exchanges from all walks of life.

(5) Safeguard national sovereignty and negotiate foreign affairs.

(6) End hostilities and reach a peace agreement.

After the 18th CPC National Congress, facing the new situation of cross-strait relations development, Xi Jinping put forward the subsequent four opinions on unswervingly following the path of peaceful development of cross-strait relations in June 2013.

Firmly grasp the overall situation of cross-strait relations from the height of the overall interests of the Chinese nation.

(2) Persist in grasping the future of cross-strait relations in recognizing the historical development trend.

(3) Persist in enhancing mutual trust, benign interaction, seeking common ground while reserving differences, and being pragmatic and enterprising.

(4) Persist in steadily promoting the all-round development of cross-strait relations.

On February 18, 2014, Xi Jinping further stated in his speech “Jointly Realizing The Chinese Dream of the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation” that: (1) No one on both sides of the strait can cut off our blood. (2) Compatriots on both sides of the strait share the same fate, and there is no knot that cannot be solved. (3) Compatriots on both sides of the strait should make concerted efforts to continuously promote the peaceful development of cross-strait relations. (4) Compatriots on both sides of the strait should work together to realize the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

On May 4, 2015, Xi Jinping faced a critical moment when cross-strait relations were at a new important node. During his talks with Kuomintang’s new chairman Zhu Lilun who was on his visit to the mainland of China, he put forward the following five propositions.

(1) Persist in safeguarding the “1992 Consensus” and oppose the political foundation of “Taiwan independence”.

(2) Adhere to the purpose of seeking benefits for compatriots on both sides of the strait.

(3) Compatriots on both sides of the strait should strengthen spiritual communication and achieve spiritual resonance.

(4) Adhere to the proper handling of differences between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party and both sides of the strait so as to enhance political mutual trust.

(5) Adhere to the beautiful vision of peaceful development of cross-strait relations, and the Kuomintang and the Communist Party and compatriots on both sides of the strait strive to jointly realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.