Tue, Nov 06, 2001 page8

• Editorial: Beijing's `consensus' is no deal

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  At the recent press conference for his new book, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said that in no way could he accept the so-called "1992 consensus" with China because essentially it was a synonym for "one country, two systems" -- and accepting "one country, two systems" means the end of the ROC. The KMT and People First Party responded to Chen's comments by wielding yellowed newspaper clippings to try and convince people that an agreement was indeed reached on "one China, with each side making its interpretation" (一中各表). According to the two parties, that agreement is a panacea for all that ails cross-strait relations and something the government must accept.

  The problem with their argument is that both Chen and his predecessor, Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), have denied any consensus was reached. They say the two sides merely "agreed to disagree" on what exactly "one China" means -- just to facilitate the Koo-Wang talks. It was exactly because no consensus was reached on the meaning of "one China" that we have "each side making its own interpretation." In other words, there there is only a "consensus without a consensus."

  But could it be that Chen is in the wrong because Beijing has been insisting that the "one China" consensus of 1992 is the one and only foundation for the development of cross-strait relations? On this point, Taiwan's opposition parties have been acting like Beijing's mouthpieces. The "one China" principle and the 1992 consensus as Beijing understands them merely represent the political objectives that Beijing wants to achieve.

  At a press conference during the recent APEC summit in Shanghai, China's Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan (唐家璇) lambasted a reporter who referred to his country as "Communist China." Later, President Jiang Zemin (江澤民) used "China" as an abbreviation for the PRC. If the entire world believes China is synonymous with the PRC, and if Taiwan accepts Beijing's "one China" principle, then Taiwan -- officially known as the ROC -- will be gobbled up by Beijing in the international community.

  "One China, with each side making its own interpretation" is a semantic trap set up by Beijing. It is meant only for domestic consumption within China and for deceiving the people of Taiwan. Internationally, there is only enough room for one China, not for different interpretations of it.

  For Taiwan, whether or not to accept "one China" is a matter of life and death. It is a question of whether Taiwan wants to accept "one country, two systems" and become a local government. For the people of Taiwan, this question is a choice between democracy or authoritarianism, human rights or despotism, rule of law or rule by whim. Certainly, for both the president and the people of Taiwan, the answer to Beijing's offer is "no." Taiwan's electorate must make its voice heard at the polls on Dec.1 -- by stripping the pan-blue camp of its legislative majority.

  That the PRC and the ROC coexist is reality. How can anyone say that any consensus has been reached on "one China?" Beijing can bring up "one China" as an issue to be discussed, but to make it a precondition? To demand that Taiwan must surrender before any negotiations can begin? Don't even think about it, China -- nor its Quislings in Taiwan.
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