Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) yesterday lashed out at Taipei mayor-elect Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) for saying that the “1992 consensus” is outdated and that new ideas are needed to conduct cross-strait exchanges.
Ko made the remarks during an interview published on Tuesday by the Central News Agency in which he proposed replacing the “1992 consensus” with the “four mutuals” — mutual knowledge, mutual understanding, mutual respect and mutual cooperation.
Wang responded that the “1992 consensus” is an essential and practical part of cross-strait exchanges, adding that Ko should learn more about the matter before commenting on it.
Photo: Chen Ping-hung, Taipei Times
“As a mayor[-elect] of a local government, Ko does not have to make remarks on cross-strait exchanges, but if he really wishes to comment on this, he should first take an in-depth look into the backdrop against which the ‘1992 consensus’ was created and at its effect on cross-strait exchanges today,” Wang said.
The “consensus” refers to an alleged tacit agreement reached in 1992 that both Taiwan and China belong to one China, with each side having their own interpretation of what “one China” means.
Although the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government claimed that the consensus was agreed upon during the first cross-strait conference in Singapore in 1992, former MAC minister Su Chi (蘇起), who was involved in the 1992 meeting, later said he made up the term.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
Wang yesterday said that the “1992 consensus” is certainly “ambiguous,” but it is that ambiguity which gives Taiwan and China a buffer zone when dealing with politically sensitive issues.
“I would say that it is because of the ‘1992 consensus’ that cross-strait relations have been able to progress so much since President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) took office in 2008. We can see how bad things got during the Democratic Progressive Party administration, when the government refused to recognize the ‘consensus,’” Wang said.
Responding to Wang’s remarks, Ko said the “1992 consensus” has been around for 22 years and yet cross-strait relations are still unclear.
“We need some new ideas in dealing with cross-strait relations,” he said.
However, Ko added that, as a mayor, he has no authority to deal with cross-strait issues, but had been “merely making the remarks [in the interview] as a citizen of the nation, so if Wang thinks he is better at that, he can deal with cross-strait exchanges however he wants.”
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old