The
Taiwan Question and China's Reunification
in the New Era
– People's Republic of China,
Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council and The State Council
Information Office, August 2022 – Contents
Preamble
I. Taiwan Is Part of China
-- This Is an Indisputable Fact II. Resolute Efforts of the CPC
to Realize China's Complete Reunification III. China's Complete
Reunification Is a Process That Cannot Be Halted
IV. National Reunification
in the New Era V.
Bright Prospects for Peaceful Reunification Conclusion
Preamble
Resolving the Taiwan question and realizing China's complete
reunification is a shared aspiration of all the sons and daughters of
the Chinese nation. It is indispensable for the realization of China's
rejuvenation. It is also a historic mission of the Communist Party of
China (CPC). The CPC, the Chinese government, and the Chinese people
have striven for decades to achieve this goal. The
18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012 heralded a new era in
building socialism with Chinese characteristics. Under the strong
leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at the core,
the CPC and the Chinese government have adopted new and innovative
measures in relation to Taiwan. They have continued to chart the course
of cross-Straits relations, safeguard peace and stability across the
Taiwan Straits, and promote progress towards national reunification.
However, in recent years the Taiwan authorities, led by the Democratic
Progressive Party (DPP), have redoubled their efforts to divide the
country, and some external forces have tried to exploit Taiwan to
contain China, prevent the Chinese nation from achieving complete
reunification, and halt the process of national rejuvenation.
The CPC has united the Chinese people and led them in
fulfilling the First Centenary Goal of building a moderately prosperous
society in all respects as scheduled, and in embarking on a new journey
towards the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a modern
socialist country. The Chinese nation has achieved
a historic transformation from standing upright to becoming prosperous
and growing in strength, and national rejuvenation is driven by an
unstoppable force. This marks a new starting point for reunification.
The Chinese government has published two previous white papers
on Taiwan. One was The Taiwan Question and Reunification of China in
August 1993, and the other was The One-China Principle and the Taiwan
Issue in February 2000. These two white papers provided a comprehensive
and systematic elaboration of the basic principles and policies
regarding the resolution of the Taiwan question. This new white paper
is being released to reiterate the fact that Taiwan is part of China,
to demonstrate the resolve of the CPC and the Chinese people and their
commitment to national reunification, and to emphasize the position and
policies of the CPC and the Chinese government in the new era.
I.
Taiwan Is Part of China -- This Is an Indisputable Fact
Taiwan has belonged to China since ancient times. This
statement has a sound basis in history and jurisprudence. New
archeological discoveries and research findings regularly attest to the
profound historical and cultural ties between the two sides of the
Taiwan Straits. A large number of historical records and annals
document the development of Taiwan by the Chinese people in earlier
periods. The earliest references to this effect are
to be found, among others, in Seaboard Geographic Gazetteer compiled in
the year 230 by Shen Ying of the State of Wu during the Three Kingdoms
Period. The royal court of the Sui Dynasty had on three occasions sent
troops to Taiwan, called Liuqiu at that time. Starting from the Song
and Yuan dynasties, the imperial central governments of China all set
up administrative bodies to exercise jurisdiction over Penghu and
Taiwan. In 1624, Dutch colonialists invaded and
occupied the southern part of Taiwan. In 1662, General Zheng Chenggong,
hailed as a national hero, led an expedition and expelled them from the
island. Subsequently, the Qing court gradually set up more
administrative bodies in Taiwan. In 1684, a Taiwan prefecture
administration was set up under the jurisdiction of Fujian Province. In
1885, Taiwan's status was upgraded and it became the 20th province of
China. In July 1894, Japan launched a war of
aggression against China. In April 1895, the defeated Qing government
was forced to cede Taiwan and the Penghu Islands to Japan. During the
Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression
(1931-1945), China's Communists called for the recovery of Taiwan.
Talking with American journalist Nym Wales on May 15, 1937, Mao Zedong
said that China's goal was to achieve a final victory in the war -- a
victory that would recover the occupied Chinese territories in
Northeast China and to the south of the Shanhai Pass, and secure the
liberation of Taiwan. On December 9, 1941, the
Chinese government issued a declaration of war against Japan, and
proclaimed that all treaties, conventions, agreements, and contracts
regarding relations between China and Japan had been abrogated, and
that China would recover Taiwan and the Penghu Islands. The
Cairo Declaration issued by China, the United States and the United
Kingdom on December 1, 1943 stated that it was the purpose of the three
allies that all the territories Japan had stolen from China, such as
Northeast China, Taiwan and the Penghu Islands, should be restored to
China. The Potsdam Proclamation was signed by
China, the United States and the United Kingdom on July 26, 1945, and
subsequently recognized by the Soviet Union. It reiterated: "The terms
of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out." In September of the
same year, Japan signed the instrument of surrender, in which it
promised that it would faithfully fulfill the obligations laid down in
the Potsdam Proclamation. On October 25 the Chinese government
announced that it was resuming the exercise of sovereignty over Taiwan,
and the ceremony to accept Japan's surrender in Taiwan Province of the
China war theater of the Allied powers was held in Taibei (Taipei).
From that point forward, China had recovered Taiwan de jure and de
facto through a host of documents with international legal effect.
On October 1, 1949, the People's Republic of China (PRC) was
founded, becoming the successor to the Republic of China (1912-1949),
and the Central People's Government became the only legitimate
government of the whole of China. The new government replaced the
previous KMT regime in a situation where China, as a subject under
international law, did not change and China's sovereignty and inherent
territory did not change. As a natural result, the government of the
PRC should enjoy and exercise China's full sovereignty, which includes
its sovereignty over Taiwan. As a result of the
civil war in China in the late 1940s and the interference of external
forces, the two sides of the Taiwan Straits have fallen into a state of
protracted political confrontation. But the sovereignty and territory
of China have never been divided and will never be divided, and
Taiwan's status as part of China's territory has never changed and will
never be allowed to change. At its 26th session in
October 1971, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution
2758, which undertook "to restore all its rights to the People's
Republic of China and to recognize the representatives of its
Government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the
United Nations, and to expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang
Kai-shek from the place which they unlawfully occupy at the United
Nations and in all the organizations related to it." This resolution
settled once and for all the political, legal and procedural issues of
China's representation in the UN, and it covered the whole country,
including Taiwan. It also spelled out that China has one single seat in
the UN, so there is no such thing as "two Chinas" or "one China, one
Taiwan." The specialized agencies of the UN later
adopted further resolutions restoring to the PRC its lawful seat and
expelling the representatives of the Taiwan authorities. One of these
is Resolution 25.1 adopted at the 25th World Health Assembly in May
1972. It was clearly stated in the official legal opinions of the
Office of Legal Affairs of the UN Secretariat that "the United Nations
considers 'Taiwan' as a province of China with no separate status," and
the "'authorities' in 'Taipei' are not considered to... enjoy any form
of government status." At the UN the island is referred to as "Taiwan,
Province of China."[1] Resolution 2758 is a
political document encapsulating the one-China principle whose legal
authority leaves no room for doubt and has been acknowledged worldwide.
Taiwan does not have any ground, reason, or right to join the UN, or
any other international organization whose membership is confined to
sovereign states. In recent years some elements in
a small number of countries, the U.S. foremost among them, have
colluded with forces in Taiwan, to falsely claim that the resolution
did not conclusively resolve the issue of Taiwan's representation.
Puffing up the illegal and invalid Treaty of San Francisco[2] and
disregarding the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation and other
international legal documents, they profess that the status of Taiwan
has yet to be determined, and declare their support for "Taiwan's
meaningful participation in the UN system." What they are actually
attempting to do is to alter Taiwan's status as part of China and
create "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" as part of a political
ploy -- using Taiwan to contain China. These actions in violation of
Resolution 2758 and international law are a serious breach of political
commitments made by these countries. They damage China's sovereignty
and dignity, and treat the basic principles of international law with
contempt. The Chinese government has condemned and expressed its
resolute opposition to them. The one-China
principle represents the universal consensus of the international
community; it is consistent with the basic norms of international
relations. To date, 181 countries including the United States have
established diplomatic relations with the PRC on the basis of the
one-China principle. The China-U.S. Joint Communique on the
Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, published in December 1978,
states: "The Government of the United States of America acknowledges
the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of
China." It also states: "The United States of America recognizes the
Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal
Government of China. Within this context, the people of the United
States will maintain cultural, commercial, and other unofficial
relations with the people of Taiwan." The
Constitution of the People's Republic of China, adopted at the Fifth
Session of the Fifth National People's Congress (NPC) in December 1982,
stipulates: "Taiwan is part of the sacred territory of the People's
Republic of China. It is the inviolable duty of all Chinese people,
including our compatriots in Taiwan, to accomplish the great task of
reunifying the motherland." The Anti-Secession Law,
adopted at the Third Session of the 10th NPC in March 2005, stipulates:
"There is only one China in the world. Both the mainland and Taiwan
belong to one China. China's sovereignty and territorial integrity
brook no division. Safeguarding China's sovereignty and territorial
integrity is the common obligation of all Chinese people, the Taiwan
compatriots included. Taiwan is part of China. The state shall never
allow the 'Taiwan independence' secessionist forces to make Taiwan
secede from China under any name or by any means." The
National Security Law, adopted at the 15th meeting of the Standing
Committee of the 12th NPC in July 2015, stipulates: "The sovereignty
and territorial integrity of China brook no violation or separation.
Safeguarding national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity is
the common duty of all Chinese citizens, including Hong Kong, Macao and
Taiwan compatriots." We are one China, and Taiwan
is part of China. This is an indisputable fact supported by history and
the law. Taiwan has never been a state; its status as part of China is
unalterable. Any attempt to distort these facts and dispute or deny the
one-China principle will end in failure. II.
Resolute Efforts of the CPC to Realize China's
Complete
Reunification The CPC has always
been dedicated to working for the wellbeing of the Chinese people and
the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Soon after its founding in
1921, the CPC set itself the goal of freeing Taiwan from colonial rule,
reuniting it with the rest of the country and liberating the whole
nation, including compatriots in Taiwan. It has made a tremendous
effort to achieve this goal. The CPC is committed
to the historic mission of resolving the Taiwan question and realizing
China's complete reunification. Under its resolute leadership, people
on both sides of the Taiwan Straits have worked together to de-escalate
tension across the Straits. They have set out on a path of peaceful
development and made many breakthroughs in improving cross-Straits
relations. After the founding of the PRC in 1949,
China's Communists, under the leadership of Mao Zedong, proposed the
essential guideline, underlying principle, and basic policy for
peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question. The CPC prepared and worked
for the liberation of Taiwan, thwarted the Taiwan authorities' plans to
attack the mainland, and foiled attempts to create "two Chinas" and
"one China, one Taiwan." Through their efforts, the lawful seat and
rights of the PRC in the United Nations were restored and the one-China
principle was subscribed to by the majority of countries, laying
important groundwork for peaceful reunification. The CPC central
leadership established high-level contact with the Taiwan authorities
through proper channels in pursuit of a peaceful solution to the Taiwan
question. Following the Third Plenary Session of
the 11th CPC Central Committee in 1978, with the establishment of
diplomatic relations between the PRC and the United States, China's
Communists, led by Deng Xiaoping, defined the fundamental guideline for
peaceful reunification in the vital interests of the country and the
people and on the basis of the consensus for peaceful settlement of the
Taiwan question. The CPC introduced the creative and well-conceived
concept of One Country, Two Systems, and applied it first in resolving
the questions of Hong Kong and Macao. It took action to ease military
confrontation across the Taiwan Straits, restore contact, and open up
people-to-people exchanges and cooperation, opening a new chapter in
cross-Straits relations. After the Fourth Plenary
Session of the 13th CPC Central Committee in 1989, China's Communists,
led by Jiang Zemin, made eight proposals for the development of
cross-Straits relations and the peaceful reunification of China.[3] The
CPC facilitated agreement across the Straits on the 1992 Consensus,
which embodies the one-China principle. It initiated cross-Straits
consultations and negotiations, resulting in the first talks between
heads of the non-governmental organizations authorized by the two sides
of the Straits, and expanded cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation in
various fields. The CPC took firm action against separatist activities
led by Lee Teng-hui, and struck hard at the separatist forces seeking
"Taiwan independence." It ensured the smooth return of Hong Kong and
Macao to China, and applied the policy of One Country, Two Systems,
which had a constructive impact on the settlement of the Taiwan
question. After the 16th CPC National Congress in
2002, China's Communists, led by Hu Jintao, highlighted the importance
of peaceful development of cross-Straits relations. The CPC pushed for
the enactment of the Anti-Secession Law to curb separatist activities
in Taiwan, hosted the first talks between the leaders of the CPC and
the Kuomintang in six decades since 1945, and defeated attempts by Chen
Shui-bian to fabricate a legal basis for "independence." The CPC
effected profound changes in moving the peaceful development of
cross-Straits relations forward by promoting institutionalized
consultations and negotiations that produced fruitful results,
establishing overall direct two-way links in mail, business and
transport, and facilitating the signing and implementation of the
Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement. After the
18th CPC National Congress in 2012, China's Communists, under the
leadership of Xi Jinping, took a holistic approach to cross-Straits
relations in keeping with changing circumstances, added substance to
the theory on national reunification and the principles and policies
concerning Taiwan, and worked to keep cross-Straits relations on the
right track. The CPC developed its overall policy for resolving the
Taiwan question in the new era, and set out the overarching guideline
and a program of action. At its 19th National
Congress in October 2017, the CPC affirmed the basic policy of
upholding One Country, Two Systems and promoting national
reunification, and emphasized its resolve never to allow any person,
any organization, or any political party, at any time or in any form,
to separate any part of Chinese territory from China. In
January 2019, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central
Committee and president of China, addressed a meeting marking the 40th
anniversary of the release of the Message to Compatriots in Taiwan. In
his speech, Xi Jinping proposed major policies to advance the peaceful
development of cross-Straits relations and the peaceful reunification
of China in the new era. These are: first, working together to promote
China's rejuvenation and its peaceful reunification; second, seeking a
Two Systems solution to the Taiwan question and making innovative
efforts towards peaceful reunification; third, abiding by the one-China
principle and safeguarding the prospects for peaceful reunification;
fourth, further integrating development across the Straits and
consolidating the foundations for peaceful reunification; fifth,
forging closer bonds of heart and mind between people on both sides of
the Straits and strengthening joint commitment to peaceful
reunification. The CPC and the Chinese government
have thereby adopted a series of major measures for charting the course
of cross-Straits relations and realizing China's peaceful reunification:
- The CPC and the Chinese government have facilitated the
first meeting and direct dialogue between leaders of the two sides
since 1949, raising exchanges and interactions to new heights, opening
up a new chapter, and creating new space for cross-Straits relations.
This is a new milestone. The departments in charge of cross-Straits
affairs on both sides have established regular contact and
communication mechanisms on a common political foundation, and the
heads of the two departments have exchanged visits and set up hotlines.
- Upholding the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus,
the CPC and the Chinese government have facilitated exchanges between
political parties across the Straits, and conducted dialogues,
consultations, and in-depth exchanges of views on cross-Straits
relations and the future of the Chinese nation with relevant political
parties, organizations, and individuals in Taiwan. These efforts have
resulted in consensus on multiple issues, and promoted a number of
joint initiatives exploring the Two Systems solution to the Taiwan
question with all sectors of Taiwan society. -
Guided by the conviction that people on both sides of the Taiwan
Straits are of the same family, the CPC and the Chinese government have
promoted peaceful development of cross-Straits relations and integrated
development of the two sides for the benefit of both the mainland and
Taiwan. We have also refined the institutional arrangements, policies
and measures to promote cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation,
designed to advance the wellbeing of the people of Taiwan. These
include the delivery of water from the coastal province of Fujian to
Kinmen Island, electronic travel passes for Taiwan residents to enter
or leave the mainland, residence permits for Taiwan residents,
progressively ensuring that Taiwan compatriots have equal access to
public services so as to facilitate their studying, starting
businesses, working and living on the mainland, and an ongoing effort
to pave the way for Taiwan to benefit first from the mainland's
development opportunities. - While countering
interference and obstruction from separatist forces, the CPC and the
Chinese government have called on the people of Taiwan to promote
effective and in-depth cooperation and people-to-people exchanges in
various fields across the Straits. Having overcome the impact of
COVID-19, we have held a number of exchange events such as the Straits
Forum, and maintained the momentum of cross-Straits exchanges and
cooperation. - Resolute in defending state
sovereignty and territorial integrity and opposing separatist
activities and external interference, the CPC and the Chinese
government have safeguarded peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits
and the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation. We have taken
lawful action against and effectively deterred separatist forces. We
have handled Taiwan's external exchanges in a sound manner, and
consolidated the international community's commitment to the one-China
principle. Under the guidance of the CPC, great
progress has been made in cross-Straits relations over the past seven
decades, especially since the estrangement between the two sides was
ended. Increased exchanges, broader cooperation and closer interactions
have brought tangible benefits to people across the Straits, especially
of Taiwan. This fully demonstrates that cross-Straits amity and
cooperation are mutually beneficial. The volume of
cross-Straits trade was only U.S.$46 million in 1978. It rose to
U.S.$328.34 billion in 2021, up by a factor of more than 7,000. The
mainland has been Taiwan's largest export market for the last 21 years,
generating a large annual surplus for the island. The mainland is also
the largest destination for Taiwan's off-island investment. By the end
of 2021 Taiwan businesses had invested in almost 124,000 projects on
the mainland, to a total value of U.S.$71.34 billion.[4] In
1987 less than 50,000 visits were made between the two sides; by 2019
this number had soared to about 9 million. In the past three years,
affected by COVID-19, online communication has become the main form of
people-to-people interactions across the Straits, and the numbers of
people participating in and covered by online communication are
reaching new highs. The CPC has always been the
spine of the Chinese nation, exercising strong leadership in realizing
national rejuvenation and reunification. Its consistent efforts over
the decades to resolve the Taiwan question and achieve complete
national reunification are based on the following: First,
the one-China principle must be upheld, and no individual or force
should be allowed to separate Taiwan from China. Second,
it is imperative to strive for the wellbeing of all Chinese people,
including those in Taiwan, and to realize the aspirations of all
Chinese people for a better life. Third, we must
follow the principles of freeing the mind, seeking truth from facts,
maintaining the right political orientation, and breaking new ground,
and defend the fundamental interests of the nation and the core
interests of the state in formulating principles and policies on work
related to Taiwan. Fourth, it is necessary to have
the courage and skill to fight against any force that attempts to
undermine China's sovereignty and territorial integrity or stands in
the way of its reunification. Fifth, extensive
unity and solidarity must be upheld to mobilize all factors to fight
against any force that would divide the country, and pool strengths to
advance national reunification. III.
China's Complete Reunification Is a Process
That Cannot Be
Halted Against a backdrop of
profound and complex changes in the domestic and international
situation, our cause of complete national reunification is facing new
challenges. The CPC and the Chinese government have the strength and
the confidence to deal with complexities and overcome risks and
threats, and the ability to take great strides forward on the path to
national reunification. 1.
Complete Reunification Is Critical to National Rejuvenation
Throughout China's 5,000-year history, national reunification
and opposition to division have remained a common ideal and a shared
tradition of the whole nation. In the modern era from the mid-19th
century, due to the aggression of Western powers and the decadence of
feudal rule, China was gradually reduced to a semi-feudal,
semi-colonial society, and went through a period of suffering worse
than anything it had previously known. The country endured intense
humiliation, the people were subjected to great pain, and the Chinese
civilization was plunged into darkness. Japan's 50-year occupation of
Taiwan epitomized this humiliation and inflicted agony on both sides of
the Taiwan Straits. Our two sides face each other just across a strip
of water, yet we are still far apart. The fact that we have not yet
been reunified is a scar left by history on the Chinese nation. We
Chinese on both sides should work together to achieve reunification and
heal this wound. National rejuvenation has been the
greatest dream of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation since the
modern era began. Only by realizing complete national reunification can
the Chinese people on both sides of the Straits cast aside the shadow
of civil war and create and enjoy lasting peace. National reunification
is the only way to avoid the risk of Taiwan being invaded and occupied
again by foreign countries, to foil the attempts of external forces to
contain China, and to safeguard the sovereignty, security, and
development interests of our country. It is the most effective remedy
to secessionist attempts to divide our country, and the best means to
consolidate Taiwan's status as part of China and advance national
rejuvenation. It will enable us to pool the strengths of the people on
both sides, build our common home, safeguard our interests and
wellbeing, and create a brighter future for the Chinese people and the
Chinese nation. As Dr Sun Yat-sen, the great pioneer of China's
revolution, once said, "Unification is the hope of all Chinese
nationals. If China can be unified, all Chinese will enjoy a happy
life; if it cannot, all will suffer." In exploring
the path to rejuvenation and prosperity, China has endured vicissitudes
and hardships. "Unification brings strength while division leads to
chaos." This is a law of history. The realization of complete national
reunification is driven by the history and culture of the Chinese
nation and determined by the momentum towards and circumstances
surrounding our national rejuvenation. Never before have we been so
close to, confident in, and capable of achieving the goal of national
rejuvenation. The same is true when it comes to our goal of complete
national reunification. The Taiwan question arose as a result of
weakness and chaos in our nation, and it will be resolved as national
rejuvenation becomes a reality. When all the Chinese people stick
together and work together, we will surely succeed in realizing
national reunification on our way to national rejuvenation. 2.
National Development and Progress Set the Direction of Cross-Straits
Relations China's
development and progress are a key factor determining the course of
cross-Straits relations and the realization of complete national
reunification. In particular, the great achievements over four decades
of reform, opening up and modernization have had a profound impact on
the historical process of resolving the Taiwan question and realizing
complete national reunification. No matter which political party or
group is in power in Taiwan, it cannot alter the course of progress in
cross-Straits relations or the trend towards national reunification.
International Monetary Fund statistics show that in 1980 the
GDP of the mainland was about U.S.$303 billion, just over 7 times that
of Taiwan, which was about U.S.$42.3 billion; in 2021, the GDP of the
mainland was about U.S.$17.46 trillion, more than 22 times that of
Taiwan, which was about U.S.$790 billion.[5] China's
development and progress, and in particular the steady increases in its
economic power, technological strength, and national defense
capabilities, are an effective curb against separatist activities and
interference from external forces. They also provide broad space and
great opportunities for cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation. As
more and more compatriots from Taiwan, especially young people, pursue
their studies, start businesses, seek jobs, or go to live on the
mainland, cross-Straits exchanges, interaction and integration are
intensified in all sectors, the economic ties and personal bonds
between the people on both sides run deeper, and our common cultural
and national identities grow stronger, leading cross-Straits relations
towards reunification. The CPC has united the
Chinese people and led them in embarking on the new journey of building
China into a modern socialist country in all respects. Following the
path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the mainland has
improved its governance and maintained long-term economic growth; it
enjoys a solid material foundation, a wealth of human resources, a huge
market, strong resilience in development, and social stability. It
therefore has many strengths and favorable conditions for further
development, and these have become the driving force for reunification.
Grounding its effort in the new development stage, the
mainland is committed to applying the new development philosophy,
creating a new development dynamic, and promoting high-quality
development. As a result, the overall strength and international
influence of the mainland will continue to increase, and its influence
over and appeal to Taiwan society will keep growing. We will have a
more solid foundation for resolving the Taiwan question and greater
ability to do so. This will give a significant boost to national
reunification. 3. Any
Attempt by Separatist Forces to Prevent Reunification Is Bound to Fail
Taiwan has been an integral part of China's territory since
ancient times. Moves to separate Taiwan from China represent the
serious crime of secession, and undermine the common interests of
compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits and the fundamental
interests of the Chinese nation. They will lead nowhere. The
DPP authorities have adopted a separatist stance, and colluded with
external forces in successive provocative actions designed to divide
the country. They refuse to recognize the one-China principle, and
distort and deny the 1992 Consensus. They assert that Taiwan and the
mainland should not be subordinate to each other, and proclaim a new
"two states" theory. On the island, they constantly press for
"de-sinicization" and promote "incremental independence." They incite
radical separatists in and outside the DPP to lobby for amendments to
their "constitution" and "laws." They deceive the people of Taiwan,
incite hostility against the mainland, and obstruct and undermine
cross-Straits exchanges, cooperation and integrated development. They
have steadily built up their military forces with the intention of
pursuing "independence" and preventing reunification by force. They
join with external forces in trying to sow the seeds of "two Chinas" or
"one China, one Taiwan." The actions of the DPP authorities have
resulted in tension in cross-Straits relations, endangering peace and
stability in the Taiwan Straits, and undermining the prospects and
restricting the space for peaceful reunification. These are obstacles
that must be removed in advancing the process of peaceful reunification.
Taiwan belongs to all the Chinese people, including the 23
million Taiwan compatriots. The Chinese people are firm in their
resolve and have a deep commitment to safeguarding China's sovereignty
and territorial integrity, and the fundamental interests of the Chinese
nation, and this resolve and commitment will frustrate any attempt to
divide the country. When Taiwan was invaded by a foreign power more
than 100 years ago, China was a poor and weak country. More than 70
years ago, China defeated the invaders and recovered Taiwan. Today,
China has grown into the world's second largest economy. With
significant growth in its political, economic, cultural, technological,
and military strength, there is no likelihood that China will allow
Taiwan to be separated again. Attempts to reject reunification and
split the country are doomed, because they will founder against the
history and culture of the Chinese nation as well as the resolve and
commitment of more than 1.4 billion Chinese people. 4.
External Forces Obstructing China's Complete Reunification Will Surely
Be Defeated External
interference is a prominent obstacle to China's reunification. Still
lost in delusions of hegemony and trapped in a Cold War mindset, some
forces in the U.S. insist on perceiving and portraying China as a major
strategic adversary and a serious long-term threat. They do their
utmost to undermine and pressurize China, exploiting Taiwan as a
convenient tool. The U.S. authorities have stated that they remain
committed to the one-China policy and that they do not support "Taiwan
independence." But their actions contradict their words. They are
clouding the one-China principle in uncertainty and compromising its
integrity. They are contriving "official" exchanges with Taiwan,
increasing arms sales, and colluding in military provocation. To help
Taiwan expand its "international space," they are inducing other
countries to interfere in Taiwan affairs, and concocting Taiwan-related
bills that infringe upon the sovereignty of China. They are creating
confusion around what is black and white, right and wrong. On the one
hand, they incite separatist forces to create tension and turmoil in
cross-Straits relations. On the other hand, they accuse the mainland of
coercion, pressurizing Taiwan, and unilaterally changing the status
quo, in order to embolden these forces and create obstacles to China's
peaceful reunification. The important principles of
respecting state sovereignty and territorial integrity as enshrined in
the Charter of the United Nations are the cornerstones of modern
international law and basic norms of international relations. It is the
sacred right of every sovereign state to safeguard national unity and
territorial integrity. It goes without saying that the Chinese
government is entitled to take all measures necessary to settle the
Taiwan question and achieve national reunification, free of external
interference. Behind the smokescreens of "freedom,
democracy, and human rights" and "upholding the rules-based
international order," some anti-China forces in the U.S. deliberately
distort the nature of the Taiwan question -- which is purely an
internal matter for China -- and try to deny the legitimacy and
justification of the Chinese government in safeguarding national
sovereignty and territorial integrity. This clearly reveals their
intention of using Taiwan to contain China and obstruct China's
reunification, which should be thoroughly exposed and condemned.
These external forces are using Taiwan as a pawn to undermine
China's development and progress, and obstruct the rejuvenation of the
Chinese nation. They are doing so at the cost of the interests,
wellbeing and future of the people of Taiwan rather than for their
benefit. They have encouraged and instigated provocative actions by the
separatist forces; these have intensified cross-Straits tension and
confrontation, and undermined peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific
region. This runs counter to the underlying global trends of peace,
development and win-win cooperation, and goes against the wishes of the
international community and the aspiration of all peoples. Shortly
after the PRC was founded, even though the country itself had to be
rebuilt on the ruins of decades of war, China and its people won a
resounding victory in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea
(1950-1953). We defeated a powerful and well-armed enemy through
gallantry and tenacity. In doing so, we safeguarded the security of the
newly founded People's Republic, reestablished the status of China as a
major country in the world, and demonstrated our heroic spirit, our
lack of fear, and our will to stand up against the abuse of the
powerful. China is firmly committed to peaceful
development. At the same time, it will not flinch under any external
interference, nor will it tolerate any infringement upon its
sovereignty, security and development interests. Relying on external
forces will achieve nothing for Taiwan's separatists, and using Taiwan
to contain China is doomed to fail. Tranquility,
development and a decent life are the expectations of our Taiwan
compatriots, and the common aspiration of those on both sides of the
Taiwan Straits. Under the strong leadership of the CPC, the Chinese
people and the Chinese nation have stood upright, won prosperity, and
grown in strength. A moderately prosperous society in all respects has
been built on the mainland, where a large population once lived in dire
poverty. We now have better conditions, more confidence, and greater
capabilities. We can complete the historic mission of national
reunification, so that both sides of the Straits can enjoy a better
life. The wheel of history rolls on towards national reunification, and
it will not be stopped by any individual or any force. IV.
National Reunification in the New Era Taking
into consideration the overall goal of national rejuvenation in the
context of global change on a scale unseen in a century, the CPC and
the Chinese government have continued to follow the CPC's fundamental
guidelines on the Taiwan question and implement its principles and
policies towards Taiwan, and have made concrete efforts to promote
peaceful cross-Straits relations, integrate the development of the two
sides, and work towards national reunification. 1.
Upholding the Basic Principles of Peaceful Reunification and One
Country, Two Systems National
reunification by peaceful means is the first choice of the CPC and the
Chinese government in resolving the Taiwan question, as it best serves
the interests of the Chinese nation as a whole, including our
compatriots in Taiwan, and it works best for the long-term stability
and development of China. We have worked hard to overcome hardships and
obstacles to peaceful reunification over the past decades, showing that
we cherish and safeguard the greater good of the nation, the wellbeing
of our compatriots in Taiwan, and peace on both sides. The
One Country, Two Systems principle is an important institutional
instrument created by the CPC and the Chinese government to enable
peaceful reunification. It represents a great achievement of Chinese
socialism. Peaceful reunification and One Country, Two Systems are our
basic principles for resolving the Taiwan question and the best
approach to realizing national reunification. Embodying the Chinese
wisdom -- we thrive by embracing each other -- they take full account
of Taiwan's realities and are conducive to long-term stability in
Taiwan after reunification. We maintain that after
peaceful reunification, Taiwan may continue its current social system
and enjoy a high degree of autonomy in accordance with the law. The two
social systems will develop side by side for a long time to come. One
Country is the precondition and foundation of Two Systems; Two Systems
is subordinate to and derives from One Country; and the two are
integrated under the one-China principle. We will
continue working with our compatriots in Taiwan to explore a Two
Systems solution to the Taiwan question and increase our efforts
towards peaceful reunification. In designing the specifics for
implementing One Country, Two Systems, we will give full consideration
to the realities in Taiwan and the views and proposals from all walks
of life on both sides, and fully accommodate the interests and
sentiments of our compatriots in Taiwan. Ever since
the One Country, Two Systems principle was proposed, certain political
forces have been misrepresenting and distorting its objectives. The DPP
and the authorities under its leadership have done everything possible
to target the principle with baseless criticisms, and this has led to
misunderstandings about its aims in some quarters of Taiwan. It is a
fact that since Hong Kong and Macao returned to the motherland and were
reincorporated into national governance, they have embarked on a broad
path of shared development together with the mainland, and each
complements the others' strengths. The practice of One Country, Two
Systems has been a resounding success. For a time,
Hong Kong faced a period of damaging social unrest caused by anti-China
agitators both inside and outside the region. Based on a clear
understanding of the situation there, the CPC and the Chinese
government upheld the One Country, Two Systems principle, made some
appropriate improvements, and took a series of measures that addressed
both the symptoms and root causes of the unrest. Order was restored and
prosperity returned to Hong Kong. This has laid a solid foundation for
the law-based governance of Hong Kong and Macao and the long-term
continuation of One Country, Two Systems. To
realize peaceful reunification, we must acknowledge that the mainland
and Taiwan have their own distinct social systems and ideologies. The
One Country, Two Systems principle is the most inclusive solution to
this problem. It is an approach that is grounded in democratic
principles, demonstrates good will, seeks peaceful resolution of the
Taiwan question, and delivers mutual benefit. The differences in social
system are neither an obstacle to reunification nor a justification for
secessionism. We firmly believe that our compatriots in Taiwan will
develop a better understanding of the principle, and that the Two
Systems solution to the Taiwan question will play its full role while
compatriots on both sides work together towards peaceful reunification.
Peaceful reunification can only be achieved through
consultation and discussion as equals. The long-standing political
differences between the two sides are the fundamental obstacles to the
steady improvement of cross-Straits relations, but we should not allow
this problem to be passed down from one generation to the next. We can
phase in flexible forms of consultation and discussion. We are ready to
engage with all parties, groups, or individuals in Taiwan in a broad
exchange of views aimed at resolving the political differences between
the two sides based on the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus.
Representatives will be recommended by all political parties and all
sectors of society on both sides, and they will engage in democratic
consultations on peaceful development of cross-Straits relations,
integrated development of the two sides, and the peaceful reunification
of our country. 2.
Promoting Peaceful Cross-Straits Relations and Integrated Development
Peaceful cross-Straits relations and integrated development
pave the way for reunification and serve to benefit our people on both
sides. Thus, both sides should work together towards this goal. We will
extend integrated development, increase exchanges and cooperation,
strengthen bonds, and expand common interests in the peaceful
development of cross-Straits relations. In this way, we will all
identify more closely with the Chinese culture and Chinese nation, and
heighten the sense of our shared future. This lays solid foundations
for peaceful reunification. We will explore an
innovative approach to integrated development and take the lead in
setting up a pilot zone for integrated cross-Straits development in
Fujian Province, advancing integration through better connectivity and
more preferential policies, and based on mutual trust and
understanding. Both sides should continue to promote connectivity in
any area where it is beneficial, including trade and economic
cooperation, infrastructure, energy and resources, and industrial
standards. We should promote cooperation in culture, education, and
health care, and the sharing of social security and public resources.
We should support neighboring areas or areas with similar conditions on
the two sides in providing equal, universal, and accessible public
services. We should take active steps to institutionalize cross-Straits
economic cooperation and create a common market for the two sides to
strengthen the Chinese economy. We will improve the
systems and policies to guarantee the wellbeing of Taiwan compatriots
and ensure that they are treated as equals on the mainland, and we will
protect their legitimate rights and interests here in accordance with
the law. We will support our fellow Chinese and enterprises from Taiwan
in participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, major regional
development strategies, and the strategy for coordinated regional
development. We will help them integrate into the new development
dynamic, participate in high-quality development, share in more
development opportunities, and benefit from national socio-economic
development. We will expand cross-Straits exchanges
and cooperation in various fields and overcome any obstacles and
obstruction. We will encourage our people on both sides to pass on the
best of traditional Chinese culture and ensure that it grows in new and
creative ways. We will strengthen communication among the general
public and the younger generations on both sides, and encourage more
fellow Chinese in Taiwan -- young people in particular -- to pursue
studies, start businesses, seek jobs, or live on the mainland. This
will help people on both sides to expand mutual understanding,
strengthen mutual trust, consolidate a shared sense of identity, and
forge closer bonds of heart and mind. 3.
Defeating Separatism and External Interference
Separatism will plunge Taiwan into the abyss and bring nothing
but disaster to the island. To protect the interests of the Chinese
nation as a whole, including our compatriots in Taiwan, we must
resolutely oppose it and work for peaceful reunification. We are ready
to create vast space for peaceful reunification; but we will leave no
room for separatist activities in any form. We
Chinese will decide our own affairs. The Taiwan question is an internal
affair that involves China's core interests and the Chinese people's
national sentiments, and no external interference will be tolerated.
Any attempt to use the Taiwan question as a pretext to interfere in
China's internal affairs or obstruct China's reunification will meet
with the resolute opposition of the Chinese people, including our
compatriots in Taiwan. No one should underestimate our resolve, will
and ability to defend China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
We will work with the greatest sincerity and exert our utmost
efforts to achieve peaceful reunification. But we will not renounce the
use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all necessary
measures. This is to guard against external interference and all
separatist activities. In no way does it target our fellow Chinese in
Taiwan. Use of force would be the last resort taken under compelling
circumstances. We will only be forced to take drastic measures to
respond to the provocation of separatist elements or external forces
should they ever cross our red lines. We will
always be ready to respond with the use of force or other necessary
means to interference by external forces or radical action by
separatist elements. Our ultimate goal is to ensure the prospects of
China's peaceful reunification and advance this process. Some
forces in the U.S. are making every effort to incite groups inside
Taiwan to stir up trouble and use Taiwan as a pawn against China. This
has jeopardized peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits,
obstructed the Chinese government's efforts towards peaceful
reunification, and undermined the healthy and steady development of
China-U.S. relations. Left unchecked, it will continue to escalate
tension across the Straits, further disrupt China-U.S. relations, and
severely damage the interests of the U.S. itself. The U.S. should abide
by the one-China principle, deal with Taiwan-related issues in a
prudent and proper manner, stand by its previous commitments, and stop
supporting Taiwan separatists. 4.
Working with Our Fellow Chinese in Taiwan Towards National
Reunification and Rejuvenation National
reunification is an essential step towards national rejuvenation. The
future of Taiwan lies in China's reunification, and the wellbeing of
the people in Taiwan hinges on the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,
an endeavor that bears on the future and destiny of the people on both
sides. A united and prosperous China will be a blessing for all
Chinese, while a weak and divided China will be a disaster. Only
China's rejuvenation and prosperity can bring lives of plenty and
happiness to both sides. But it requires the joint efforts of both
sides, as does the complete reunification of the country. Separatist
propaganda and the unresolved political dispute between the two sides
have created misconceptions over cross-Straits relations, problems with
national identity, and misgivings over national reunification among
some fellow Chinese in Taiwan. Blood is thicker than water, and people
on both sides of the Straits share the bond of kinship. We have great
patience and tolerance and we will create conditions for closer
exchanges and communication between the two sides, and to increase our
compatriots' knowledge of the mainland and reduce these misconceptions
and misgivings, in order to help them resist the manipulation of
separatists. We will join hands with our fellow
Chinese in Taiwan to strive for national reunification and
rejuvenation. We hope they will stand on the right side of history, be
proud of their Chinese identity, and fully consider the position and
role of Taiwan in China's rejuvenation. We hope they will pursue the
greater good of the nation, resolutely oppose separatism and any form
of external interference, and make a positive contribution to the just
cause of China's peaceful reunification V.
Bright Prospects for Peaceful Reunification Once
peaceful reunification is achieved under One Country, Two Systems, it
will lay new foundations for China to make further progress and achieve
national rejuvenation. At the same time, it will create huge
opportunities for social and economic development in Taiwan and bring
tangible benefits to the people of Taiwan. 1.
Taiwan Will Have a Vast Space for Development
Taiwan boasts a high level of economic growth, industries with
distinctive local features, and robust foreign trade. Its economy is
highly complementary with that of the mainland. After reunification,
the systems and mechanisms for cross-Straits economic cooperation will
be further improved. Backed up by the vast mainland market, Taiwan's
economy will enjoy broader prospects, become more competitive, develop
steadier and smoother industrial and supply chains, and display greater
vitality in innovation-driven growth. Many problems that have long
afflicted Taiwan's economy and its people can be resolved through
integrated cross-Straits development with all possible connectivity
between the two sides. Taiwan's fiscal revenues can be better employed
to improve living standards, bringing real benefits to the people and
resolving their difficulties. Taiwan's cultural
creativity will also enjoy a great boost. Both sides of the Taiwan
Straits share the culture and ethos of the Chinese nation. Nourished by
the Chinese civilization, Taiwan's regional culture will flourish and
prosper. 2. The Rights
and Interests of the People in Taiwan Will Be Fully Protected
Provided that China's sovereignty, security and development
interests are guaranteed, after reunification Taiwan will enjoy a high
degree of autonomy as a special administrative region. Taiwan's social
system and its way of life will be fully respected, and the private
property, religious beliefs, and lawful rights and interests of the
people in Taiwan will be fully protected. All Taiwan compatriots who
support reunification of the country and rejuvenation of the nation
will be the masters of the region, contributing to and benefitting from
China's development. With a powerful motherland in support, the people
of Taiwan will enjoy greater security and dignity and stand upright and
rock-solid in the international community. 3.
Both Sides of the Taiwan Straits Will Share the Triumph of National
Rejuvenation The
people of Taiwan are brave, diligent and patriotic, and have made
unremitting efforts to improve themselves. They revere their ancestry
and love their homeland. Working together and applying their talents,
people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits will create a promising
future. After reunification, we Chinese will bridge gaps and
differences caused by long-term separation, share a stronger sense of
national identity, and stand together as one. After reunification, we
can leverage complementary strengths in pursuit of mutual benefit and
common development. After reunification, we can join hands to make the
Chinese nation stronger and more prosperous, and stand taller among all
the nations of the world. The people separated by
the Taiwan Straits share the same blood and a common destiny. After
reunification, China will have greater international influence and
appeal, and a stronger ability to shape international public opinion,
and the Chinese people will enjoy greater self-esteem, self-confidence
and national pride. In Taiwan and on the mainland the people will share
the dignity and triumph of a united China and be proud of being
Chinese. We will work together to refine and implement the Two Systems
solution to the Taiwan question, to improve the institutional
arrangements for implementing the One Country, Two Systems policy, and
to ensure lasting peace and stability in Taiwan. 4.
Peaceful Reunification of China Is Conducive to Peace and Development
in the Asia-Pacific and the Wider World
Peaceful cross-Straits reunification is of benefit not only to
the Chinese nation, but to all peoples and the international community
as a whole. The reunification of China will not harm the legitimate
interests of any other country, including any economic interests they
might have in Taiwan. On the contrary, it will bring more development
opportunities to all countries; it will create more positive momentum
for prosperity and stability in the Asia-Pacific and the rest of the
world; it will contribute more to building a global community of shared
future, promoting world peace and development, and propelling human
progress. After reunification, foreign countries
can continue to develop economic and cultural relations with Taiwan.
With the approval of the central government of China, they may set up
consulates or other official and quasi-official institutions in Taiwan,
international organizations and agencies may establish offices,
relevant international conventions can be applied, and relevant
international conferences can be held there. Conclusion
Over its 5,000-year history, China has created a splendid
culture that has shone throughout the world from past times to present,
and has made an enormous contribution to human society. After a century
of suffering and hardship, the nation has overcome humiliation, emerged
from backwardness, and embraced boundless development opportunities.
Now, it is striding towards the goal of national rejuvenation.
Embarking on a new journey in a new era, the CPC and the
Chinese government will continue to rally compatriots on both sides of
the Taiwan Straits, and lead the efforts to answer the call of the
times, shoulder historic responsibilities, grasp our fate and our
future in our own hands, and work hard to achieve national
reunification and rejuvenation. The journey ahead
cannot be all smooth sailing. However, as long as we Chinese on both
sides of the Taiwan Straits devote our ingenuity and energy to the same
goal, let there be no doubt -- we will tolerate no foreign interference
in Taiwan, we will thwart any attempt to divide our country, and we
will combine as a mighty force for national reunification and
rejuvenation. The historic goal of reuniting our motherland must be
realized and will be realized. Notes
1. United Nations Juridical Yearbook
2010, p. 516. 2.
Between September 4 and 8, 1951, the United States gathered a number of
countries in San Francisco for what they described as the San Francisco
Peace Conference. Neither the PRC nor the Soviet Union received an
invitation. The treaty signed at this meeting, commonly known as the
Treaty of San Francisco, included an article under which Japan
renounced all rights, title and claim to Taiwan and the Penghu Islands.
This treaty contravened the provisions of the Declaration by United
Nations signed by 26 countries -- including the United States, the
United Kingdom, the Soviet Union and China -- in 1942, the fundamental
principles of the UN Charter, and the basic norms of international law.
The PRC was excluded from its preparation, drafting and signing, and
its rulings on the territory and sovereign rights of China -- including
the sovereignty over Taiwan -- are therefore illegal and invalid. The
Chinese government has always refused to recognize the Treaty of San
Francisco, and has never from the outset deviated from this stance.
Other countries, including the Soviet Union, Poland, Czechoslovakia,
the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Mongolia, and Vietnam, have
also refused to recognize the document's authority.
3. In his speech titled "Continue to Promote the
Reunification of the Motherland" on January 30, 1995, Jiang Zemin, then
general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and president of China,
made eight proposals for the development of cross-Straits relations and
peaceful national reunification. He emphasized, "Adhering to the
one-China principle is the basis and prerequisite for peaceful
reunification," and "in not promising to renounce the use of force, we
are in no way targeting our Taiwan compatriots, but rather foreign
forces conspiring to interfere in China's peaceful reunification and
bring about Taiwan independence." (See Selected Works of Jiang
Zemin, Vol. I, Eng. ed., Foreign Languages Press, Beijing,
2009, pp. 407-412.) 4.
This figure does not include reinvestment by Taiwan investors through a
third place. 5. From the
statistics of the April 2022 edition of the World Economic Outlook
databases of the International Monetary Fund.
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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