An Interview with Chen Shui-bian, President of Taiwan was conducted on July 6 by Edward Cody of The Washington Post Foreign Service. Eleven questions were asked. On the status of Taiwan:
Q5. What effect does the fact that Taiwan has a real, authentic democracy have on relations with mainland China? In other words, how are cross-strait relations affected by that? And I guess the real question is: Can China and Taiwan ever get along or come to any agreement at all when the systems that prevail in the countries are so different?
A: China lacks democratic elections, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of religion, not to mention true party politics. There is no truly representative national legislature to oversee the government, and there is no check and balance by public opinion. . .
In China's version of the Greater China ideology, Taiwan is part of the People's Republic of China (PRC), a local government, a province under it, and not a country. As an extension of this ideology, China has reclaimed Hong Kong and Macau. It now looks to annex or unify with Taiwan.
According to the "one China" principle held to by the Beijing authorities, there is only one China, and Taiwan is not a country but part of China, part of the PRC; and Taiwan must ultimately unify with China. So one thing common to the KMT and the CCP is that both of them hold to the "one China" principle and insist upon the ultimate unification of Taiwan and China. . .
Having Taiwan-centric consciousness means identifying with Taiwan and recognizing that this sovereign state of Taiwan and the PRC are independent of each other, with neither exercising effective jurisdiction over the other. The biggest issue between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait is their different political systems and lifestyles. There is also the issue of national identity. That is why we have repeatedly emphasized that, for disputes to be settled between the two sides of the Strait, negotiations must be based on four principles -- sovereignty, democracy, peace, and parity.
The principle of sovereignty entails a respect for and acceptance of the reality and status quo of Taiwan's being an independent, sovereign country. Taiwan must not be belittled, marginalized, or treated as a local entity, nor may attempts be made to delegitimize our government or refuse to recognize that this government wields public authority.
The principle of democracy signifies that the future of Taiwan and relations between the two sides of the Strait must be done in line with the desire and free choice of the 23 million people of Taiwan.
The principle of peace means that any differences or disputes between the two sides of the Strait must be resolved through peaceful dialogue. We will not accept the use of force or other nonpeaceful means.
The principle of parity means that the two sides of the Strait are on an equal footing, and that any dialogue to resolve differences must be done on a government-to-government basis. No political party, individual, or private organization can stand for the government or exercise public authority.
This means the Beijing authorities must engage in dialogue with the duly elected government of Taiwan. CCP-KMT forums can in no way resolve differences between the two sides of the Strait. Whatever conclusions or consensuses these two parties reach are just between political parties or organizations and have no binding power on the government.
Q6. You spoke earlier about national identity being such a main issue here in Taiwan. Do you think that the consciousness of Taiwanese national identity has already developed to a point where reunion with China or joining China is impossible ever?
A: I see no market for the Hong Kong model of "one country, two systems" here in Taiwan, and the call for unification is welcomed by only a few.
That is why, last year, we mothballed the National Unification Council [NUC] and the Guidelines for National Unification [GNU]. They came into existence as a result of an internal KMT resolution, which was never approved by the national legislature -- the highest body of public opinion in Taiwan. The NUC and GNU lack any kind of legal basis or popular support, having been established simply by an internal KMT order. (Source: Washington Post, Jul 8, 2007).