Chiu Touts Mutual Recognition, Criticized by KMT as Unconstitutional
United Daily News, March 25, 2022
Minister Chiu Tai-san of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) sent signals related to the cross-strait negotiation the day before yesterday that if "upholding the sovereignty of the Republic of China" does not count as Taiwan independence, it would be a better condition for negotiation with mainland China. He further explained yesterday that his proposition was not the same as that of the former administration. During the previous administration, former President Ma Ying-jeou would assert that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait would not recognize each other's sovereignty but would not deny each other’s governing jurisdiction. According to Chiu, this is no longer sufficient. Both sides should recognize each other's sovereignty.
Minister Chiu talked about the "sovereignty of the Republic of China" at the Legislative Yuan for two consecutive days and threw out a statement that both sides of the strait "should recognize each other's sovereignty" yesterday. Both the Office of the President and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) had no further comments about this. The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) stated that Chiu’s proposal that "the two sides of the Strait should recognize each other's sovereignty" was unconstitutional, unlawful, and unacceptable.
Chiu Urges Beijing Not to Impose Political Framework
Responding to Legislator Lee De-wei's interpellation on March 23 at the Legislative Yuan, Minister Chiu indicated that if upholding the R.O.C. sovereignty is not considered advocating "Taiwan independence," it should be a good basic condition for any cross-strait negotiation in the future.
Prior to the interpellation yesterday, Minister Chiu further explained to the media that maintaining peace, security, and stability in the Taiwan Strait is the joint responsibility of both sides. He expected the other side to change its thinking and not impose a political framework, "By doing so, I believe the atmosphere will become very well."
Minister Chiu stated that his proposition was different from that of Mr. Ma. The KMT should have boldly upheld R.O.C. sovereignty facing the mainland, rather than denying each other's sovereignty. "Former President Ma’s assertion of 'non-recognition of sovereignty and non-denial of governance' is no longer sufficient, we should recognize each other's sovereignty," said Chiu.
Hsiao: DPP Dare not Amend the Constitution and Abolish MAC First
During the Ma administration from 2008 to 2016, when expounding the policy proposition of "non-recognition of sovereignty and non-repudiation of governance," the MAC emphasized that the government took a pragmatic approach to cross-strait relations. That is, by the Constitution of the Republic of China and the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area or Cross-Strait Act, "One Republic of China, Two Areas." According to the Constitution, the R.O.C. is a sovereign and independent country, and the territory covers Taiwan and the Chinese mainland. Naturally, the government cannot recognize another country in existence on the mainland.
Hsiao Hsu-tsen, executive director of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, said that according to Chiu’s statement, neither the Act Governing Cross-Strait Relations nor the Mainland Affairs Council should exist. If there is mutual recognition of sovereignty, there will be only the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and no MAC. Would Chiu want to amend the Constitution to abolish MAC? Hsiao recommends that Minister Chiu carefully read the R.O.C. Constitution and Act Governing Cross-Strait Relations to make more correct remarks.
Hung: Display Goodwill with Cross-Strait Exchanges, Parity
Hung Chi-chang, former chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), opined that what Chiu said was goodwill wishing for positive exchanges between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait on the principle of reciprocity. At present, "the Republic of China (Taiwan)" is the mainstream public opinion in Taiwan. Recognizing, respecting, and facing this political fact squarely constitute a healthy perspective on the part of mainland China for understanding the sentiments of the Taiwanese people. Such goodwill is also helpful for resolving differences.
The KMT maintains that Chiu’s remarks impacted the political tacit understanding and communication foundation between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, making it more difficult to resume exchanges and consultations. Understandably, Minister Chiu tried to improve cross-strait relations in his speech at the Legislative Yuan the day before yesterday, supplementary remarks yesterday just erased the goodwill expressed the day before yesterday and did not help cross-strait relations.