Su Chi：China will Deal with the Taiwan Question Unilaterally, Without Negotiating with Taiwan
United Daily News, January 20, 2022
Su Chi, chairman of the Taipei Forum Foundation and former secretary-general, described cross-strait relations as “externally relaxed and internally tense” on January 20. “Externally relaxed” means both China and the United States will be busy handling pressing domestic issues. “Internally tense” means that Communist China will put forward a “Comprehensive Solution of the Taiwan Question in the New Era” in the 20th National Party Congress at the end of this year. With the upcoming solution the previous “one country, two systems Taiwan formula” and cross-strait talks are disappearing, indicating that mainland China will deal with the Taiwan question unilaterally without negotiating with Taiwan.
The China Review News Agency reported that Taipei Forum Foundation held a “2022 Prospect of Cross-Strait Relations” seminar during the morning of January 20. Su made the afore-mentioned observation afterwards.
According to Su, “externally relaxed” refers to the fact that China doesn’t want to push the U.S. to the negotiation table because it still has some hope about President Biden. So basically, no movement will be seen from the outside. On the other hand, “internally tense” refers to the CCP’s “Comprehensive Solution of the Taiwan Question in the New Era”.
Su then stated that most people in Taiwan have not noticed that China lately has started to use the term “arrangement after unification” which has never been used before. The common terms were unification, anti-independence and urging unification. But there is yet clear definition on so-called arrangement after unification.
Su further indicated that the turning point is Tsai Ing-wen’s statement on National Day in which she declared that “neither side of the Taiwan Strait belongs to the other”. China began to mention “arrangement after unification” after that. Apparently, China has quietly studied this for some time and the actual contents are still unclear.
According to Su, Vice President Sun Yafu of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) stated recently that Taiwan can continue to have elections after unification. However, people and political parties supporting Taiwan independence will not be allowed to take part. It is basically the same model as Hong Kong. Deputy Director Liu Junchuan of the Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) of the State Council recently stated that Taiwan’s fiscal revenue after unification will be used entirely on improving people’s livelihood, which was never mentioned before.
According to Su, Director Liu Jieyi of the TAO mentioned unification only once during his New Year’s talk last year. This year Liu mentioned unification 21 times. Liu also talked about what might happen after unification albeit abstractly. The actual contents will likely be in the “Comprehensive Solution of the Taiwan Question in the New Era” because the Communist Party’s third resolution on history will be a very important document.
Su analyzed that mainland China intends to solve the Taiwan question without referring to “one country, two systems” formula means there won’t be any negotiation. China has set the tune that it will unilaterally deal with the Taiwan question once and for all. The “Comprehensive Solution of the Taiwan Question in the New Era” may contain detailed plans, including military, economics, culture, politics, etc. It will be comprehensive and exquisite.
According to Su, the mainland is about to put forward a road map for unification. After China’s 20th National Party Congress, Chinese leaders will work hard cement achievements during his third term in office. At the same time, President Tsai Ing-wen will also work hard to leave her presidential legacy after eight years in office. When the time comes, the potential confrontation between the two sides will be very difficult to handle. Yet the year 2022 may be relatively peaceful.