Politics

MAC reiterates ROC sovereignty

MAC official Lu Chang-shui explains May 30 that relations between Taiwan and mainland China have improved significantly during the last four years. (Courtesy of MAC)

• Publication Date：05/31/2012
• Source： Taiwan Today
• By  Grace Kuo

The concept of “one ROC, two areas” is in line with the ROC Constitution and the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, according to the Mainland Affairs Council May 30.

“Taiwan and mainland China will be able to solve their problems, get along peacefully, and bring more benefits to their people, only if the two sides adopt a pragmatic approach, shelve their disputes and maintain the status quo of ‘no unification, no independence and no use of force,’” said Lu Chang-shui, an official with the MAC.

Lu noted that the bilateral relations have improved significantly over the last four years because the two sides have been able to set aside their differences.

The international community is full of admiration for what the two sides have accomplished, he added.

Lu’s remarks came following mainland China’s response earlier in the day to ROC President Ma Ying-jeou’s inauguration speech of May 20.

Commenting on the portion of Ma’s speech that discusses cross-strait relations, Yang Yi, spokesman for the mainland Chinese Taiwan Affairs Office, said it contained “no surprises.”

MAC stressed that the ROC government will continue to maintain the status quo of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait under the framework of the ROC Constitution.

In the future bilateral institutionalized consultations will continue to be based on the 1992 consensus, MAC said, adding that during the next four years the two sides will focus on bringing more peace dividends to the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Asked whether the Taipei-based Straits Exchange Foundation and its mainland Chinese counterpart, the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, are planning to set up offices on each other’s soil, Lu did not give a direct response.

He did note, however, that cross-strait problems and needs have proliferated following increased contacts between the two sides.

As the government studies the issue, it will “continue to uphold the principles of ‘equality, dignity and reciprocity,’” Lu said. (HZW)

Write to Grace Kuo at mlkuo@mofa.gov.tw