President Tsai lays out guidelines against 'one country, two systems'

ROC Central News Agency

2019/03/12 00:17:02

Taipei, March 11 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Monday laid out several guidelines to help the government counter the so-called "one country, two systems" formula which China has proposed for unifying with Taiwan.

Speaking at a national security meeting, Tsai said China's proposal posed a serious national security challenge to the country.

In order to ensure that generations of Taiwanese will have the freedom to choose their future, she approved the guidelines for the national security team and administrative departments to follow in an effort to reinforce national security and prevent the country's economic and social order from being impacted by China, Tsai said.

Her remarks came after a speech made by Chinese President Xi Jinping on Jan. 2 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the "Message to Compatriots in Taiwan."

In his speech, Xi said China must be reunified, and that the "one country, two systems" formula was the best approach to achieving reunification.

Beijing authorities have included the work to unify with Taiwan in their political agenda, Tsai said, warning this has sent the cross-strait relations into a severe and complicated phase.

Tsai's guidelines touched on several areas, including cross-strait relations, democracy and rule of law, economy, foreign relations, security, national defense, and social wellbeing.

Under the guidelines, cross-Taiwan Strait relations must be viewed in a positive way, but only when the principle of equal dignity is safeguarded, according to Tsai.

With regards to democracy and rule of law, Taiwan should push for the amendment to the Act Governing Relations Between People of the Taiwan Area and Mainland Area and speed up completion of the legal framework to establish a network to protect democracy.

As for the economy, the guidelines required the government to work actively to push for Taiwanese investments that have gone abroad to return to the country, as well as to raise Taiwan's competitive advantage on the global supply chain.

In terms of foreign relations, the government must seek to link up with the international community to counter China's denial of the sovereignty of the Republic of China (Taiwan), according to the guidelines.

As for security, the guidelines stipulate that the government must closely monitor changes in China's political, economic and social conditions and take measures to prevent China's media manipulation targeting Taiwan.

Taiwan should also increase its defense budget and fully upgrade the military's capability, according to the guidelines.

In terms of social wellbeing, Taiwanese society should develop a consensus on cross-strait policy and unite to safeguard national sovereignty.

"As long as we stay united, national sovereignty, freedom and democracy will not be eroded, and 'one country, two systems' will not become the future of Taiwan," Tsai said.

(By Wen Kuei-hsiang and Ko Lin)
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