Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Wang Yu-chi says that Taipei Mayor-elect Ko Wen-je’s proposed China policy will not resolve cross-strait differences.
Ko has proposed what he calls the “4 mutuals”: mutual knowledge, understanding, respect and cooperation. Ko has also said he does not agree with the 1992 Consensus which has been the basis of the current government’s interactions with China. The 1992 Consensus says that Taiwan and China agree to a “One China Policy”, but each side may continue to disagree on what “One China” means. Ko believes that a new consensus, a “2015 Consensus”, should be discussed and developed in 2015.
In response to Ko’s remarks, Taiwan’s top China policy maker, MAC Minister Wang Yu-chi, said that the 1992 Consensus may be vague but it has been the basis of cross-strait relations since President Ma Ying-jeou came to office in 2008. Wang says that Ko’s proposed “2015 Consensus” is inadequate.
“We don’t think the so-called ‘4 mutuals’ can replace the key 1992 Consensus," said Wang. "Mayor Ko has said Taiwan can just treat China like a foreign county. But are cross-strait relations really that simple? The key is how to look at the One China issue. Mayor Ko’s ‘4 mutuals’ won’t resolve that issue. It’s fine to discuss this, but we should be serious and understand the situation first.”
Wang said that Ko should take his role as the head of the capital city seriously and not come to conclusions so quickly. Wang said that the public would find it difficult to accept any decision to cancel cross-strait exchanges.