President Ma Ying-jeou says that the cross-strait status quo is not something that Taiwan can take for granted.
Ma was speaking Friday at the unveiling of a monument on the outlying island of Kinmen. The monument marks 23 years since the meeting where Taiwan and Mainland China reached the 1992 Consensus.
Under the consensus, both sides agree that they belong to One China, while agreeing to disagree about what One China means. The consensus opened up a new chapter in cross-strait relations.
But Ma said that ties with China must proceed on the existing foundations for cross-strait relations if Taiwan hopes to maintain the status quo. In response to questions from the media, Ma said he is concerned about the condition of cross-strait ties after he leaves office on May 20.
Ma’s successor, Tsai Ing-wen, has promised to maintain the status quo but she has yet to formally acknowledge the 1992 Consensus. Beijing insists on Taiwan’s acceptance of the consensus as a prerequisite for cross-strait ties.
Ma said the 1992 Consensus derives from Taiwan’s constitution, something each president vows to uphold at their inauguration. Ma said that because the 1992 Consensus is in line with the constitution, it should not be difficult for any future president to accept it.