Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council is saying that “one China” refers to the Republic of China. The Republic of China is Taiwan’s official name and the MAC is the top government body charting relations with China.
The MAC also clarified that it has never accepted Beijing’s “one China” principle. Beijing insists that Taiwan is a part of China, though the two sides have been governed separately for over 60 years.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi told US Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday that Beijing hopes the US sticks to the one China policy. Kerry said that US policy towards Taiwan has not changed and that it does not support Taiwan independence.
The MAC said that the US has stuck to the Taiwan Relations Act, which shows its long-term commitment to Taiwan. The act makes provision for the US to help Taiwan defend itself. The council also said that progress in cross-strait ties has also deepened US-Taiwan relations.
The council said that according to ROC constitutional law, there is one Republic of China, and two “regions.” The government has used the 92 Consensus of “one China, each side with its own interpretation” as a basis for the last eight years of cross-strait relations. The MAC said this view is also the consensus within Taiwan’s society.