Cheng Li-wun is the chairwoman of Taiwan’s largest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT). In this far-ranging interview, she discusses her vision for peace and cooperation between Taiwan and mainland China, her meeting in April with Communist Party chief Xi Jinping and her coming trip to the United States in June.
The original interview was conducted in Chinese. SCMP Plus members can read a Chinese version of the transcript here.
Cross-strait relations have been increasingly tense for more than 10 years. What approach can change this situation?
As long as both sides of the strait accept the 1992 consensus and oppose Taiwan independence, we can essentially usher in an immediate and significant amount of goodwill, allowing cross-strait relations to ease. My visit to the mainland [last month] was intended to prove this once again. [The 1992 agreement holds that both sides recognise there is only one China, but each can have its own interpretation of what China stands for.]
The eight years of [former Taiwanese leader] Ma Ying-jeou’s administration were successful precisely because of his acceptance of the 1992 consensus. During that period, cross-strait relations were characterised by very friendly exchanges and were entirely free of major issues. At that time, we enjoyed significant space for international participation and did not face the constant predicament of diplomatic breaks. This was because the 1992 consensus provided a friendly foundation that made a “diplomatic truce” – a cornerstone of Ma Ying-jeou’s foreign policy – achievable. His eight years in office [2008-16] stand as proof of this point.
In contrast, the nearly 10 years that followed have seen cross-strait relations rapidly deteriorate to the point of a perilous and dreadful prospect of war. This has created a sense of extreme danger, with the situation appearing to be on the verge of a breakout. My visit was to demonstrate once more that by returning to the 1992 consensus and opposing Taiwan independence, the cross-strait situation can ease immediately, reopening the door to peaceful exchange and dialogue.
As long as the 1992 consensus is accepted, the two sides can initiate comprehensive dialogue and exchange. To be honest, achieving peace and stability across the strait is not nearly as difficult as many imagine. However, if a government – like the DPP [Democratic Progressive Party] since taking power – blindly follows the “two-state theory”, pursues de-Sinicisation and refuses to recognise the 1992 consensus, the situation will deteriorate rapidly, leading to the tensions we see today. Taiwan’s mainstream public opinion clearly favours peace and exchange over war. Therefore, by returning to the 1992 consensus, ample room for development will immediately open up.
