One China Issue

‘One China,’ ‘Status Quo,’ and ‘Taiwan Independence’

"One Country on Each Side" Statement

~ 2000 ; 2001-2003 ; 2004-2005 ; 2006 ; 2007

Ma’s ‘Decade’ Misquote Creating Controversy
(China Post, Dec. 16, 2009) The word “decade” in a full-page Wall Street Journal interview with President Ma Ying-jeou became the lightning rod for both pro-independence outrage and pro-China speculation.

Taiwan’s Future Should Be Decided by Its People: Ma
(China Post, Jun. 18, 2009) President Ma Ying-jeou remains committed to maintaining Taiwan's status quo and the cross-strait policy of letting its people decide the country's future, his spokesman said.

Treaty Confirmed Sovereignty: Ma
(Taipei Times, Apr. 29, 2009) The president said it was easy to read between the lines of the Treaty of Taipei and see that the ROC government is the legitimate ruler of Taiwan.

Anti-secession Law ‘Unnecessary’: Ma
(China Post, Mar. 15, 2009) The Taiwan government yesterday urged China to remove its anti-secession law and missiles that are meant to intimidate the island into staying away from the road to independence.

China Urges Taiwan’s DPP to Ditch Independence Bid
(Reuters, Dec. 31, 2008) Chinese President Hu Jintao for the first time appealed directly to Taiwan's opposition party to give up its stance for independence and offered an olive branch to Taiwanese seeking representation in international bodies.

Ma Repeats ‘Region-to-Region’ Comment
(Taipei Times, Dec. 22, 2008) President Ma Ying-jeou reaffirmed his earlier statement that relations between Taiwan and China are not state-to-state, but rather “region-to-region.”

Ma Refers to China as ROC Territory in Magazine Interview
(Taipei Times, Oct. 8, 2008) President Ma Ying-jeou has said mainland China is the territory of the Republic of China (ROC) in an interview with a Japanese magazine.

Lee Teng-hui Accuses Ma in ‘Special Relations’ Spat
(Taipei Times, Sep. 7. 2008) President Ma Ying-jeou turned his back on his country by defining relations between Taiwan and China as “special relations” instead of a “state-to-state” relationship, former president Lee Teng-hui said.

Taiwan Pursues ‘Mutual Non-denial’ with China
(CNA, Sep. 5, 2008) Pursuing "mutual non-denial" between Taiwan and China remains a goal of President Ma Ying jeou's administration, given that "mutual recognition" is unattainable, Presidential Office spokesman said.

‘State to State’ Theory is Dead, Ma Says
(Taipei Times, Sep. 4, 2008) The relationship between Taiwan and China is not one between two countries, but a type of special relationship across the Taiwan Strait, President Ma Ying-jeou has told a Mexican newspaper, in a marked departure from former president Lee Teng-hui’s special state-to-state model of relations.

Presidential Office Reiterates ‘Three Noes’ Promise
(CNA, Jul. 15, 2008) President Ma Ying-jeou remains resolute in pursuing a policy of "no unification, no independence and no use of force" to handle cross-Taiwan Strait ties over the next four years, Presidential Office spokesman Wang Yu-chi said Monday.

No Plans to Reinstate NUC: Presidential Spokesman
(China Post, Jul. 7, 2008) Presidential Office officials yesterday dismissed a report that President Ma Ying-jeou plans to reinstate a council which recommended policies on reunification with China, despite a recent thaw in cross-strait relations.

DPP Won’t Rewrite Party Resolution: Tsai Ing-wen
(Taipei Times, Jun. 5, 2008) The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday rejected speculation that the party would draw up a new resolution on Taiwan’s status.

DPP Chairmanship Candidates Reaffirm Party's Pro-Independence Stance (CNA, May 5, 2008) The three candidates in the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairmanship election advocated Sunday that the party should not back down from its position on Taiwan's independence, despite its two huge setbacks this year in the legislative and presidential elections.

Ma Stresses Interpretation of 'One-China' Key to Talks
(Taiwan News, Apr. 2, 2008) "If China were to say that there is only 'one China', but no room for separate interpretations of both sides, then I am sorry to say that there is nothing to talk about," said President-elect Ma Ying-jeou.

Chen, Ma Debate 1992 Consensus
(Taiwan News, Apr. 1, 2008) President Chen Shui-bian and his incoming successor Ma Ying-jeou had an open meeting where the two debated the existence and wisdom of the 1992 consensus under which Ma proposes to revive dialogue with China. "I love Taiwan no less than you,” Ma told Chen. “Please feel assured I will protect the country's sovereignty when you pass the responsibility to me.”

Gates Reassures Hu on Taiwan
(AFP, Nov. 7, 2007) US Defence Secretary Robert Gates on Tuesday assured China's President Hu Jintao that the US government is "categorically" opposed to any moves by Taiwan towards independence. "I restated our position that we're categorically opposed to any efforts by anyone to unilaterally change the status quo," "I basically reiterated that the US government has been quite clear in its messages to Taiwan not to change the status quo," he said.

Washington Clarifies Pentagon Statements
(China Post, Nov. 7, 2007) The United States clarified yesterday a highly sensitive statement that was posted this past weekend on the Pentagon's Web site. Washington's stance regarding cross-strait relations has not changed, an official from the Ministry of Defense said.

Pentagon Urged to Clarify 'Referendum' Remarks
(Taiwan News, Nov. 6, 2007) Taiwan's representative office in Washington has been asked to approach the U.S. Department of Defense for clarification of a statement released by the Pentagon. In the press release, it described Taiwan's referendum in March 2008 as an "independent referendum," and stated that U.S. President George W. Bush "has said the United States is against independence for the island nation."

China Will Take 'Measures' against Taiwan Independence
(Agence France Presse, Nov. 1, 2007) China warned long-time rival Taiwan against any push for formal independence, saying it would take "necessary measures" if such efforts continued. "(We) will definitely not swallow the bitter fruit of 'Taiwan independence'," said Yang Yi, spokesman of the Taiwan Affairs Office.

Taiwan’s ‘Undetermined’ Status By John Tkaclk
(Taipei Times, May 13, 2009) In the end, a doctrine of Taiwan’s “undetermined” status is the only formulation under international law that might permit Taiwan to exist separately from the PRC.

Promoting a ‘Two China’ Policy By Annette Lu
(Taipei Times, May 10, 2009) The only difference between the KMT’s “two Chinas” and the DPP’s “one China, one Taiwan” framework lies in the nation’s title. The government and the opposition can thus engage in rational dialogue to work out a long-term plan to seek eternal peace for Taiwan.

Fall of Taiwan’s Chen Tests Independence Activists By Peter Enav
(AP, Nov. 13, 2008) The downfall of the former Taiwanese president has called into question whether his pro-independence movement has been sidelined as a vibrant political force.

A Tale of ‘One China’ and ‘Two Taiwans’ By Lin Cheng-yi
(Taipei Times, Nov. 9, 2008) “One China, two Taiwans” is a concept that was proposed by some academics several years ago. While the “one China” view is getting stronger, the “two Taiwans” has become adrift following the “rise” of China.

Taiwan Local Identity, China Line Expected to Last
(Reuters, May 18, 2008) Chen's local identity push and his pressure on China, which claims Taiwan as its own, are likely to endure, forcing incoming President Ma Ying-jeou to co-opt some of those issues.

Taiwan’s Independence Movement Likely to Wane By Edward Wong
(New York Times, Mar. 12, 2008) No matter who wins Taiwan’s fiercely contested presidential election on March 22, the fervent independence movement that has so agitated relations with mainland China in recent years seems destined to suffer a significant setback.

Kosovo Declaration Raises Issue of Taiwan's Future
(Taipei Times, Feb 23, 2008) Kosovo's recent declaration of independence sparked mixed reactions from the international community as well as within Taiwan. While some academics believe the Kosovo case can pave the way for Taiwan to become a normal country, some say Taiwan should not expect to find an ally in Pristina.

The U.S. “One China” Policy: Time for a Change? By Alan D. Romberg (Henry L. Stimson Center, Oct. 2007) No, it is not time for a change in the U.S. “one China” policy. It does need to be better understood—including not just by interested publics, but by those charged with carrying it out, as well as by political leaders and policy-makers in Taiwan and the Mainland. And it does need to be implemented in ways that are respectful of the fundamental interests on both sides.

China Offers Taiwan Peace Ahead of Island's Election
(Bloomberg, Oct. 15, 2007) Hu's offer comes ahead of a Taiwanese presidential election in March. Both candidates to succeed President Chen Shui-bian, who has been branded a ``splitist'' by China, have taken a softer line on independence.

Taiwan's Ruling Party Passes Sovereignty Resolution
(AFP, Oct. 1, 2007) Taiwan's ruling party approved a resolution underscoring the island's sovereignty and calling for steps to turn it into a "normal country." The resolution was the more moderate of two versions put to a congress of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). However, the resolution is regarded as largely aspirational and is not expected to have an immediate impact on government policy.

Taiwan Eyes Editing China from Textbooks
(Associated Press, July 23, 2007) Taiwan plans to revise school textbooks to drop references that recognize Chinese historical figures, places and artifacts as "national". The announcement is the latest in a series of moves by the island in the past few months to assert its sovereignty as President Chen Shui-bian's final term in office winds down.