一个中国的原则与台湾问题
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The One-China Principle and the Taiwan Issue

一个中国的原则与台湾问题

This is the second white paper on Taiwan released by the PRC State Council’s Taiwan Affairs Office and the State Council Information Office. The white paper provides a comprehensive overview of the official PRC position on Taiwan’s status, outlining Beijing’s assessment of the current factors impacting cross-Strait tensions, and a policy pathway for achieving “reunification.”


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Foreword

前言

On October 1, 1949, the Chinese people won a great victory in the new democratic revolution and founded the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The Kuomintang (KMT) ruling clique retreated from the mainland to entrench in China’s Taiwan Province in confrontation with the Central Government with the support of foreign forces. This is the origin of the Taiwan issue.

一九四九年十月一日,中国人民取得了新民主主义革命的伟大胜利,建立了中华人民共和国。国民党统治集团退踞中国的台湾省,在外国势力的支持下,与中央政府对峙,由此产生了台湾问题。

Settlement of the Taiwan issue and realization of the complete reunification of China embodies the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation. The Chinese government has worked persistently toward this goal in the past 50 years. From 1979, the Chinese government has striven for the peaceful reunification of China in the form of “one country, two systems” with the greatest sincerity and the utmost effort. Economic and cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits have made rapid progress since the end of 1987. Unfortunately, from the 1990s, Lee Teng-hui, the leader of the Taiwan authorities, has progressively betrayed the One-China Principle, striving to promote a separatist policy with “two Chinas” at the core, going so far as to openly describe the cross-Straits relations as “state to state relations, or at least special state to state relations.” This action has seriously damaged the basis for peaceful reunification of the two sides, harmed the fundamental interests of the entire Chinese nation including the Taiwan compatriots, and jeopardized peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. The Chinese government has consistently adhered to the One-China Principle and resolutely opposed any attempt to separate Taiwan from China. The struggle between the Chinese government and the separatist forces headed by Lee Teng-hui finds its concentrated expression in the question of whether to persevere in the One-China Principle or to create “two Chinas” or “One-China, one Taiwan.”

解决台湾问题,实现中国完全统一,是中华民族的根本利益。五十年来,中国政府为此进行了不懈的奋斗。一九七九年后,中国政府以极大的诚意、尽最大的努力,争取以“一国两制”的方式实现和平统一。自一九八七年底以来,两岸经济、文化交流和人员往来有了长足的发展。但是,九十年代以来,台湾当局领导人李登辉逐步背弃一个中国原则,极力推行以制造“两个中国”为核心的分裂政策,一直发展到公然主张两岸关系是“国家与国家,至少是特殊的国与国的关系”,严重损害了两岸和平统一的基础,危害了包括台湾同胞在内的整个中华民族的根本利益,也危害了亚洲太平洋地区的和平与稳定。中国政府始终如一地坚持一个中国原则,坚决反对任何把台湾从中国分割出去的图谋。中国政府与以李登辉为首的分裂势力的斗争,集中表现在是坚持一个中国原则还是制造“两个中国”、“一中一台”的问题上。

In August 1993, we issued a white paper entitled “The Taiwan Question and Reunification of China,” which systematically expounds the fact concerning Taiwan as an inalienable part of China, the origin of the Taiwan issue and the Chinese governments basic principles and related policies regarding resolution of the Taiwan question. We deem it necessary here to further explain to the international community the Chinese government’s position and policy on the One-China Principle.

我们于一九九三年八月发表了《台湾问题与中国的统一》白皮书,系统地论述了台湾是中国不可分割的一部分、台湾问题的由来、中国政府解决台湾问题的基本方针和有关政策。现在,有必要进一步向国际社会阐述中国政府坚持一个中国原则的立场和政策。

I. The Basis for One China, de Facto and de Jure

一、一个中国的事实和法理基础

The One-China Principle has been evolved in the course of the Chinese people’s just struggle to safeguard China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and its basis, both de facto and de jure, is unshakable.

一个中国原则是在中国人民捍卫中国主权和领土完整的正义斗争中形成的,具有不可动摇的事实和法理基础。

Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. All the facts and laws about Taiwan prove that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory. In April 1895, through a war of aggression against China, Japan forced the Qing government to sign the unequal Treaty of Shimonoseki, and forcibly occupied Taiwan. In July 1937, Japan launched an all-out war of aggression against China. In December 1941, the Chinese government issued the Proclamation of China’s Declaration of War Against Japan, announcing to the world that all treaties, agreements and contracts concerning Sino-Japanese relations, including the Treaty of Shimonoseki, had been abrogated, and that China would recover Taiwan. In December 1943, the Cairo Declaration was issued by the Chinese, U.S. and British governments, stipulating that Japan should return to China all the territories it had stolen from the Chinese, including Northeast China, Taiwan and the Penghu Archipelago. The Potsdam Proclamation signed by China, the United States and Britain in 1945 (later adhered to by the Soviet Union) stipulated that “The terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out.” In August of that year, Japan declared surrender and promised in its instrument of surrender that it would faithfully fulfill the obligations laid down in the Potsdam Proclamation. On October 25, 1945, the Chinese government recovered Taiwan and the Penghu Archipelago, resuming the exercise of sovereignty over Taiwan.

台湾是中国不可分割的一部分。有关台湾的全部事实和法律证明,台湾是中国领土不可分割的一部分。一八九五年四月,日本通过侵华战争,强迫清朝政府签订不平等的《马关条约》,霸占了台湾。一九三七年七月,日本发动全面侵华战争。一九四一年十二月,中国政府在《中国对日宣战布告》中昭告各国,中国废止包括《马关条约》在内的一切涉及中日关系的条约、协定、合同,并将收复台湾。一九四三年十二月,中美英三国政府发表的《开罗宣言》规定,日本应将所窃取于中国的包括东北、台湾、澎湖列岛等在内的土地,归还中国。一九四五年,中美英三国共同签署、后来又有苏联参加的《波茨坦公告》规定:“开罗宣言之条件必将实施。”同年八月,日本宣布投降,并在《日本投降条款》中承诺“忠诚履行波茨坦公告各项规定之义务”。十月二十五日,中国政府收复台湾、澎湖列岛,重新恢复对台湾行使主权。

On October 1, 1949, the Central People’s Government of the PRC was proclaimed, replacing the government of the Republic of China to become the only legal government of the whole of China and its sole legal representative in the international arena, thereby bringing the historical status of the Republic of China to an end. This is a replacement of the old regime by a new one in a situation where the main bodies of the same international laws have not changed and China’s sovereignty and inherent territory have not changed therefrom, and so the government of the PRC naturally should fully enjoy and exercise China’s sovereignty, including its sovereignty over Taiwan.

一九四九年十月一日,中华人民共和国中央人民政府宣告成立,取代中华民国政府成为全中国的唯一合法政府和在国际上的唯一合法代表,中华民国从此结束了它的历史地位。这是在同一国际法主体没有发生变化的情况下新政权取代旧政权,中国的主权和固有领土疆域并未由此而改变,中华人民共和国政府理所当然地完全享有和行使中国的主权,其中包括对台湾的主权。

Since the KMT ruling clique retreated to Taiwan, although its regime has continued to use the designations “Republic of China” and “government of the Republic of China,” it has long since completely forfeited its right to exercise state sovereignty on behalf of China and, in reality, has always remained only a local authority in Chinese territory.

国民党统治集团退踞台湾以来,虽然其政权继续使用“中华民国”和“中华民国政府”的名称,但它早已完全无权代表中国行使国家主权,实际上始终只是中国领土上的一个地方当局。

The formulation of the One-China Principle and its basic meaning. On the day of its founding, the Central People’s Government of the PRC declared to governments of all countries in the world, “This government is the sole legitimate government representing the entire people of the People’s Republic of China. It is ready to establish diplomatic relations with all foreign governments that are willing to abide by the principles of equality, mutual benefit and mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.” Shortly afterwards, the Central People’s Government telegraphed the United Nations, announcing that the KMT authorities had “lost all basis, both de jure and de facto, to represent the Chinese people,” and therefore had no right to represent China at all. One principle governing New China’s establishment of diplomatic relations with a foreign country is that it recognizes the government of the PRC as the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China, severs or refrains from establishing diplomatic relations with the Taiwan authorities.

一个中国原则的产生和基本涵义。中华人民共和国中央人民政府成立当天即向各国政府宣布:“本政府为代表中华人民共和国全国人民的唯一合法政府。凡愿遵守平等、互利及互相尊重领土主权等项原则的任何外国政府,本政府均愿与之建立外交关系。”随后又致电联合国,声明:国民党当局“已丧失了代表中国人民的任何法律的与事实的根据”,完全无权代表中国。外国承认中华人民共和国政府是代表全中国的唯一合法政府,与台湾当局断绝或不建立外交关系,是新中国与外国建交的原则。

These propositions of the Chinese government met with obstruction by the U.S. government. On January 5, 1950, the U.S. President Truman issued a statement, saying that the U.S. and other Allied countries recognized China’s exercise of sovereignty over Taiwan Island in the four years since 1945. However, after the start of the Korean War in June 1950, to isolate and contain China the U.S. government not only sent troops to occupy Taiwan, but it also dished out such fallacies as “the status of Taiwan has yet to be determined” and later, step by step, lobbied for “dual recognition” among the international community in order to create “two Chinas.” Naturally, the Chinese government resolutely opposed this, insisting that there is only one China in the world, Taiwan is a part of China and the government of the PRC is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. China has evolved the One-China Principle precisely in the course of the endeavor to develop normal diplomatic relations with other countries and the struggle to safeguard state sovereignty and territorial integrity. The above propositions constitute the basic meaning of the One-China Principle, the crucial point being to safeguard China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

中国政府的上述主张受到当时美国政府的阻挠。尽管一九五○年一月五日美国总统杜鲁门发表声明,表示美国及其他盟国承认一九四五年以来的四年中国对台湾岛行使主权,但是同年六月朝鲜战争爆发后,美国政府为了孤立、遏制中国,不仅派军队侵占台湾,而且抛出“台湾地位未定”等谬论,以后又逐步在国际社会策动“双重承认”,企图制造“两个中国”。对此,中国政府理所当然地予以坚决反对,主张和坚持世界上只有一个中国,台湾是中国的一部分,中华人民共和国政府是代表全中国的唯一合法政府。正是在中国与外国发展正常的外交关系中,在维护中国的主权和领土完整的斗争中,产生了一个中国原则。上述主张构成了一个中国原则的基本涵义,核心是维护中国的主权和领土完整。

During the 30 or 40 years after 1949, although the Taiwan authorities did not recognize the legitimate status of the government of the PRC as the representative of the whole of China, they did insist that Taiwan is a part of China and that there is only one China, and opposed “two Chinas” and “Taiwan independence. “This shows that for a long time there has been a common understanding among the Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Straits on the fundamental question that there is only one China and Taiwan is a part of Chinese territory. As far back as October 1958, when the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was engaged in the battle to bombard Jinmen, Chairman Mao Zedong declared to the Taiwan authorities, “There is only one China, not two, in the world. You agree with us on this point, as indicated in your leaders’ proclamations.” In January 1979, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) issued a Message to Taiwan Compatriots, pointing out that “the Taiwan authorities have always stood firm on the one China position and opposed the independence of Taiwan. This is our common stand and our basis for cooperation.”

在一九四九年后的三四十年间,台湾当局虽然不承认中华人民共和国政府代表全中国的合法地位,但也坚持台湾是中国的一部分、只有一个中国的立场,反对制造“两个中国”和“台湾独立”。这说明,在一个相当长的时间里,两岸的中国人在只有一个中国、台湾是中国领土的一部分这一根本问题上具有共识。早在一九五八年十月,中国人民解放军在进行炮击金门的战斗时,毛泽东主席就向台湾当局公开指出:“世界上只有一个中国,没有两个中国。这一点,也是你们同意的,见之于你们领导人的文告。”一九七九年一月,全国人大常委会发表《告台湾同胞书》,指出“台湾当局一贯坚持一个中国的立场,反对台湾独立。这就是我们共同的立场,合作的基础。”

The Chinese government’s solemn and reasonable stand for the One-China Principle has gained the understanding and support of more and more countries and international organizations, and the One-China Principle has been gradually accepted by the international community at large. In October 1971, the United Nations General Assembly adopted at its 26th session Resolution 2758, which expelled the representatives of the Taiwan authorities and restored the seat and all the lawful rights of the government of the PRC in the United Nations. In September 1972, China and Japan signed a Joint Statement, announcing establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and that Japan recognizes the government of the PRC as the only legitimate government of China, fully understands and respects the Chinese government’s position that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the PRC, and promises to adhere to the position as prescribed in Article 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation. In December 1978, China and the U.S. issued the Joint Communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations, in which the U.S. “recognizes the government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China” and “acknowledges the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is a part of China. “Up to now, 161 countries have established diplomatic relations with the PRC; they all acknowledge the One-China Principle and promise to handle their relations with Taiwan within the one-China framework.

中国政府坚持一个中国原则的严正立场和合理主张,赢得了越来越多的国家和国际组织的理解和支持,一个中国原则逐步为国际社会所普遍接受。一九七一年十月,第二十六届联合国大会通过2758号决议,驱逐了台湾当局的代表,恢复了中华人民共和国政府在联合国的席位和一切合法权利。一九七二年九月,中日两国签署联合声明,宣布建立外交关系,日本承认中华人民共和国政府是中国的唯一合法政府,充分理解和尊重中国政府关于台湾是中华人民共和国领土不可分割的一部分的立场,并且坚持遵循《波茨坦公告》第八条规定的立场。一九七八年十二月,中美发表建交公报,美国“承认中华人民共和国政府是中国的唯一合法政府”;“承认中国的立场,即只有一个中国,台湾是中国的一部分”。目前,161个国家与中华人民共和国建立了外交关系,它们都承认一个中国原则,并且承诺在一个中国的框架内处理与台湾的关系。

II. The One-China Principle–the Basis and Prerequisite for Achieving Peaceful Reunification

二、一个中国原则是实现和平统一的基础和前提

The One-China Principle is the foundation stone for the Chinese government’s policy on Taiwan. On Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s initiative, the Chinese government has, since 1979, adopted the policy of peaceful reunification and gradually evolved the scientific concept of “one country, two systems.” On this basis, China established the basic principle of “peaceful reunification, and one country, two systems.” The key points of this basic principle and the relevant policies are: China will do its best to achieve peaceful reunification, but will not commit itself to rule out the use of force; will actively promote people-to-people contacts and economic and cultural exchanges between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits, and start direct trade, postal, air and shipping services as soon as possible; achieve reunification through peaceful negotiations and, on the premise of the One-China Principle, any matter can be negotiated. After reunification, the policy of “one country, two systems” will be practiced, with the main body of China (Chinese mainland) continuing with its socialist system, and Taiwan maintaining its capitalist system for a long period of time to come. After reunification, Taiwan will enjoy a high degree of autonomy, and the Central Government will not send troops or administrative personnel to be stationed in Taiwan. Resolution of the Taiwan issue is an internal affair of China, which should be achieved by the Chinese themselves, and there is no call for aid by foreign forces. The afore-mentioned principles and policies embody the basic stand and spirit of adhering to the One-China Principle, and fully respect Taiwan compatriots’ wish to govern and administer Taiwan by themselves.

一个中国原则是中国政府对台政策的基石。经由邓小平同志的倡导,中国政府自一九七九年开始实行和平统一的方针,并逐步形成了“一国两制”的科学构想,在此基础上,确立了“和平统一、一国两制”的基本方针。这一基本方针和有关政策的要点是:争取和平统一,但是不承诺放弃使用武力;积极推动两岸人员往来和经济、文化等各项交流,早日实现两岸直接通邮、通航、通商;通过和平谈判实现统一,在一个中国原则下什么都可以谈;统一后实行“一国两制”,中国的主体(中国大陆)坚持社会主义制度,台湾保持原有的资本主义制度长期不变;统一后台湾实行高度自治,中央政府不派军队和行政人员驻台;解决台湾问题是中国的内政,应由中国人自己解决,不需借助外国力量。上述方针和政策,贯彻了坚持一个中国原则的基本立场和精神,也充分尊重了台湾同胞当家作主、管理台湾的愿望。江泽民主席在一九九五年一月发表发展两岸关系、推进祖国和平统一进程的八项主张时,明确指出:“坚持一个中国的原则,是实现和平统一的基础和前提。”

On May 1, 1995, President Jiang Zemin put forward eight propositions on the development of relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits and the promotion of peaceful reunification of China, explicitly pointing out: “Adhering to the One-China Principle is the basis and prerequisite for peaceful reunification.” Only by adhering to the One-China Principle can peaceful reunification be achieved. The Taiwan issue is one left over by the Chinese civil war. As yet, the state of hostility between the two sides of the Straits has not formally ended. To safeguard China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and realize the reunification of the two sides of the Straits, the Chinese government has the right to resort to any necessary means. Peaceful means would be favorable to the common development of the societies on both sides of the Straits, and to the harmony and unity of the compatriots across the Straits. Peaceful means is therefore the best means. The Chinese government’s declaration in 1979 on implementing the principle of peaceful reunification was based on the premise that the Taiwan authorities at that time upheld the principle that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is a part of China. Meanwhile, the Chinese government took into account the fact that the U.S. government, which for many years had supported the Taiwan authorities, had accepted that there is only one China in the world, Taiwan is a part of China and the government of the PRC is the only legitimate government of China, and saw this acknowledgment as being beneficial to the peaceful resolution of the Taiwan issue. While carrying out the policy of peaceful reunification, the Chinese government always makes it clear that the means used to solve the Taiwan issue is a matter of China’s internal affairs, and China is under no obligation to commit itself to rule out the use of force. This is by no means directed against Taiwan compatriots, but against the scheme to create an “independent Taiwan” and against the foreign forces interfering with the reunification of China, and is intended as a necessary safeguard for the striving for peaceful reunification. Resort to force would only be the last choice made under compelled circumstances.

只有坚持一个中国原则才能实现和平统一。台湾问题是中国内战遗留下来的问题。迄今,两岸敌对状态并未正式结束。为了维护中国的主权和领土完整,为了实现两岸统一,中国政府有权采用任何必要的手段。采用和平的方式,有利于两岸社会的共同发展,有利于两岸同胞感情的融合和团结,是最好的方式。中国政府于一九七九年宣布实行和平统一的方针时,是基于一个前提,即当时的台湾当局坚持世界上只有一个中国、台湾是中国的一部分。同时,中国政府考虑到长期支持台湾当局的美国政府承认了世界上只有一个中国、台湾是中国的一部分、中华人民共和国政府是中国的唯一合法政府,这也有利于用和平的方式解决台湾问题。中国政府在实行和平统一方针的同时始终表明,以何种方式解决台湾问题是中国的内政,并无义务承诺放弃使用武力。不承诺放弃使用武力,决不是针对台湾同胞的,而是针对制造“台湾独立”的图谋和干涉中国统一的外国势力,是为争取实现和平统一提供必要的保障。采用武力的方式,将是最后不得已而被迫作出的选择。

As for Taiwan, upholding the principle of one China indicates that it acknowledges that China’s sovereignty and territory are inalienable. In this way, both sides of the Taiwan Straits will have a common basis and premise and may find ways to solve their political differences and realize peaceful reunification through consultation on an equal footing. If Taiwan denies the One-China Principle and tries to separate Taiwan from the territory of China, the premise and basis for peaceful reunification will cease to exist.

对台湾而言,坚持一个中国原则,标志着承认中国的主权和领土不可分割,这就使两岸双方有了共同的基础和前提,可以通过平等协商,找到解决双方政治分歧的办法,实现和平统一。如果否认一个中国原则,图谋将台湾从中国领土中分割出去,那就使和平统一的前提和基础不复存在。

As for the United States, if it promises to follow a one-China policy, it should earnestly implement the three communiques between the Chinese and U.S. governments and fulfill the series of promises it has made. It should maintain only cultural, commercial and other non-governmental relations with Taiwan; oppose “Taiwan independence,” “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan” and not to stand in the way of the reunification of China. Acting otherwise will destroy the external conditions necessary for the Chinesegovernment to strive for peaceful reunification.

对美国而言,承诺奉行一个中国政策,就要切实执行中美两国政府之间的三个公报和美方的一系列承诺,就应当只与台湾保持文化、商务和其他非官方的关系,反对所谓“台湾独立”、“两个中国”、“一中一台”,不阻挠中国的统一。反之,就破坏了中国政府争取和平统一的外部条件。

As for countries in the Asia-Pacific region and other regions in the world, the situation across the Taiwan Straits has always been closely linked with the stability of the Asia-Pacific region. Adherence to the policy of one China by countries concerned will be beneficial to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and favorable for China to develop friendly relations with other countries, and therefore conforms to the interests of the Asia-Pacific region and other countries in the world.

对于亚太地区和世界其他地区的国家而言,台湾海峡局势一直与亚太地区的安定密切相关。有关各国坚持一个中国政策,有利于维护亚太地区的和平与稳定,也有利于中国同各国发展友好关系,符合亚太地区乃至世界各国的利益。

The Chinese government is actively and sincerely striving for peaceful reunification. To achieve peaceful reunification, the Chinese government has appealed time and again for cross-Straits negotiations on the basis of equality and the One-China Principle. Taking Taiwan’s political reality into full account and out of consideration for the Taiwan authorities’ request for the negotiations to be held on an equal footing, we have put forward one proposal after another, such as that the negotiations should be held between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese KMT on a reciprocal basis and that the talks between the two parties may include representatives from all parties and mass organizations of Taiwan, and we have never spoken of negotiations between the “central and local authorities.” The Chinese government has also proposed that dialogues may start first, including political dialogues, which may gradually move on to procedural consultations for political talks to solve the name, the topics for discussion and the forms of official talks before political talks are held. Political talks may be carried out step by step. First, negotiations should be held and an agreement reached on an official end to the state of hostility between the two sides under the principle of one China so as to jointly safeguard China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and work out plans for the development of the future inter-Straits relations. In January 1998, to seek and expand the political basis for relations between the two sides, the Chinese government explicitly proposed to the Taiwan side that before the realization of reunification and in handling affairs concerning inter-Straits relations, especially during the talks between the two sides, the One-China Principle should be upheld, namely that there is only one China in the world, Taiwan is a part of China and China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is not to be separated. The Chinese government hopes that on the basis of the One-China Principle, the two sides will hold consultations on an equal footing and discuss national reunification together.

中国政府积极地真诚地努力争取实现和平统一。为了争取和平统一,中国政府一再呼吁在一个中国原则基础上举行两岸平等谈判。充分考虑到台湾的政治现实,为了照顾台湾当局关于平等谈判地位的要求,我们先后提出了举行中国共产党和中国国民党两党对等谈判、两党谈判可以吸收台湾各党派团体有代表性的人士参加等主张,而始终不提“中央与地方谈判”。中国政府还提出,可先从进行包括政治对话在内的对话开始,逐步过渡到政治谈判的程序性商谈,解决正式谈判的名义、议题、方式等问题,进而展开政治谈判。政治谈判可以分步骤进行,第一步,先就在一个中国原则下正式结束两岸敌对状态进行谈判,并达成协议,共同维护中国的主权和领土完整,并对今后两岸关系发展进行规划。一九九八年一月,为寻求和扩大两岸关系的政治基础,中国政府向台湾方面明确提出,在统一之前,在处理两岸关系事务中,特别是在两岸谈判中,坚持一个中国原则,也就是坚持世界上只有一个中国,台湾是中国的一部分,中国的主权和领土完整不容分割。中国政府希望,在一个中国原则基础上,双方平等协商,共议统一。

To strive for peaceful reunification, the Chinese government has adopted a series of positive policies and measures to promote the comprehensive development of cross-Straits relations. From the end of 1987, when the state of isolation between the two sides was terminated, to the end of 1999, the number of Taiwan compatriots coming to the mainland of China for visiting their relatives, sightseeing or exchanges reached 16 million by turnstile count. The total indirect trade volume between the two sides of the Straits has exceeded US$ 160 billion; the agreed capital to be invested by Taiwan business people in the mainland has exceeded US$44 billion, of which US$ 24 billion has been actually used. Great progress has been made in the exchange of mail and telecommunications across the Straits; and some progress has been made in the exchange of air and shipping services too. The NPC and its Standing Committee, the State Council, and local governments have worked out a sequence of laws and regulations to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Taiwan compatriots. To properly solve the concrete issues arising from the people-to-people contacts between the two sides through consultations, in November 1992 the mainland’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits and Taiwan’s Straits Exchange Foundation reached the common understanding during talks on routine affairs that each of the two organizations should express verbally that “both sides of the Taiwan Straits adhere to the One-China Principle.” On this basis, the leaders of these two organizations successfully held the “Wang Daohan-Koo Chen-fu talks” and signed several agreements on protecting the legitimate rights and interests of the compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits in April 1993. In October 1998, the leaders of the two organizations met in Shanghai, starting political dialogue across the Straits. The talks between the two organizations were carried out on an equal footing. Practice has proved that on the basis of the One-China Principle, it is entirely possible to find a proper way for holding talks, based on equality, between the two sides. Since Hong Kong and Macao’s return to China, people-to-people contacts and exchanges between Hong Kong and Taiwan and between Macao and Taiwan have continued and developed on the basis of the One-China Principle.

为争取和平统一,中国政府采取了一系列积极的政策和措施,全面推动两岸关系发展。自一九八七年底两岸隔绝状态被打破后至一九九九年底,到中国大陆从事探亲、旅游、交流的台湾同胞已达1600万人次;两岸间接贸易总额超过1600亿美元,台商在中国大陆投资的协议金额及实际到位金额分别超过了440亿美元与240亿美元;两岸互通邮政、电信取得了很大进展;两岸海上、空中通航也取得了局部进展。全国人民代表大会及其常务委员会、国务院、地方政府制定了一系列法律、法规,依法保障台湾同胞的正当权益。为了通过商谈妥善解决两岸同胞交往中所衍生的具体问题,一九九二年十一月,海峡两岸关系协会与台湾的海峡交流基金会达成在事务性商谈中各自以口头方式表述“海峡两岸均坚持一个中国原则”的共识,在此基础上,两会领导人于一九九三年四月成功举行了“汪辜会谈”,并签署了几项涉及保护两岸同胞正当权益的协议。一九九八年十月,两会领导人在上海会晤,开启了两岸政治对话。两会商谈是在平等的地位上进行的。实践证明,在一个中国原则的基础上,完全可以找到两岸平等谈判的适当方式。香港、澳门回归中国以来,港台之间、澳台之间原有的各种民间往来与交流,在一个中国原则的基础上继续保持和发展。

III. The Chinese Government–Staunch Champion for the One-China Principle

三、中国政府坚决捍卫一个中国原则

Separatist forces in Taiwan are bent on violating the One-China Principle. In 1988, after Lee Teng-hui became the leader of the Taiwan authorities, he publicly stated time and again that the basic policy of the Taiwan authorities was that “there is only one China, not two,” and “we have always maintained that China should be reunited, and we adhere to the principle of ‘one China.'”

台湾分裂势力蓄意破坏一个中国原则。一九八八年,李登辉继任为台湾当局的领导人。当时他多次公开表示,台湾当局的基本政策就是“只有一个中国而没有两个中国的政策”;“我们一贯主张中国应该统一,并坚持‘一个中国’的原则”。

However, since the early 1990s, Lee Teng-hui has gradually deviated from the One-China Principle, trumpeting “two governments,” “two reciprocal political entities,” “Taiwan is already a state with independent sovereignty,” and “At the present stage the Republic of China is on Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China is on the mainland.” Moreover, he went back on his words, saying that “I have never said that there is only one China.” In addition, he has connived at and provided support for the separatists who advocate “Taiwan independence” and their activities, thus helping the rapid development of the “Taiwan independence” forces and the spread of the “Taiwan independence” ideology. Under the direction of Lee Teng-hui, the Taiwan authorities have adopted a series of measures towards actual separation. In matters of Taiwan’s form of government, the Taiwan authorities are seeking to transform Taiwan into an “independent political entity” through a “constitutional reform,” so as to suit the needs of creating “two Chinas.” In foreign relations, the Taiwan authorities have spared no effort to carry out the activities for “expanding the international space of survival,” with the aim of creating “two Chinas.” Since 1993, for seven years running, the Taiwan authorities have manoeuvred for participation in the United Nations. In military affairs, the Taiwan authorities have bought large quantities of advanced weapons from foreign countries and sought to join the Theater Missile Defence System (TMDS), in an attempt to establish a military alliance of a disguised form with the United States and Japan. In ideology and culture, the Taiwan authorities have endeavoured to obliterate the Chinese awareness of Taiwan compatriots, especially young people, and their identification with the motherland, in order to create misunderstanding of the motherland among Taiwan compatriots and estrange them from her, thus cutting off the ideological and cultural ties between the compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits.

但是,从九十年代初开始,李登辉逐步背离一个中国原则,相继鼓吹“两个政府”、“两个对等政治实体”、“台湾已经是个主权独立的国家”、“现阶段是‘中华民国在台湾’与‘中华人民共和国在大陆’”,而且自食其言,说他“始终没有讲过一个中国”。李登辉还纵容、扶持主张所谓“台湾独立”的分裂势力及其活动,使“台独”势力迅速发展、“台独”思潮蔓延。在李登辉主导下,台湾当局采取了一系列实际的分裂步骤。在台湾政权体制方面,力图通过所谓的“宪政改革”将台湾改造成一个“独立的政治实体”,以适应制造“两个中国”的需要。在对外关系方面,不遗余力地进行以制造“两个中国”为目的的“拓展国际生存空间”活动。一九九三年以来,连续七年推动所谓“参与联合国”的活动。在军事方面,大量向外国购买先进武器,谋求加入战区导弹防御系统,企图变相地与美、日建立某种形式的军事同盟。在思想文化方面,图谋抹杀台湾同胞、特别是年轻一代的中国人意识和对祖国的认同,挑起台湾同胞对祖国的误解和疏离感,割断两岸同胞的思想和文化纽带。

Since 1999, Lee Teng-hui has stepped up his separatist activities. In May, he published the book “The Road to Democracy,” which advocates the division of China into seven regions, each enjoying “full autonomy.” On July 9, he went so far as to publicly distort inter-Straits relations as “state to state relations, or at least special state to state relations,” in an attempt to fundamentally change the status of Taiwan as a part of China, sabotage the relations between both sides of the Taiwan Straits, especially the basis for cross-Straits political dialogues and negotiations, and wreck the foundation for peaceful reunification. Lee Teng-hui has become the general representative of Taiwan’s separatist forces, a saboteur of the stability of the Taiwan Straits, a stumbling block preventing the development of relations between China and the United States, and a troublemaker for the peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

一九九九年以来,李登辉的分裂活动进一步发展。五月,他出版《台湾的主张》一书,鼓吹要把中国分成七块各自享有“充分自主权”的区域。七月九日,他公然将两岸关系歪曲为“国家与国家,至少是特殊的国与国的关系”,企图从根本上改变台湾是中国一部分的地位,破坏两岸关系、特别是两岸政治对话与谈判的基础,破坏两岸和平统一的基础。李登辉已经成为台湾分裂势力的总代表,是台湾海峡安定局面的破坏者,是中美关系发展的绊脚石,也是亚太地区和平与稳定的麻烦制造者。

The Chinese Government firmly defends the One-China Principle. The Chinese Government and people have always maintained sharp vigilance and fought resolutely against the secessionist activities of the Taiwan separatists, represented by Lee Teng-hui.

中国政府坚决捍卫一个中国原则对于以李登辉为代表的台湾分裂势力的种种分裂活动,中国政府和人民一直保持着高度的警惕,并进行了坚决的斗争。

After Lee Teng-hui’s “private” visit to the United States in June 1995, the Chinese Government has waged a resolute struggle against separation and against “Taiwan independence,” and made strong protests and representations to the US Government for openly allowing Lee Teng-hui to visit the United States, violating its promises made in the three Sino-US joint communiques, and seriously prejudicing China’s sovereignty. This struggle has shown the Chinese Government and people’s firm resolve and ability to safeguard state sovereignty and territorial integrity, and exerted an important and far-reaching influence. Compatriots in Taiwan have further realized the serious harm “Taiwan independence” can cause. Lee Teng-hui has received a heavy blow for his separatist activities in the international community, so that some of the “Taiwan independence” protagonists have had to abandon certain extremist propositions aimed at division. The international community has further realized the necessity of upholding the one-China policy. The US Government has explicitly undertaken not to support “Taiwan independence,” not to support “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan,” and not to support Taiwan joining any international organization whose membership is restricted to sovereign states.

一九九五年六月李登辉以所谓“私人”名义访问美国后,中国政府果断地开展了反分裂、反“台独”的斗争,并对美国政府公然允许李登辉访美、违背美国在中美三个联合公报中所作的承诺、严重损害中国主权的行为,提出了强烈的抗议,进行了严正的交涉。这场斗争显示了中国政府和人民捍卫国家主权和领土完整的坚强决心和能力,产生了重大和深远的影响。台湾同胞进一步认识到“台独”的严重危害。李登辉在国际上进行分裂活动受到沉重打击。部分“台独”势力被迫放弃了某些极端的分裂主张。国际社会进一步注意到坚持一个中国政策的必要性,美国政府还明确承诺不支持“台湾独立”、不支持“两个中国”或“一中一台”、不支持台湾加入任何必须由主权国家参加的国际组织。

The Chinese Government and people have fought more unremittingly after Lee Teng-hui cooked up his “two states” theory. The relevant department of the Chinese Government has clearly stated that the attempt of the Taiwan separatists to implement the “two states” theory in “legal” form was an even more serious and dangerous step towards division and a grave provocation against peaceful reunification. Were the attempt to succeed, it would be impossible for China to achieve peaceful reunification. The struggle against this attempt has grown in momentum with Chinese both at home and abroad condemning the “two states” theory with one voice. Most countries in the world have reaffirmed their position of upholding the One-China Policy. The US Government has also reasserted its adherence to the One-China Policy and its commitment to the “Three Non-supports” for Taiwan. Finally, the Taiwan authorities have been compelled to announce that they will not amend their “constitution” and “laws” according to the “two states” theory.

李登辉抛出“两国论”后,中国政府和人民进行了更加坚决的斗争。针对台湾分裂势力企图通过所谓“法律”形式落实“两国论”的活动,中国政府有关部门明确指出,这是一个更加严重和危险的分裂步骤,是对和平统一的极大挑衅。如果这一图谋得逞,中国和平统一将变得不可能。这场斗争形成了海内外中国人同声谴责“两国论”的强大声势。世界上大多数国家重申坚持一个中国政策。美国政府也重申坚持一个中国政策和对台湾“三不支持”的承诺。台湾当局被迫表示不会依照“两国论”修改所谓“宪法”、“法律”。

Nevertheless, separatists in Taiwan are still attempting to detach Taiwan “de jure” from China in the name of the “Republic of China” by various forms, including “formulating a new constitution,” “amending the constitution,” and “explaining the constitution” or through “legislation.” Special vigilance should be maintained to the fact that the Taiwan separatists are continually scheming to disrupt Sino-US relations and provoke conflicts and confrontation between the two nations to achieve their aim of dividing China.

但是,台湾分裂势力仍在企图以所谓“制宪”、“修宪”、“解释宪法”或“立法”等多种形式,用所谓“法律”形式实现在“中华民国”名义下把台湾从中国分割出去的图谋。特别值得警惕的是,台湾分裂势力一贯图谋破坏中美关系,挑起中美冲突和对抗,以便实现他们的分裂图谋。

Facts prove that a serious crisis still exists in the situation of the Taiwan Straits. To safeguard the interests of the entire Chinese people including compatriots in Taiwan and maintain the peace and development of the Asia-Pacific region, the Chinese Government remains firm in adhering to “peaceful reunification” and “one country, two systems;” upholding the eight propositions put forward by President Jiang Zemin for the development of cross-Straits relations and the acceleration of the peaceful reunification of China; and doing its utmost to achieve the objective of peaceful reunification. However, if a grave turn of events occurs leading to the separation of Taiwan from China in any name, or if Taiwan is invaded and occupied by foreign countries, or if the Taiwan authorities refuse, sine die, the peaceful settlement of cross-Straits reunification through negotiations, then the Chinese Government will only be forced to adopt all drastic measures possible, including the use of force, to safeguard China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and fulfill the great cause of reunification. The Chinese Government and people absolutely have the determination and ability to safeguard China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and will never tolerate, condone or remain indifferent to the realization of any scheme to divide China. Any such scheme is doomed to failure.

事实证明,台湾海峡局势仍然存在着严重的危机。为了维护包括台湾同胞在内的全中国人民的利益,也为了维护亚太地区的和平与发展,中国政府仍然坚持“和平统一、一国两制”方针不变,仍然坚持江泽民主席提出的发展两岸关系、推进祖国和平统一进程的八项主张不变,仍然尽一切可能争取和平统一。但是,如果出现台湾被以任何名义从中国分割出去的重大事变,如果出现外国侵占台湾,如果台湾当局无限期地拒绝通过谈判和平解决两岸统一问题,中国政府只能被迫采取一切可能的断然措施、包括使用武力,来维护中国的主权和领土完整,完成中国的统一大业。中国政府和人民完全有决心、有能力维护国家主权和领土完整,决不容忍、决不姑息、决不坐视任何分裂中国的图谋得逞,任何分裂图谋都是注定要失败的。

IV. Several Questions Involving the One-China Principle in the Cross-Straits Relations

四、两岸关系中涉及一个中国原则的若干问题

Chinese territory and sovereignty has not been split, and the two sides of the Straits are not two states. The Taiwan authorities support their position on “two Chinas,” including the “two states” theory proposed by Lee Teng-hui, with the following arguments: Since 1949, the territories on either side of the Straits have been divided and governed separately, with neither side having jurisdiction over the other; the government of the PRC has never ruled Taiwan; and since 1991 Taiwan has witnessed a form of government that has nothing to do with that of the Chinese mainland. These arguments are absolutely untenable, and can never lead to the conclusion that Taiwan may declare itself a state under the name of the “Republic of China,” or that the two sides of the Straits have been divided into two states. Firstly, state sovereignty is inseparable. The territory is the space in which a state exercises its sovereignty. In the territory of a country there can only be a central government exercising sovereignty on behalf of the state. As we have already said, Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory and, after replacing the government of the Republic of China in 1949, the government of the PRC has become the sole legal government of China, enjoying and exercising sovereignty over the whole of China, including Taiwan. Although the two sides of the Straits have not been reunified, Taiwan’s status as a part of Chinese territory has never changed, neither, therefore, has China’s sovereignty over Taiwan ever changed. Secondly, the international community recognizes that there is only one China, that Taiwan is a part of China, and that the government of the PRC is the sole legitimate government of China. Thirdly, the reason that the Taiwan question has not been settled for such a long period of time is mainly due to the intervention of foreign forces and the obstruction of the separatist forces in Taiwan. Although the two sides of the Straits remain to be reunified, the long-term existence of this abnormal situation has not imbued Taiwan with a status and rights in international law, nor can it change the legal status of Taiwan as a part of China. The problem now is that the separatists in Taiwan and some foreign anti-China forces seek to change this state of affairs, and it is this that the Chinese Government and people are firmly against.

中国领土和主权没有分裂,海峡两岸并非两个国家。台湾当局支撑其制造“两个中国”的主张,包括李登辉提出的“两国论”的所谓理由无非是:一九四九年以后海峡两岸已经分裂分治且互不隶属,中华人民共和国政府从未统治过台湾,一九九一年以后台湾也已产生了与中国大陆没有关系的政权体制。这些理由是根本不能成立的,也绝对不能得出台湾可以“中华民国”的名义自立为一个国家和海峡两岸已经分裂为两个国家的结论。第一,国家主权不可分割。领土是国家行使主权的空间。在一个国家的领土上,只能有一个代表国家行使主权的中央政府。如前所述,台湾是中国领土不可分割的一部分,一九四九年中华人民共和国政府取代中华民国政府成为全中国的唯一合法政府,已经享有和行使包括台湾在内的全中国的主权。虽然海峡两岸尚未统一,但是台湾是中国领土一部分的地位从未改变,由此,中国拥有对台湾的主权也从未改变。第二,国际社会承认只有一个中国、台湾是中国的一部分、中华人民共和国政府是中国的唯一合法政府。第三,台湾问题长期得不到解决,主要是外国势力干涉和台湾分裂势力阻挠的结果。海峡两岸尚未统一,这种不正常状态的长期存在,并没有赋予台湾在国际法上的地位和权利,也不能改变台湾是中国一部分的法律地位。目前的问题是台湾分裂势力和某些外国反华势力要改变这种状况,而这正是中国政府和人民坚决反对的。

We firmly oppose changing Taiwan’s status as a part of China by referendum. The Taiwan separatists’ attempt to change Taiwan’s status as a part of China by referendum on the pretext that ” sovereignty belongs to the people” is futile. Firstly, under both domestic and international laws Taiwan’s legal status as a part of Chinese territory is unequivocal, and there can be no premise for using referendum to decide any matter of self-determination. Secondly, the phrase “sovereignty belongs to the people” refers to all the people of a state, and not certain people or the people of a certain area. The sovereignty over Taiwan belongs to all the Chinese people including Taiwan compatriots, and not to some of the people in Taiwan. Thirdly, at no time in history has Taiwan been a state in its own right, and since 1945 Taiwan has not been a foreign colony, nor has it been under foreign occupation. The issue of national self-determination, therefore, does not exist. In short, from the time that China recovered Taiwan in 1945, there has been no question at all of changing Taiwan’s status as a part of China by holding a referendum. The only future for Taiwan is reunification with the China mainland, and certainly not separation. Any attempt to separate Taiwan from China through so-called referendum would only lead the Taiwan people to disaster.

坚决反对以公民投票方式改变台湾是中国一部分的地位。台湾分裂势力以“主权在民”为借口,企图以公民投票方式改变台湾是中国一部分的地位,这是徒劳的。首先,台湾是中国领土一部分的法律地位,无论在国内法还是在国际法上,都已经是明确的,不存在用公民投票方式决定是否应自决的前提。其次,“主权在民”是指主权属于一个国家的全体人民,而不是指属于某一部分或某一地区的人民。对台湾的主权,属于包括台湾同胞在内的全中国人民,而不属于台湾一部分人。第三,历史上台湾从未曾成为一个国家;一九四五年以后,台湾既不是外国的殖民地,又不处于外国占领之下,不存在行使民族自决权的问题。总之,自一九四五年中国收复台湾之后,就根本不存在就改变台湾是中国一部分的地位举行公民投票的问题。台湾的前途只有一条,就是走向与祖国大陆的统一,而决不能走向分裂。任何人以所谓公民投票的方式把台湾从中国分割出去,其结果必将把台湾人民引向灾难。

The “two German states formula” cannot be applied to the settlement of the Taiwan issue. Some people in Taiwan have suggested that cross-Straits relations should be dealt with according to the “two German states formula,” since Germany was divided into two states after World War II, and was later reunified. This proposal shows a misunderstanding of history and reality. The division of Germany after the war and the temporary division between the two sides of the Straits are questions of a different nature, the difference lying mainly in three aspects. The first is the reasons for, and the nature of, the division. After its defeat in World War II in 1945, Germany was divided into zones occupied separately by the four victorious nations of the United States, Britain, France and the Soviet Union according to a declaration on the defeat of Germany and the assumption of supreme authority and the subsequent Potsdam Agreement. The reunification of Germany became a focus of the confrontation in Europe between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic were established in the zones occupied by the United States, Britain and France, and that occupied by the Soviet Union. Thus Germany was divided into two states. Obviously, the German question arose entirely from external factors, while the Taiwan issue, left over by China’s civil war, is a matter of China’s internal affairs. The second aspect is the difference in status between the two under international law. Germany was divided according to a series of international treaties during and after World War II, while the Taiwan question involves provisions of the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation and other international treaties, stating that Japan must return Taiwan, which it had stolen from China, to the Chinese. The third is the difference between the two in their actual conditions of existence. Against the backdrop of the confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union, the two German states had foreign troops stationed in their territories and so were compelled to recognize each other and co-exist in the international community. The Chinese Government has always persisted in the principle of one China. Before Lee Teng-hui assumed power, and during his early days in office, the Taiwan authorities recognized only one China and opposed “two Chinas,” and the One-China Principle has also been widely accepted by the international community. For these reasons, the Taiwan issue and the German issue cannot be placed in the same category, nor can the “two German states formula” be copied to settle the Taiwan question.

“两德模式”不能用于解决台湾问题。台湾有些人主张用第二次世界大战后德国被分裂为两个国家后又重新统一的所谓“两德模式”来处理两岸关系。这是对历史和现实的误解。战后德国的分裂和两岸暂时分离是两个不同性质的问题。主要有三点不同:第一,两者形成的原因、性质不同。一九四五年德国在二战中战败,被美、英、法、苏四个战胜国依据《鉴于德国失败和接管最高政府权力的声明》及其后的波茨坦协议,分区占领。冷战开始后,德国统一问题成为美苏两国在欧洲对抗的一个焦点,在美英法占领区和苏联占领区分别相继成立了德意志联邦共和国和德意志民主共和国,德国被分裂为两个国家。显然,德国问题完全是由外部因素造成的。而台湾问题则是中国内战遗留的问题,是内政问题。第二,两者在国际法上的地位不同。德国的分裂,为二战期间和战后一系列国际条约所规定。而台湾问题,则有《开罗宣言》、《波茨坦公告》等国际条约关于日本必须将窃取于中国的台湾归还中国的规定。第三,两者存在的实际状况不同。在美苏两国对抗的背景下,两个德国都分别驻有外国军队,被迫相互承认和在国际社会并存。而中国政府始终坚持一个中国原则,李登辉上台前的台湾当局和李登辉上台初期也承认一个中国,反对“两个中国”;一个中国原则也被国际社会所普遍接受。因而,德国问题与台湾问题不能相提并论,更不能照搬“两德模式”解决台湾问题。

Any question can be discussed under the One-China Principle. The Chinese Government advocates that the final purpose of cross- Straits negotiations is to achieve peaceful reunification; and that to achieve this purpose, talks should be held based on the principle of one China. However, the proposals for “Taiwan independence,” “two Chinas” and “two states,” aiming for separation instead of reunification, violate the One-China Principle, and are naturally unacceptable to the Chinese Government. Provided that it is within the framework of one China, any question can be discussed, including the various issues that are of concern to the Taiwan side. The Chinese Government believes that Taiwan’s international space for economic, cultural and social activities compatible with its status, the political status of the Taiwan authorities and other questions can be finally settled in the process of peaceful reunification through political negotiations within this framework.

在一个中国原则下,什么问题都可以谈。中国政府主张两岸谈判最终目的是实现和平统一;主张以一个中国原则为谈判基础,是为了保证实现谈判的目的。而“台湾独立”、“两个中国”、“两国论”违背了一个中国原则,不是谈统一,而是谈分裂,当然不可能被中国政府接受。只要在一个中国的框架内,什么问题都可以谈,包括台湾方面关心的各种问题。中国政府相信,台湾在国际上与其身份相适应的经济的、文化的、社会的对外活动空间,台湾当局的政治地位等等,都可以在这个框架内,通过政治谈判,最终在和平统一的过程中得到解决。

The so-called controversy about democracy and system is an excuse for obstructing the reunification of China. In recent years the Taiwan authorities have repeatedly declared that “democratization on the China mainland is the key to the reunification of China” and that “the real essence of the cross- Straits issue is a contest between systems.” This is an excuse for postponing and resisting reunification, as well as a scheme to deceive compatriots in Taiwan and world opinion. The CPC and the Chinese Government have consistently striven to achieve socialist democracy. To achieve peaceful reunification in the form of “one country, two systems,” and to allow the two different social systems on both sides of the Straits to coexist without imposing them on one or the other: this is best able to embody the wishes of compatriots on both sides of the Straits and is itself democratic. The different social systems across the Straits, therefore, should not constitute a barrier to peaceful reunification. Moreover, the Chinese Government acknowledges the differences between Taiwan on the one hand and Hong Kong and Macao on the other and, after peaceful reunification, is prepared to apply a looser form of the “one country, two systems” policy in Taiwan than in Hong Kong and Macao. It is totally unreasonable and undemocratic for the Taiwan authorities to seek to obstruct reunification on the pretext of the “controversy about democracy and system” and to force the more than 1.2 billion people living on the Chinese mainland to practise the political and economic systems in Taiwan. The demand for democracy should not be used as a reason for refusing reunification. The essence of the difference between the two sides of the Straits on this question lies by no means in the controversy over whether to practise democracy or in the controversy over what system to practise, but rather a controversy over the choice between reunification and separation.

所谓“民主和制度之争”是阻挠中国统一的借口。近些年来,台湾当局一再声称,“大陆的民主化是中国再统一的关键”、“两岸问题的真正本质是制度竞赛”。这是拖延和抗拒统一的借口,是欺骗台湾同胞和国际舆论的伎俩。中国共产党和中国政府不断为实现社会主义民主的理想而奋斗。按照“一国两制”的方式实现和平统一,允许海峡两岸两种社会制度同时存在,互不强加于对方,最能体现两岸同胞的意愿,这本身就是民主的。两岸不同的社会制度,不应构成和平统一的障碍。而且,中国政府注意到台湾与香港、澳门的不同特点,实现两岸和平统一之后,在台湾实行“一国两制”的内容,可以比香港、澳门更为宽松。台湾当局企图以“民主和制度之争”阻挠统一,妄想居住在中国大陆的十二亿多人实行台湾的政治、经济制度,是毫无道理的,也是不民主的。“要民主”不应成为“不要统一”的理由。两岸双方在这个问题上分歧的实质,绝不是要不要民主之争、实行哪种制度之争,而是要统一还是要分裂之争。

V. Several Questions Involving Adherence to the One-China Principle in the International Community

五、在国际社会中坚持一个中国原则的若干问题

The Chinese Government has expressed its appreciation to the international community for widely pursuing a one-China policy. In August 1993, we published the white paper, The Taiwan Question and Reunification of China. In Chapter V of this document, “Several Questions Involving Taiwan in International Relations,” we explained our position and policy on a number of issues, including relations between Taiwan and countries maintaining diplomatic ties with China, relations between international organizations and Taiwan, aviation services between Taiwan and countries having diplomatic relations with China, and arms sales to Taiwan by countries having diplomatic relations with China. Here, we would like to reaffirm our related position and policy.

中国政府对于国际社会普遍奉行一个中国政策表示赞赏。我们于一九九三年八月发表的《台湾问题与中国的统一》白皮书,在第五部分“国际事务中涉及台湾的几个问题”中,阐述了在有关与中国建交国同台湾的关系、国际组织与台湾的关系、与中国建交国同台湾通航、与中国建交国向台湾出售武器等问题上的立场和政策。在此,谨重申有关立场和政策。

Taiwan is ineligible for membership in the United Nations and other international organizations whose membership is confined to sovereign states. The United Nations is an inter-governmental international organization composed of sovereign states. After the restoration of the lawful rights of the PRC in the United Nations, the issue of China’s representation in the UN was resolved once and for all and Taiwan’s re-entry became totally out of the question. The Taiwan authorities have asserted that Resolution 2758 of the UN resolved only “the problem of China’s representation,” but not “the problem of Taiwan’s representation,” and demanded participation in the UN. We will never permit such a separatist act of creating “two Chinas’ or “one China, one Taiwan.” All members of the UN should adhere to the purpose and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and related UN resolutions, abide by norms governing international relations, including mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, and never, in any form, support Taiwan’s joining the UN or other international organizations whose membership is confined to sovereign states.

台湾无权参加联合国及其他只有主权国家参加的国际组织。联合国是由主权国家组成的政府间国际组织。中华人民共和国政府在联合国的合法权利恢复后,联合国组织中的中国代表权问题已经获得彻底解决,根本不存在台湾当局加入联合国的问题。台湾当局声称联合国2758号决议只解决了“中国代表权问题”,没有解决“台湾的代表权问题”,要求“参与联合国”。这是制造“两个中国”、“一中一台”的分裂行径,是绝对不能允许的。联合国的所有成员国,都应遵守《联合国宪章》的宗旨、原则及有关联合国决议,遵循相互尊重主权和领土完整、互不干涉内政等国际关系准则,不以任何方式支持台湾加入联合国及只能由主权国家参加的其他国际组织。

On the basis of the principle of one China, the Chinese Government has made arrangements for Taiwan’s participation in some inter-governmental international organizations which accept regional membership in an agreeable and acceptable way according to the nature, regulations and actual conditions of these international organizations. As a region of China, Taiwan has participated in the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC), respectively, under the names ”Taipei, China” and “Chinese Taipei.” In September 1992, the chairman of the council of the predecessor of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), stated that Taiwan may participate in this organization as “a separate Taiwan-Penghu-Jinmen-Mazu tariff zone” (abbreviated as Chinese Taipei) after the PRC’s entry into GATT. The WTO should persist in the principle defined in the afore-said statement when examining the acceptance of Taiwan’s entry into the organization. This is only an ad hoc arrangement and cannot constitute a model applicable to other inter-governmental international organizations or international gatherings.

对于某些允许地区参加的政府间国际组织,中国政府已经基于一个中国原则,根据有关国际组织的性质、章程和实际情况,以所能同意和接受的方式对台湾的加入问题作出了安排。台湾已作为中国的一个地区,以“中国台北”的名义,分别参加了亚洲开发银行(英文名称为TAIPEI,CHINA)和亚太经合组织(英文名称为CHINESE TAIPEI)等组织。一九九二年九月,世界贸易组织的前身关税及贸易总协定理事会主席声明指出,在中华人民共和国加入关贸总协定后,台湾可以“台湾、澎湖、金门、马祖单独关税区”(简称“中国台北”)的名义参加。世贸组织在审议接纳台湾加入该组织时,应坚持上述声明确定的原则。上述特殊安排,并不构成其他政府间国际组织及国际活动仿效的模式。

No country maintaining diplomatic relations with China should provide arms to Taiwan or enter into military alliance of any form with Taiwan. All countries maintaining diplomatic relations with China should abide by the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, and refrain from providing arms to Taiwan or helping Taiwan produce arms in any form or under any pretext. The Taiwan question is the most crucial and most sensitive issue in the relations between China and the United States. The three Sino-US joint communiques are the basis for the healthy and steady development of relations between the two countries. For over 20 years, the United States has promised to adhere to a One-China Policy, which has brought to itself benefits such as the establishment of diplomatic relations with China, the development of Sino-US relations and the relative stability of the Taiwan situation. Regrettably, the United States has repeatedly contravened its solemn understandings with China made in the August 17 Communique and continued its sale of advanced arms and military equipment to Taiwan. Recently, some people in the US Congress have cooked up the so-called Taiwan Security Enhancement Act and are attempting to include Taiwan in the TMDS. This is gross interference in China’s internal affairs and a grave threat to China’s security, obstructing the peaceful reunification of China and jeopardizing the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large. The Chinese Government is firmly against such actions.

与中国建交的国家不能向台湾出售武器,或与台湾进行任何形式的军事结盟。凡是与中国建交的国家,都应本着互相尊重主权和领土完整、互不干涉内政的原则,不以任何形式或借口向台湾出售武器,或帮助台湾生产武器。台湾问题是中美关系中最核心、最敏感的问题。中美三个联合公报是两国关系健康、稳定发展的基础。二十多年来,美国承诺坚持一个中国政策,为自己带来了美中建交、两国关系发展和台湾局势相对稳定的利益。令人遗憾的是,美国一再违反自己在“八一七公报”中对中国作出的庄严承诺,不断向台湾出售先进的武器和军事装备。现在,美国国会又有人炮制所谓《加强台湾安全法》,还企图将台湾纳入战区导弹防御系统。这是对中国内政的粗暴干涉和对中国安全的严重威胁,阻碍了中国的和平统一进程,同时也危害了亚太地区乃至世界的和平与稳定。对此,中国政府坚决反对。

The Chinese Government adheres to the One-China Principle in dealing with Taiwan’s contacts with the outside world. The Taiwan authorities have spared no effort to promote “pragmatic diplomacy” in the international arena and enlarge their “international space of survival,” the essence of these being to create “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan.” It is only natural that the Chinese Government should firmly oppose these moves. Meanwhile, considering the needs of Taiwan’s socio-economic development and the actual benefits of compatriots in Taiwan, the Chinese Government has no objection to Taiwan’s non-governmental economic and cultural contacts with foreign countries; in fact, on the premise of one China, it has adopted many flexible measures to make Taiwan’s economic, trade and cultural contacts with foreign countries more convenient. For example, Taiwan may stay on the International Olympic Committee in the name of “Chinese Taipei.” As a matter of fact, Taiwan has maintained extensive economic, trade and cultural relations with many countries and regions in the world. Every year, a million Taiwan compatriots go abroad for travel, business or study, as well as for academic, cultural or sports exchanges, and Taiwan’s annual import and export trade volume has exceeded the US$200-billion mark. This has demonstrated that adhering to the One-China Principle has not prevented Taiwan compatriots from engaging in non-governmental international exchanges or affected the needs of Taiwan’s normal economic, trade and cultural activities.

中国政府以一个中国原则对待台湾的对外交往活动。台湾当局极力在国际上推行所谓“务实外交”,扩大所谓“国际生存空间”,其实质是制造“两个中国”、“一中一台”。中国政府理所当然地要坚决反对。同时,考虑到台湾经济社会发展的需要和台湾同胞的实际利益,中国政府对台湾同外国进行民间性质的经济、文化往来不持异议;并在一个中国前提下,采取了许多灵活措施,为台湾同外国的经贸、文化往来提供方便。例如,台湾可以“中国台北”的名义继续留在国际奥委会中。事实上,台湾与世界上许多国家和地区保持着广泛的经贸和文化联系,台湾同胞每年到国外旅游、经商、求学和进行学术、文化、体育交流活动的人员多达百万人次,年进出口贸易额高达2000多亿美元。这表明,坚持一个中国原则并不影响台湾同胞从事民间的对外交流活动,并未影响台湾正常的经贸、文化活动的需要。

The Chinese Government safeguards all the justified and lawful rights and interests of Taiwan compatriots abroad. The people of Taiwan are of the same flesh and blood with us. The Chinese Government has always worked for safeguarding their justified and lawful rights and interests abroad. Chinese embassies and consulates stationed abroad have always considered it their duties to strengthen their ties with Taiwan compatriots, listen to their suggestions and requests and safeguard their interests, and do everything they can to help them overcome their difficulties. During the Gulf War, the Chinese Embassy helped Taiwanese labour service personnel stranded in Kuwait pull out of dangerous places safely. After the big earthquakes in Osaka and Kobe, Japan, the Chinese Embassy and consulate there promptly extended their sympathies to stricken Taiwan compatriots. When the civil war in Cambodia broke out, the Chinese Embassy lost no time in helping Taiwanese business people and tourists whose lives and property were seriously imperiled by the war move to safe places. All the above-mentioned facts reflect the Chinese Government’s care for Taiwan compatriots. When both sides of the Taiwan Straits are reunified, Taiwan compatriots will, together with people of all ethnic groups in the country, have more possibilities to fully enjoy the dignity and honour of the PRC in the world.

中国政府保障台湾同胞在国外的一切正当、合法权益。台湾人民是我们的骨肉同胞。中国政府一贯致力于维护台湾同胞在国外的正当的、合法的权益。中国驻外国使领馆一向把加强与台湾同胞的联系、倾听台湾同胞的意见和要求、保障台湾同胞的利益作为自己的责任,尽可能帮助他们解决困难。在海湾战争中,中国使馆帮助滞留在科威特的台湾劳务人员安全撤离险境。日本阪神大地震发生后,中国使领馆及时抚慰受灾的台湾同胞。柬埔寨爆发内战后,中国使馆积极帮助生命财产受到严重威胁的台湾商人和旅游者安全转移和撤离。上述事例体现了中国政府对台湾同胞的关心和照顾。在海峡两岸实现统一后,台湾同胞更能够与全国各族人民一道充分共享中华人民共和国在国际上的尊严与荣誉。

Conclusion

结束语

China has a long history of 5,000 years. The Chinese people have lived and multiplied on this land where all ethnic groups have mixed together, in the course of which they have developed a powerful cohesiveness, and the values of cherishing and safeguarding unity. Over the long course of history, the Chinese nation has witnessed changes of dynasties, transfers of governments, local separatist regimes, and foreign invasions, especially the untold invasions and dismemberment by foreign powers in modern history. However, unity has always been the main trend in the development of Chinese history. After every separation, the country was invariably reunified, only to be followed in its wake by rapid political, economic, cultural, scientific and technological development. Our compatriots in Taiwan have a glorious tradition of patriotism, and have performed brilliant exploits in the struggles against foreign invasions of Taiwan. Since the founding of the PRC, the Chinese people have particularly valued their hard-earned national independence, firmly upheld state sovereignty and territorial integrity and struggled unswervingly for reunification of the motherland. The 5,000-year history and culture have been implanted deeply in the minds of the Chinese people, sprouting the strong national consciousness of the need for national unification.

中国具有五千年悠久历史。中华民族繁衍生息在中国这块土地上,各民族相互融合,具有强大的凝聚力,形成了崇尚统一、维护统一的价值观念。在漫长的历史过程中,中国虽然经历过改朝换代、政权更迭,出现过地方割据,遭遇过外敌入侵,特别是近代史上曾饱受外国列强的侵略和瓜分,但统一始终是中国历史发展的主流,每一次分裂之后都复归统一,并且都赢来了国家政治、经济、文化、科技的快速发展。台湾同胞具有光荣的爱国主义传统,在反抗外国侵略台湾的斗争中建立了卓越的功勋。中华人民共和国诞生后,中国人民倍加珍视得来不易的民族独立,坚决捍卫国家主权和领土完整,并为实现祖国的完全统一而努力奋斗。中国五千年的历史和文化深深地在中国人的心中根植了一种强烈的民族意识,这就是中国必须统一。

The Chinese Government hopes that the international community will follow the principle of one China now and always and that the US government will earnestly fulfil all the principles concerning the Taiwan issue in the three Sino-US joint communiques, and its solemn promise to uphold the One-China Principle.

中国政府希望国际社会始终如一地奉行一个中国政策,希望美国政府切实履行中美三个联合公报关于台湾问题的各项原则和自己作出的坚持一个中国政策的庄严承诺。

As the Chinese Government has successively resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong and Macao, the people of the whole of China are eager to resolve the Taiwan issue as early as possible and realize the total reunification of the country. They cannot allow the resolution of the Taiwan issue to be postponed indefinitely. We firmly believe that the total reunification of China will be achieved through the joint efforts of the entire Chinese people including compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits and those living overseas.

随着中国政府相继对香港、澳门恢复行使主权,全中国人民迫切期望早日解决台湾问题,实现国家的完全统一,不能允许台湾问题再无限期地拖下去了。我们坚信,在包括两岸同胞和海外侨胞在内的全中国人民的共同努力下,中国的完全统一一定能够实现。

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中华人民共和国国务院 (State Council). "The One-China Principle and the Taiwan Issue [一个中国的原则与台湾问题]". CSIS Interpret: China, original work published in Xinhua News Agency [新华社], February 21, 2000

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