What Is the “1992 Consensus”?

What Is the “1992 Consensus”?

Source: Central News Agency

January 5, 2011

On January 4, Presidential advisor Stephen Chen wrote an article, saying that the DPP could oppose the “1992 Consensus,” but could not deny the existence of the “1992 Consensus.”  Given her status as a rising star within the DPP, what may be most important is whether DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen recognizes the Republic of China and the Constitution of the Republic of China.

The KMT and the DPP have recently debated the existence of the “1992 Consensus.”  Stephen Chen, former representative of the Republic of China to the US, wrote an article, titled “What is the 1992 Consensus?”  In the article Chen concluded that the “1992 Consensus” was proposed by Su Chi, former Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairman during the KMT administration, after the “Koo-Wang” Talks had been held in Singapore in 1992, in order to condense the complicated and lengthy course of events into a phrase of four Chinese characters.

Stephen Chen stated that, in other words, both sides of the Strait reached an agreement, a gentleman’s agreement, a tacit agreement, or a consensus in 1992, which led to the holding of the talks between former Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman Koo Chen-fu and Wang Daohan, then Chairman of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS).

Chen went on to say that some people denied that the “1992 Consensus” existed because no formal document titled the “1992 Consensus” had been signed by representatives from both sides of the Strait at the time.  It is true that no such document was ever signed, but many events in Chinese and Western history are described by historians in short phrases, i.e., “the Reign of Zhenguan” or “the Crusades,” even though no official document by that name exists.

Chen pointed out that after former President Chen Shui-bian assumed office in May 2000, he received US VIPs in June and stated that he would continue to engage in talks with the Mainland on the basis of the “1992 Consensus” or “One China, different interpretations.”  However, the next day MAC Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen denied Chen Shui-bian had ever made such remarks.  Therefore, the “Koo-Wang” Talks had been held just once, and were discontinued during Chen Shui-bian’s 8-year tenure.

Stephen Chen added that then KMT Chairman Lien Chan led a delegation to visit the Mainland to engage in the “Journey of Peace” in April 2005, and issued, jointly with CCP General-Secretary Hu Jintao, 5 points of vision, which included the “1992 Consensus.”  Afterwards the KMT incorporated the “5 points of vision” into its party platform.

Stephen Chen went on to say that President Ma Ying-jeou later on employed the party platform as his cross-Strait plank during his campaign to win the 2008 Presidential election.  Both sides across the Strait resumed consultations between the SEF and the ARATS in June 2008.  The SEF and the ARATS signed agreements on implementing cross-Strait direct transportation and allowing Mainland tourists to visit Taiwan, as well as the hugely beneficial cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement.

DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen could oppose the “1992 Consensus,” but could not deny the existence of the “1992 Consensus.”  If Tsai insisted on denying the existence of the “1992 Consensus,” the key question she must answer, as she appears to be considering a run for the Presidency, is whether or not she recognizes the existence of the Republic of China and the Constitution of the Republic of China.  The KMT insists that there is only one China under the Constitution of the Republic of China.  According to our Constitution, both the Mainland and Taiwan belong to the Republic of China.  Does Tsai deny that is what our Constitution states? Why won’t Tsai mention the Constitution? Would she swear to uphold the ROC Constitution if she were to be elected as President in 2012?

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